327 results about "Mucosal tissue" patented technology

The present invention is directed toward formulation and method for oral transmucosal delivery of a pharmaceutical. The invention provides a drug formulation comprising a solid pharmaceutical agent in solid solution with a dissolution agent. The formulation is administered into a patient's oral cavity, delivering the pharmaceutical agent by absorption through a patient's oral mucosal tissue. The formulation and method provide for improved oral mucosal delivery of the pharmaceutical agent.

Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including a cationic antiseptic such as biguanides and bisbiguanides such as chlorhexidine and its various salts including but not limited to the digluconate, diacetate, dimethosulfate, and dilactate salts; polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds such as polyhexamethylenebiguanide; silver and various silver complexes; small molecule quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzalkoium chloride and alkyl substituted derivatives; di-long chain alkyl (C8-C18) quaternary ammonium compounds; cetylpyridinium halides and their derivatives; benzethonium chloride and its alkyl substituted derivatives; and octenidine. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and / or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and / or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

Apparatus and methods for internal surgical procedures are disclosed. The apparatus and methods may involve supporting internal body locations, creating submucosal separations (blebs), and / or for resecting mucosal tissue separated from underlying tissue by a bleb.

The present invention generally relates to reducing the mucoadhesive properties of a particle. In some embodiments, the particle is coated with and / or associated with a (poly(ethylene glycol))-(poly(propylene oxide))-(poly(ethylene glycol)) triblock copolymer. Methods for preparing inventive particles using a poly(ethylene glycol)-vitamin E conjugate as a surfactant are also provided. In some embodiments, methods are provided comprising administering to a subject a composition of particles of the present invention. Such particles with reduced mucoadhesive properties are useful in delivering agents to mucosal tissues such as oral, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, nasal, respiratory, and genital mucosal tissues.

Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including, in particular, an antimicrobial lipid component, such as a fatty acid ester, fatty ether, or alkoxide derivative thereof. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and / or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and / or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including an antiseptic selected from the group consisting of halogenated phenols, bisphenols, diphenyl ethers, anilides and derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and / or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and / or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).

The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising lethally irradiated bacteria formulated for mucosal delivery. The present invention further provides methods of preparing a subject immunogenic composition. The present invention further provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual to an antigen, the method generally involving administering a subject immunogenic composition to a mucosal tissue of the individual.

The present invention generally relates to reducing the mucoadhesive properties of a particle. In some embodiments, the particle is coated with and / or associated with a (poly(ethylene glycol))-(poly(propylene oxide))-(poly(ethylene glycol)) triblock copolymer. Methods for preparing inventive particles using a poly(ethylene glycol)-vitamin E conjugate as a surfactant are also provided. In some embodiments, methods are provided comprising administering to a subject a composition of particles of the present invention. Such particles with reduced mucoadhesive properties are useful in delivering agents to mucosal tissues such as oral, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, nasal, respiratory, and genital mucosal tissues.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for performing endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection of tissue. In a first embodiment, a hood member having a hood portion and a lever portion is provided. The hood portion is adapted to be disposed over a distal region of an endoscope. A portion of the lever portion is configured to be inserted beneath a section of mucosal tissue having a lesion, and the lever portion is configured to be rotated or otherwise maneuvered to lift the mucosal tissue in an upward direction, thereby facilitating removal of the tissue comprising the lesion. Optionally, a surgeon may advance a needle knife through the endoscope and lever portion to further incise submucosal tissue while the lever portion is disposed beneath the lesion. If desired, a flushing fluid may be provided to a target site during the procedure.

The present invention relates to mucoadhesive drug delivery devices and their methods of preparation and use. More specifically the present invention relates to mucoadhesive drug delivery devices comprising one or more biocompatible purified proteins combined with one or more biocompatible solvents and one or more mucoadhesive agents. The mucoadhesive drug delivery devices may also include one or more pharmacologically active agents. The drug delivery devices of the present invention adhere to mucosal tissue, thereby providing a vehicle for delivery of the pharmacologically active agent(s) through such tissue.

A rapidly dissolving film is provided for delivery of an active agent to a moist body surface, e.g., mucosal tissue. The film comprises a film-forming binder, a rapidly dissolving polymeric material, and an active agent.

