Systems and methods for filtering materials from biologic fluids are discussed. Embodiments may be used to filter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a human or animal subject. In an example, CSF is separated into a permeate and retentate using a tangential flow filter. The retentate is filtered again and then returned to the subject with the permeate. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate and waste rate.

A dry powder aerosol delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The dry powder aerosol delivery device includes a housing, a cartridge, and a dry powder dispersion mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The dry powder delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The dry powder aerosol delivery device is then actuated to generate a plume of particles having an average ejected particle diameter within the respirable size range, e.g., less than about 5-6 μm, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.

Sensing airflow and delivering therapeutic gas to a patient. At least one example embodiment is a method including: sensing, by a delivery device, that multiple breathing orifices are open to flow; and during a plurality of subsequent inhalations in which multiple breathing orifices are open to flow; and delivering, by the delivery device, a bolus of therapeutic gas to only one breathing orifice during each inhalation, and alternating delivery location in subsequent inhalations. The example delivering may further comprise: supplying therapeutic gas only from an accumulator during a first portion each inhalation; dispensing therapeutic gas from the accumulator and from a pressure regulator during a second portion of each inhalation, the second portion immediately subsequent to the first portion.

An inhaler article (110) comprises a body (112) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) from a mouthpiece end (113) to a distal end (114), a capsule cavity (116) defined within the body, and a distal end element (118) disposed at the distal end and extending to the capsule cavity. The distal end element comprises an element distal end (120), an element inner end (122), a solid core portion (124), and at least two grooves (126). The solid core portion extends from the element distal end to the element inner end. The at least two grooves are helical grooves that rotate about solid core portion along the longitudinal axis from the element distal end to the element inner end. The at least two helical grooves extend along an outer surface (128) of the distal end element.

Endovascular stents and endovascular device platforms and related methods that allow for the modulation/regulation of vascular flow to treat certain disease states are provided. In particular, a covered endovascular stent is provided that, upon deployment, is configured to an installed shape. A balloon catheter comprising a stem and an angioplasty balloon on an end of the stem can be provided to expand the stent. The angioplasty balloon can have a dumbbell shape when inflated with a first head on a first end of the angioplasty balloon having a first outer diameter and a second head on a second end of the angioplasty balloon having a second outer diameter and a narrow center portion having a third outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter of the first end and the second outer diameter of the second end of the angioplasty balloon. Thereby, the covered stent configured in the installed shape can comprise a dumbbell shaped tubular structure having a first inner diameter of a first end portion and a second inner diameter of a second end portion that are larger than a third inner diameter within a center portion of the tubular structure.

Hemofilters for in vivo filtration of blood are disclosed. The hemofilters disclosed herein provide an optimal flow of blood through the filtration channels while maintaining a pressure gradient across the filtration channel walls to enhance filtration and minimize turbulence and stagnation of blood in the hemofilter.

A connection unit establishes a fluid connection between a patient and a ventilator. The connection unit includes a patient-side connection piece, a device-side connection piece, a port piece and a central piece, which provides a tube with a curved tube segment and is connected with a fluid-tight connection to the two connection pieces. The port piece includes a straight tube segment and a bent surface with a bent surface and with a passage opening. The port piece is inserted into a receiving opening of the central piece. The bent surface of the port piece forms a part of a wall of the curved tube segment. The straight tube segment of the port piece and the central piece provide a straight tube, which is interrupted by the passage opening. An additional device is insertable through the straight tube segment and through the passage opening into the provided tube.

A cryosurgical instrument includes a feed line for conveying fluid into an expansion chamber. The feed line has a capillary line section that terminates in the expansion chamber and forms an aperture for the fluid to undergo the Joule-Thomson effect. The flow cross-section of the feed line decreases in at least one transition section of the feed line in the form of a funnel. Following each transition section there preferably follows a step section, in which latter section the flow cross-section is preferably largely constant. The last step section is preferably formed by the capillary line section. Due to the acceleration of the fluid in the transition sections and the abating of pressure fluctuations in the capillary tube section and, optionally in the additional step sections, the expansion range in the expansion chamber is increased, without impeding the backflow of the expanded gas out of the expansion chamber.

In some embodiments, an external bladder management system that is configured to reside within a urine collection receptacle (e.g., a toilet) includes a body that houses a fluid testing chamber. The fluid testing chamber is fluidically coupled to a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The system further includes a fluid capturing funnel fluidically coupled to and extending from the body and configured to couple the body to the urine collection receptacle. The system further includes an optical sensor disposed within the body and including (1) an emitter configured to convey light across the fluid testing chamber, and (2) an optical detector capable of measuring an intensity of the light as the light exits the fluid testing chamber. The fluid inlet, fluid testing chamber, and fluid outlet are collectively configured to encourage a laminar flow profile of the fluid as it flows through the fluid testing chamber.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system to deliver at least one therapeutic gas to a spontaneously breathing patient, wherein the rate of delivery of the at least one therapeutic gas exceeds the patient's inspiratory flow rate, and the amount of the at least one therapeutic gas that is wasted is minimized or eliminated.