The purpose of the present invention is to provide a viscoelastic composition having excellent operability, which is suitable for use in securing the field of view of an endoscope when opaque dark-colored liquid accumulates inside a canal and obstructs the field of view of the endoscope, the viscoelastic composition securing the field of view by pushing the liquid aside, and to provide a method for securing the field of view of an endoscope using the viscoelastic composition. The viscoelastic composition for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises a substance having viscoelastic properties and water, preferably has a hardness of 550 N/m.sup.2 or less, a viscosity (25° C.) of 200 to 2,000 mPa.Math.s, and a loss tangent of 0.6 or less, and more preferably has an electrical conductivity of 250 μS/cm or less. The method for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises feeding the viscoelastic composition from a proximal part of the endoscope, through a channel, into a distal part of the endoscope.

A chamber providing controlled amounts of IR and visible light within an internal space sized to seat at least one human being. The chamber includes at least one heater configured to emit FIR energy, at least one heater configured to emit NIR energy, and at least one heater configured to emit at least MIR energy. The chamber includes at least one light emitting source configured to emit a selected wavelength of visible light, and a control panel configured to control the amount and duration of FIR, MIR, NIR and visible light within the chamber.

Tissue-engineered electronic peripheral nerve interface (TEENI) devices, methods of using TEENI devices, and systems using TEENI devices are provided. In particular, TEENI devices include a support member having a length, at least one thread set comprising a plurality thread set arms having a plurality of electronic leads running through the thread set arms and being fully encapsulated within the support member, and a plurality of electrodes fixed to the plurality of thread set arms.

The present invention relates to novel biocompatible oxygen gas generating devices that can be implanted into a living subject. In certain embodiments, the oxygen gas generating devices can be used to deliver oxygen gas to tissue in a subject, thereby stimulating tissue growth and repair. In other embodiments, the devices operate by electrolytically splitting endogenous water in a subject. In yet other embodiments, the device further comprises an implantable supercapacitor capable of supplying energy to the oxygen gas generating device.

A surgical kit for providing a cryoprotective composition configured to be applied during cryotreatment of a patient includes: a first container containing a predetermined amount or volume of a biodegradable and/or bioerodible fluid agent; and a second container containing a predetermined amount or volume of a non-toxic cryoprotectant agent. The predetermined amount or volume of the of biodegradable and/or bioerodible fluid agent and the predetermined amount or volume of a non-toxic cryoprotectant agent are configured to be mixed together to form the cryoprotective composition in which a therapeutically effective amount of the cryoprotective composition deposited in a body space of the patient in proximity to the cryotreatment remains within at least a portion of the body space for a duration of the cryotreatment and at least a portion of a body tissue proximate to the body space is viable after the cryotreatment.

It has been discovered that iron-platinum ferromagnetic particles can be dispersed in a polymer and coated into or onto, or directly linked to or embedded on to, medical devices and magnetized. The magnetized devices are used to attract, capture, and/or retain magnetically labeled cells on the surface of the device in vivo. The magnetic particles have an iron/platinum core. Annealing the Fe/Pt particle is very important for introducing a L10 interior crystalline phase. The Fe:Pt molar ratio for creation of the crystal phase is important and a molar range of 1.2-3.0 Fe to Pt (molar precursors, i.e. starting compounds) is desired for magnetization. The magnetic force as a whole can be measured with a “Super Conducting Quantum Interference Device”, which is a sensitive magnetometer. The overall magnetic force is in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 Tesla.

Manufacturing a neural interface device. Forming a neural interface probe of an implantable microelectrode body. PECVD a first amorphous silicon carbide insulation layer, forming a thin film metal trace and interface pad on the first layer, the pad on a portion of the trace. PECVD a second amorphous silicon carbide insulation layer on the first layer and covering the trace and the pad. Forming an opening in the second layer to expose the pad to an ambient environment. Patterning the first and second layers to define the neural interface probe. The probe has a rectangular cuboid shape, a cross-sectional area perpendicularly transverse to a long axis length of the probe and through any perpendicularly transverse cross-section along the long axis length is less than about 50 microns. The layers are the principle material of construction of the probe.

To provide a magnesium alloy with improved corrosion resistance by surface modification, and a production method thereof. (1) The surface-modified magnesium alloy comprising: a magnesium alloy having an arbitrary shape; a magnesium fluoride layer formed by fluorination of the surface of the magnesium alloy; and a diamond-like carbon layer formed on the magnesium fluoride layer. (2) The method comprising: subjecting a surface of a magnesium alloy having an arbitrary shape to fluorination treatment to form a magnesium fluoride layer on the surface of the magnesium alloy, and then subjecting the magnesium alloy with the magnesium fluoride layer to be placed in a high-frequency plasma CVD device such that a source gas containing carbon is introduced to form a diamond-like carbon layer on the magnesium fluoride layer.

A stent having an inner surface and an outer surface, the stent comprising a coating composition comprising a platelet-activated adhesive on at least a portion of the outer surface thereof.

An expandable structure comprising: a first shape memory (SM) portion which is in a strain-induced state; and a second portion which resists expansion of said structure due to said first portion, over a plurality of different expansion states of said first portion. Optionally, wherein said SM portion resists contraction of said structure due to forces applied by said second portion. Optionally or alternatively, said strain induced state is characterized by a SM portion expanding force decreasing as a function of strain of said SM portion, so as to have a difference of at least 10% in force between two strain states said structure is usable at.