Methods are provided for enhancing the permeability of skin or mucosal tissue to topical or transdermal application of pharmacologically or cosmeceutically active agents. The methods entail the use of a base in order to increase the flux of the active agent through a body surface while minimizing the likelihood of skin damage, irritation or sensitization. The permeation enhancer can be an inorganic or organic base. Compositions and transdermal systems are also described.

The present invention is related to the composition and methods of manufacture of orally-dissolvable, edible films as a vehicle for the non-invasive administration of active drugs through the mucosal tissues of the oral cavity. The films include a water soluble film-forming polymer such as pullulan. Methods for producing the films are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a method for treating a human having a disease associated with leukocyte infiltration of mucosal tissues, comprising administering to said human an effective amount of a human or humanized immunoglobulin or antigen-binding fragment thereof having binding specificity for α4β7 integrin. Preferably, no more than about 8 mg immunoglobulin or fragment per kg body weight are administered during a period of about one month.

The present invention provides novel compositions and methods for protecting and promoting cell growth and restoring physiological structure and function to mucosal tissue of the body, especially mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract. The composition can be used as a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical to treat a gastrointestinal disorder or to promote general health of an animal, preferably a human. The composition is in an oral dosage form and comprises edible oil homogenized with a sterol compound at a concentration of at least 0.5% by weight and edible wax at a concentration ranging from 3% to 30% by weight. The composition can also be used to deliver other active ingredients to the gastrointestinal tract for treating various diseases.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

An impedance spectroscopy system for monitoring ischemic mucosal damage in hollow viscous organs comprises a sensor catheter and an impedance spectrometer for electrically driving the catheter to obtain a complex tissue impedance spectrum. Once the catheter is in place in one of a patient's hollow viscous organs, the impedance spectrometer obtains the complex impedance spectrum by causing two electrodes in the tip of the catheter to inject a current into the mucosal tissue at different frequencies, while two other electrodes measure the resulting voltages. A pattern recognition system is then used to analyze the complex impedance spectrum and to quantify the severity of the mucosal injury. Alternatively, the complex impedance spectrum can be appropriately plotted against the spectrum of normal tissue, allowing for a visual comparison by trained personnel.

Devices and methods for treating rhinitis are described where the devices are configured to ablate a single nerve branch or multiple nerve branches of the posterior nasal nerves located within the nasal cavity. A surgical probe may be inserted into the sub-mucosal space of a lateral nasal wall and advanced towards a posterior nasal nerve associated with a middle nasal turbinate or an inferior nasal turbinate into a position proximate to the posterior nasal nerve where neuroablation of the posterior nasal nerve may be performed with the surgical probe. The probe device may utilize a visible light beacon that provides trans-illumination of the sub-mucosal tissue or an expandable structure disposed in the vicinity of the distal end of the probe shaft to enable the surgeon to visualize the sub-mucosal position of the distal end of the surgical probe from inside the nasal cavity using, e.g., an endoscope.

A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments include a method for increasing the adhesion between tissue and the film or covering.

A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments may include one or more therapeutic substances for locally reducing pain, facilitating healing and / or otherwise treating mucosal tissue at or near a tonsil bed.

A tissue treatment device comprises an elongate member including a lumen extending therethrough and an inflatable member mounted to the distal portion of the elongated member and surrounding an opening of the lumen, an outer surface of the inflatable member including a conductive region having a first degree of energy conductivity and a non-conductive region having a second degree of energy conductivity lower than the first degree of energy conductivity and an energy source supplying energy to the inflatable member to transfer energy from the conductive region to target tissue. A method of ablating tissue comprises lifting the target mucosal tissue from underlying tissue and inserting a distal end of an endoscope to a desired position relative to the target mucosal tissue in combination with inserting an elongated member including an inflatable member mounted thereto through the endoscope to the desired position, the inflatable member including a conductive region having a first degree of energy conductivity and a non-conductive region having a second degree of energy conductivity, the second degree of energy conductivity being lower than the first degree of energy conductivity, inflating the inflatable member to place the conductive region in contact with the target mucosal tissue and supplying energy to the inflatable member to transfer energy from the conductive region to the target mucosal tissue.

