An oral irrigator with back flow prevention is described. The oral irrigator may include a reservoir, a base, a handle, and a one-way or unidirectional valve. The base may support the reservoir and include a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir. The handle may be positioned external the base and in fluid communication with the pump via a hose. The valve may be positioned external the base to inhibit or seal fluid from flowing from a downstream side of the valve toward the pump.

Fluid management systems are disclosed that include software-controlled, electro-mechanical devices used in combination with single-use or multi-use tubing sets. Functions of the fluid management systems can include fluid pressurization, fluid warming, fluid deficit monitoring (including flow-based and weight-based), suction, fluid collection, and fluid evacuation (including indirect-to-drain and direct-to-drain options). The systems can be configured based on the surgical environment (e.g., operating room or physician office) as well as other user needs and/or preferences.

The present invention provides methods for treating a stiffened joint in a subject that comprise administering relaxin, e.g., a PEGylated relaxin-2, to the subject. The relaxin may be administered intra-articularly as a sustained release formulation. The present invention also provides sustained release formulations in the form of a hydrogel for administering polypeptides that are covalently attached to a polymer, e.g., PEG.

An apparatus for rinsing sinuses or eyes, comprising a hand crushable container containing saline solution, and a dispenser configured to make a liquid tight seal with the container at one end, and a liquid tight seal with a nostril or an eye socket at the other end.

A syringe mixing device has a cylindrical syringe housing, an end cap, a nozzle cap, a removable stir rod mixer assembly, a large mouth funnel, and optional locking clip. The cylindrical syringe housing has an internal chamber for holding material, a distal end and a proximal end. Adjacent the proximal end is a pair of finger grips. The end cap has a proximal end for attaching to the distal end of the syringe housing. The end cap has a nozzle configured to pass material ejected from the syringe housing. The nozzle cap is for sealing the nozzle. The large mouth funnel is configured to fasten at a throat end to the distal end of the cylindrical syringe housing. The funnel has a slope shaped chamber configured to receive and pass material for mixing into the internal chamber of the syringe housing. The syringe mixing device further has a removable plunger.

An oral irrigator handle for receiving an oral hygiene agent is described. The handle may be connected to a countertop oral irrigator or may be a portion of a handheld oral irrigator. The handle includes a chamber for receiving the oral hygiene agent, where the chamber body positioned within the fluid path of the handle. Fluid flowing into the handle, flows into the chamber, allowing the fluid to intermix with the agent, and then flows from the chamber to a tip connected to the handle.

The invention relates to a liquid applicator, for administering liquids, including vaccines, to animals. In particular, the applicator is useful for delivering liquids to mouths of animals.

The present invention concerns a method for producing a hydrogel comprising the following steps in succession: a first step (i) of providing at least one powder of an anionic polymer (A) and at least one chitosan powder (B) comprising amine functions (—NH.sub.2); a second step (ii) consisting in dry mixing at least the powders (A) and (B) from the first step in order to form a mixture of powders; a third step (iii) of suspending the mixture of powders obtained from the second step in an aqueous medium having a pH that can enable the anionic polymer (A) to be dissolved without dissolving the chitosan (B); a fourth step (iv) of adding an acid to the suspension obtained from the third step in order to form the hydrogel; or the third (iii) and fourth (iv) steps are replaced by a mixing fifth step (v), comprising mixing an acidified aqueous medium including at least one compound (C) comprising at least one unit of a hexose or a unit derived from a hexose, and/or at least one phosphate of said compound (C), with said mixture comprising at least the powders (A) and (B) obtained from the second step (ii).

Irrigation devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. The system comprises a catheter with one or more lumens and an expandable portion. One or more pumps are used to supply a mixture of contrasting and dilating agents in an interior kidney volume and flush a portion of the mixture out of the interior kidney volume. The method comprises placing a catheter into the interior kidney volume through a ureter, occluding a portion of the ureter with a distal end of the catheter, forming an exit port through an exterior kidney surface, flowing the contrasting and dilating agents through the one or more lumens to supply the mixture in the interior kidney volume, and flushing a portion of the mixture out of the exit port.

Irrigation devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. The system comprises a catheter with one or more lumens and an expandable portion. One or more pumps are used to supply a mixture of contrasting and dilating agents in an interior kidney volume and flush a portion of the mixture out of the interior kidney volume. The method comprises placing a catheter into the interior kidney volume through a ureter, occluding a portion of the ureter with a distal end of the catheter, forming an exit port through an exterior kidney surface, flowing the contrasting and dilating agents through the one or more lumens to supply the mixture in the interior kidney volume, and flushing a portion of the mixture out of the exit port.