An aerosol delivery device may include a rechargeable power source configured to provide power to generate an aerosol, device electronics configured to generate the aerosol responsive to application of the power from the power source, and an authentication module. The authentication module may include a separate chip or circuit board relative to the device electronics. The authentication module may be inserted into the aerosol delivery device between the power source and the device electronics to control provision of the power to the device electronics for generation of the aerosol or between the power source and a charge port of the aerosol delivery device to control charging of the power source.

The invention relates to a personal ultrasonic atomizer device 10, which includes a cartridge 12 having a reservoir 26 for holding a liquid to be atomized, which is interchangeable prior to complete discharging of the reservoir 26 and includes an anti-tamper and anti-counterfeiting safeguard, a sonication chamber 14, placed in fluid communication with the reservoir 26, and for cavitating a liquid placed in contact with a piezoelectric oscillation piece 112; such that vape and/or mist is generated without combustion and/or heating of the liquid, where the device 10 includes a liquid retention means 76 for allowing use of the device in any orientation, and where the device is controllable by an external electronic device.

Various systems and methods are provided for a tunable wicking structure. In one example, the tunable wicking structure comprises a micro wicking element comprising a plurality of powder particles, each powder particle of the micro wicking element being partially joined to at least one other powder particle of the micro wicking element, and wherein a plurality of channels are formed between partially joined powder particles of the micro wicking element for drawing liquid through the micro wicking element via capillary action. The tunable wicking structure may also include a macro wicking element including a lattice structure formed by a grid of lines of material, the lattice structure including pores formed between the lines of material, in which the powder particles are disposed.

Dialysis is enhanced by using nanoclay sorbents to better absorb body wastes in a flow-through system. The nanoclay sorbents, using montmorillonite, bentonite, and other clays, absorb significantly more ammonium, phosphate, and creatinine, and the like, than conventional sorbents. The montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays may be used in wearable systems, in which a dialysis fluid is circulated through a filter with the nanoclay sorbents. Waste products are absorbed by the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays and the dialysis fluid is recycled to a patient's peritoneum. Using an ion-exchange capability of the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays, waste ions in the dialysis fluid are replaced with desirable ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. The nanoclay sorbents are also useful for refreshing a dialysis fluid used in hemodialysis and thus reducing a quantity of the dialysis fluid needed for the hemodialysis.

Described herein is a catheter (10) including a needle (12) arranged for creating a puncture suitable for a TIPS shunt. The catheter can include a flexible catheter body (14) having a proximal and a distal end, the needle (12) being provided at the distal end of the catheter body (14), and an actuator (16) arranged for vibrating the needle,

the needle being provided with serrations (18) on its outside.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.

The invention relates to a blood pump. The blood pump comprises a flexible drive shaft (3) guided in a catheter, a conveying element (6) connected to the drive shaft (3) in a distal region of the drive shaft (3), and a motor (7), wherein the motor (7) has a stator (36) and a rotor (30) mounted such that it can move in the stator (36). The stator (36) comprises a winding (37) and the rotor (30) comprises a rotor magnet (31). In addition, the drive shaft (3) is connected to the rotor (30) at a proximal end of the drive shaft (3). The stator (36) and the rotor (30) are nondetachably connected to one another, and form a gap (40) with a ring-shaped cross-section, which is delimited by the rotor (30) and the stator (36).

A device for monitoring drug use from a drug dispenser in the form of a dispenser cap, especially an inhaler, comprising a sensor for measuring drug release from the dispenser. As a drug release measurement sensor (2) a piezoelectric transducer (2) is used, while a piezoelectric transducer (2) is connected to a microprocessor. The cap includes the activator (1) of the drug release measurement sensor (2) associated movably connected with the piezoelectric transducer (2), wherein the piezoelectric transducer (2) is located in the cap in such a way that, with the help of the activator (1) of the drug release measurement sensor (2), after using the drug dispenser, the force pressure on the cap as a kinetic force is transmitted from the activator (1) of the drug release measurement sensor (2) directly to the piezoelectric transducer (2), which measures the transferred kinetic force.

A reusable apparatus, such as a medical instrument or tool, is decontaminated by applying at least one of pressure waves, shockwaves, and ultrasound waves in a sufficient dosage to remove contamination but without adversely affecting the ability to reuse the apparatus.

A novel vaporizing assembly is disclosed using a suspended thermal radiator that is spaced apart from a phyto material support surface facing a proximal end of the housing and accessible through the proximal opening and fluidly coupled therewith, the phyto material support surface configured to support a phyto material extract for vaporizing and disposed distally below the proximal opening and in fluid communication therewith. The phyto material support surface for receiving of the phyto material extract for vaporizing for having at least a portion of the phyto material extract gravitationally induced to flow towards a pooling area, the phyto material extract proximate the pooling area for thermally contacting the heating element assembly and for being heated to a predetermined temperature to result in a vapor to be emitted from the phyto material extract. A lid assembly is provided for directing airflow from an outside environment towards the phyto material in the pooling area.