A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is provided. The method comprises inserting a delivery tool containing the therapeutic agent through an anterior portion, a lateral portion, or an anterolateral portion of an annulus fibrosus and into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; and delivering the therapeutic agent to the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Devices and kits are also provided.

A blood processing system for collecting plasma reduced platelets and anticipating plasma return includes a venous access device, a blood component separation device, a first return line, a recirculation line, and a second return line. The venous access device draws whole blood from a subject and returns blood components to the subject using a first pump. The blood component separation device separates the drawn blood into a first blood component and a second blood component, and sends the first blood component to a first blood component bag. The first return line fluidly connects the venous-access device and the blood component separation device. The recirculation line connects the first blood component container and the separation device. The second return line fluidly connects the first blood component container and the first return line and is configured to return the first blood component within the first blood container to the subject.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for extracting at least 55% of immunoglobulin such as IgG present in a biological fluid from the biological fluid, comprising contacting a biological fluid suspected of containing immunoglobulin with a solid support covalently bonded to a ligand that specifically binds to immunoglobulin under conditions sufficient for non-covalent binding of immunoglobulin to the ligand; and contacting the solid support with an elution solution under condition whereby the noncovalently bound immunoglobulin is released from the ligand and into the elution solution, wherein at least 55% of the IgG present in the biological fluid is extracted into the elution solution. In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for enriching immunoglobulin from a biological fluid comprising obtaining an initial biological fluid suspected of containing immunoglobulin and removing non-immunoglobulin components naturally occurring in the initial biological fluid to obtain a non-immunoglobulin componentreduced biological fluid.

A respiratory system includes a nebulizer pneumatically connected to a breathing unit. A pressure sensitive mechanism detects negative pressure at the breathing unit due to inspiration and initiates nebulization. The nebulizer is configured to cease nebulization prior to the end of inspiration. Residual medicament disposed in the system is cleared from the system and delivered to the patient during the remainder of the inspiration cycle. A compressor provides positive pressure to aid delivery of medicaments to the patient.

Provided is an accelerated method for preparing platelet rich plasma (PrP) without centrifugation or filtration. The method comprises contacting a sample of whole blood with an anti-coagulant and an inducer of Rouleaux formation; allowing the mixture to stand thereby depleting the sample of RBCs, and collecting the platelet-rich plasma fraction. The PrP volume obtained by the present method is about 10-60% of the volume of the starting whole blood sample, and contains less than 200,000 RBCs and at least 100,000 platelets per microliter.

The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

A centrifuge having a housing containing a rotational mechanism and a centrifugal container having a longitudinal axis. The rotational mechanism has a circuit including an electrical motor, a switch, and an internal electrical power source. The centrifugal container is operably connected to the rotational mechanism through the housing, and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The centrifuge is portable and is for single use.

A system and method are provided for performing predictive permeation on the skin of a patient, particularly where the skin has no corneum. For this purpose, a device is provided which has an elongated probe, with an electrode array that extends along an active segment of the probe. Also, a voltage source is connected to the electrode array to generate an electric field. Operationally, an electro-conductive emulsion is applied onto the skin of the patient where the predictive permeation procedure is to be performed and the probe is positioned to contact the skin to be treated. The emulsion then interacts with the electric field that is generated by the electrode array to increase the permeability of the skin. Particles from a blood sample of the patient are included in the emulsion, and are introduced into the skin during the predictive permeation procedure to increase skin density.

Blood separation systems and methods are provided for controlling the interface between separated blood components. The system includes a centrifuge assembly having a light-transmissive portion, a light reflector, and a fluid processing region therebetween. An optical sensor system emits a scanning light beam along a path toward the light-transmissive portion, which transmits at least a portion of the scanning light beam to the fluid processing region and the light reflector. The light reflector reflects at least a portion of the scanning light beam toward the optical sensor system along a path substantially coaxial to the path of the scanning light beam from the optical sensor system toward the light-transmissive portion of the centrifuge assembly. The scanning light beam may be a white light beam or narrow spectrum beam. The reflected beam may be directed through the optical sensor system via optical fibers.

Provided is a centrifugation method for extracting a target component from an object including: providing a centrifugal container including a first space in an upper portion, a second space in a lower portion, a nozzle connecting the first space and the second space, a second plunger movably received in the second space, and a nozzle blocking member to penetrate the center of the second plunger in a longitudinal direction and to linearly move on the second plunger to selectively open/close a lower end of the nozzle; storing the object; interlayer-separating the object by primarily centrifuging the object; passing only the target component in the object; blocking the lower end of the nozzle by means of the nozzle blocking member; resuspending components remaining in the first space and the nozzle while the nozzle is blocked; and extracting a target component resuspended in the first space.