A drug dosage form is provided in the form of a solid tablet which is greater than 50% by weight the local anesthetic agent. The local anesthetic agent may be selected from the group consisting of an aminoamide, an aminoester, and a combination thereof. The drug tablet may be in the form of a mini-tablet which is greater than 70 wt % drug, with the balance being excipient. For example, the anesthetic agent may include lidocaine, in a salt or base form, combined with binder and lubricant excipients. Implantable drug delivery devices including the tablets are also provided, e.g., one or more of the drug tablets may be contained in a biocompatible housing. The drug tablets may be substantially cylindrical with flat end faces, and the device may have from 10 to 100 drug tablets aligned in the housing with the flat end faces of adjacent tablets abutting one another.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature and in particular for inducing therapeutic hypothermia. Various embodiments of the system are described. The system includes: a source of breathing gas, which may be in the form of a compressed breathing gas mixture; a heat exchanger or other heating and/or cooling device; and a breathing interface, such as a breathing mask or tracheal tube. Optionally, the system may include additional features, such as a mechanical respirator, a nebulizer for introducing medication into the breathing gas, a body temperature probe and a feedback controller. The system can use air or a specialized breathing gas mixture, such as He/O.sub.2 or SF/O.sub.2 to increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, the system may include an ice particle generator for introducing fine ice particles into the flow of breathing gas to further increase the heat transfer rate.

Some embodiments are directed to a compliance monitor for monitoring usage of a medicament delivery device that includes a store of medicament, and a medicament dispenser for delivering a dose of medicament. The compliance monitor includes a compliance monitor housing configured to attach to the medicament delivery device, a dose detector for determining when a dose of medicament is dispensed, and a recognition module for identifying the properties of the medicament delivery device.

Some embodiments are directed to a compliance monitor for monitoring usage of a medicament delivery device that includes a store of medicament, and a medicament dispenser for delivering a dose of medicament. The compliance monitor includes a compliance monitor housing configured to attach to the medicament delivery device, a dose detector for determining when a dose of medicament is dispensed, and a recognition module for identifying the properties of the medicament delivery device.

A method of treating diverticulitis while maintaining the bioactivity of the diverticulum. The devices and methods include placing an endoscopic device within a colonic lumen relative to at least one diverticulum and inserting a plurality of particles into the at least one diverticulum. The plurality of particles can include magnetic particles, non-magnetic particles, or both. The plurality of particles can partially or totally occlude the diverticulum preventing unwanted material from entering the diverticulum. Additionally, the plurality of particles can include antimicrobial and therapeutic layers that can treat diverticulitis and prevent or minimize diverticulitis from occurring.

The present invention is directed toward particles for delivery of epinephrine to the respiratory system and methods for treating a patient in need of epinephrine. The particles and respirable compositions comprising the particles of the present invention described herein comprise the bioactive agent epinephrine, or a salt thereof, as a therapeutic agent. The particles are preferably formed by spray drying. Preferably, the particles and the respirable compositions are substantially dry and are substantially free of propellents. In a preferred embodiment, the particles have aerodynamic characteristics that permit targeted delivery of epinephrine to the site(s) of action.

Dose delivery device with partially or fully surrounding cover may be removed to open fluid communication with a dose chamber. The cover may allow an inhaler to be stored in sterile or otherwise in a controlled environment prior to use, and removal of the cover may automatically prepare the inhaler for use.

Dose delivery device with partially or fully surrounding cover may be removed to open fluid communication with a dose chamber. The cover may allow an inhaler to be stored in sterile or otherwise in a controlled environment prior to use, and removal of the cover may automatically prepare the inhaler for use.

A pneumatic autoinjector that, once activated, automatically mixes at least two components in a pre-filled chamber and then ejects the mixture in a manner suitable for medicament injection. The mixable components may be a dry/wet combination (e.g., powder and solvent), wet/wet combination (e.g., two pre-diluted medicaments), wet/gas combination (e.g., chemical A and gas B), or gas/gas combination. In some embodiments, autoinjectors made in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure may automatically perform a sequence comprising thorough medicament mixing (e.g., reconstitution of a dried medicament with solvent), an optional pause to enhance medicament dissolution or suspension, optional needle insertion into the patient (not required in needle-free embodiments), medicament injection into the patient, and optional needle retraction for safe storage.

An aerosol generating device and an extraction method, for use in enabling an aerosol generating product to generate an aerosol, are provided. The aerosol generating product includes a first segment and a second segment. The second segment is exposed outside the aerosol generating device during use. The aerosol generating device includes a main body and a housing defining a receiving cavity for accommodating the first segment.The main body further includes a heater configured to heat the aerosol generating product to generate an aerosol, and a protector configured to move from a first position to a second position along with the first segment in response to an extraction force applied to the second segment. The first position is a stroke start point of the protector inside the aerosol generating device. The second position is a stroke end point of the protector inside the aerosol generating device.