Methods of manufacturing tissue interfacing components, such as solid needles comprising one or more therapeutic agents, are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for manufacturing a tissue interfacing component comprises compressing a granular therapeutic agent within a mold cavity of a mold to form a solid tissue interfacing component. The mold cavity may define an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis from an opening of the mold cavity to a distal end of the mold cavity, and the granular therapeutic agent may be compressed by moving a mold punch along the longitudinal axis towards the distal end. After compressing the granular therapeutic agent to form the solid tissue interfacing component, the tissue interfacing component may be removed from the mold and subsequently inserted into tissue to deliver the therapeutic agent to a subject.

An herb vaporizing apparatus includes an herb receiving port, a grinder to grind the herb, and a heating chamber for heating the ground herb to create a vapor. A first end of the heating chamber is positioned closer to a top of the apparatus than a second end of the heating chamber, such that the ground herb generally moves in at least a partially downward direction as it travels through the heating chamber. The apparatus further includes a screw feeder positioned within the heating chamber that rotates and moves the ground herb within the heating chamber. The apparatus further includes an air pump for pumping vapor out of the heating chamber and a valve positioned along an airway between the heating chamber and a vapor output. The valve permits air and the vapor to move from the heating chamber to the vapor output only while the air pump is activated.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A treatment system delivers a breathing gas and frozen ice or other particles (FSP) to a bronchus of a lung of a patient in order to induce hypothermia. The breathing gas and the FSP are usually delivered through separate lumens. Clogging of an FSP lumen can be inhibited by heating and/or cooling of the lumen. The temperature of exhaled gases or a body temperature may be measured, and a controller can adjust the duration or rate at which the ice particles are delivered in order to control the patient's core temperature based on the measured temperature.

A treatment system delivers a breathing gas and frozen ice or other particles (FSP) to a bronchus of a lung of a patient in order to induce hypothermia. The breathing gas and the FSP are usually delivered through separate lumens. Clogging of an FSP lumen can be inhibited by heating and/or cooling of the lumen. The temperature of exhaled gases or a body temperature may be measured, and a controller can adjust the duration or rate at which the ice particles are delivered in order to control the patient's core temperature based on the measured temperature.

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.

An oral appliance for the treatment of sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, in a user is presented. The oral appliance may include a mouthpiece configured to receive a user's dentition. The mouthpiece may include an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, an airflow sensor, an actigraphy sensor, a noise detector, and at least one stimulator for providing stimulation to a user's tongue in the event of decreased oxygen saturation levels, increased pressure applied to occlusal surfaces of the user's dentition, decreased actual airflow levels and/or increased noise levels. The mouthpiece may be provided with pharmaceutical compound reservoirs that deliver pharmaceutical compounds to the oral mucosa of the user, which compounds treat symptoms of sleep apnea. The mouthpiece may further include a microprocessor that receives data from the oxygen sensor, pressure sensor, airflow sensor, actigraphy sensor and noise detector, and activates the at least one stimulator and/or pharmaceutical compound reservoirs.

A laser heater assembly for a vaporizer includes a power source, a laser source, a lens, and a reaction chamber. The lens is disposed within the optical path. During operation, the laser source emits light, the light propagating along an optical path during operation of the light source. The lens receives the emitted light from the laser source, and outputs a modified light having an energy profile that is substantially spatially uniform. The modified light traverses at least a portion of an opening of the reaction chamber and vaporizes a vaporization substance (e.g., a dry plant material) received within the reaction chamber. The emitted light can be collimated light, and the modified light can be a homogeneous line profile beam.

The present invention provides a method for producing condensation aerosols for the treatment of disease and/or chronic, intermittent or acute conditions. These condensation aerosols are produced from drugs including temperature sensitive drugs and small molecule drugs that are coated onto a foil substrate which is heated via electrical resistance heating at precisely controlled temperature profiles with controllable ramp-up and heating rates to vaporize the coated drug which subsequently condenses to form aerosol particles. These condensation aerosols have little or no degradation products. Kits comprising a drug and a device for producing a condensation aerosol are also provided. Also disclosed, are methods for using these aerosols and kits and methods of making the aerosols.

A device for removing obstructive material from a patient may include an elongate rotational member having a distal end and a proximal end, an internal irrigation catheter at least partially surrounding the rotational member, and an aspiration catheter at least partially surrounding the rotational member and the irrigation catheter. The distal portion of the rotational member is configured to change compliance of the obstructive material and facilitate obstructive material aspiration outside the patient.