The present invention relates to a humanized immunoglobulin that has binding specificity for α4β7 integrin and comprises the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of mouse Act-1 antibody, and to the humanized light chain of the humanized immunoglobulin. The present invention further relates to a humanized immunoglobulin light chain. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids, recombinant vectors and host cells that comprise a sequence which encodes a humanized immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin light chain, and to a method of preparing a humanized immunoglobulin. The humanized immunoglobulins can be used in therapeutic applications, for example to control lymphocyte infiltration to mucosal tissue or to treat inflammatory bowel disease.

The present invention relates to mucoadhesive drug delivery devices and their methods of preparation and use. More specifically the present invention relates to mucoadhesive drug delivery devices comprising one or more biocompatible purified proteins combined with one or more biocompatible solvents and one or more mucoadhesive agents. The mucoadhesive drug delivery devices may also include one or more pharmacologically active agents. The drug delivery devices of the present invention adhere to mucosal tissue, thereby providing a vehicle for delivery of the pharmacologically active agent(s) through such tissue.

An endotracheal tube for mechanically ventilating patients is disclosed. The endotracheal tube comprises a distal end for insertion into the patient's airway, past the vocal chords, through the subglottal region, and into the patient's lung; and a proximal end for connection to a mechanical ventilator. The endotracheal tube further comprises a cuff at the distal end of the endotracheal tube to be located in the subglottal region of the patient below the vocal chords, an inflating lumen for inflating the cuff, and a suction lumen having a suction inlet port leading from the outer surface of the endotracheal tube, and to be located in the subglottal region, for evacuating secretions and / or rinsing fluid from the subglottal region during the mechanical ventilation of the patient. The distal end of the endotracheal tube is formed with an outer surface configuration effective to prevent blockage of the suction inlet port by the cuff or by tracheal mucosal tissue of the patient during a negative pressure condition in the suction lumen.

The present invention is related to the composition and methods of manufacture of orally-dissolvable, edible films as a vehicle for the non-invasive administration of nitroglycerin, as well as other therapeutic agents either with or without nitroglycerin, through the mucosal tissues of the oral cavity. The films include a water soluble film-forming polymer such as pullulan. Methods for producing the films are also disclosed.

A device for providing fractional treatment of a body orifice includes a source of fractionated energy and a source of electrical muscle (EMS) energy. A programmed controller controls the application of fractionated and / or EMS energy. A probe is inserted by its distal end into the body orifice. The source of fractionated energy is positioned for transmitting fractionated energy from the source of fractionated energy through the probe to tissue in the vicinity around the body orifice; and, the source of EMS is positioned for transmitting EMS energy from the source of EMS energy through the probe to tissue in the vicinity around the body orifice. The programmed controller is configured to control the activation of fractionated energy and EMS energy one of simultaneously or sequentially.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

The invention relates to an oral drug delivery system which delivers biologically active substances to the mucosal tissue of the intestine utilizing novel polymerized liposomes. Novel polymerizable fatty acids having a polymerizable group, a surfactant group, and a functional group, and optionally coupled to ligands which target mucosal tissue in the intestine are disclosed. Novel negatively charged polymerizable lipids which have phosphatidyl inositol (PI), phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) or phosphatidyl serine (PS) groups on a polymerizable backbone are also described.

The invention relates to an oral drug delivery system which delivers biologically active substances to the mucosal tissue of the intestine utilizing novel polymerized liposomes. Novel polymerizable fatty acids having a polymerizable group, a surfactant group, and a functional group, and optionally coupled to ligands which target mucosal tissue in the intestine are disclosed. Novel negatively charged polymerizable lipids which have phosphatidyl inositol (PI), phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) or phosphatidyl serine (PS) groups on a polymerizable backbone are also described.

Fastening devices are provided that are designed to effectively close tissue as well as instruments for applying the inventive fastening devices. The devices are useful for closing tissue such as mucosa in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, laryngeal surfaces, oronasopharynx, or other mucosal tissues. In particular, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), uvulopalatal flap (UPF) technique, and tonsillectomy can be assisted using the inventive system. Embodiments also provide methods of using the fastening devices and / or instruments, and kits including the fastening devices.