197 results about "Organismal Process" patented technology

The present invention provides a dissolvable medical sealing device (3, 4; 6, 7; 9) for closing a wound in vessel. A sealing device (3, 4, 6, 7, 9) according to the invention is made of a material that dissolves by means of physical processes, rather than by means of chemical or biological processes. Such a sealing device (3, 4; 6, 7; 9) can be made of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, copolymers containing ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl pyrolidone, or any combinations thereof.

Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.

This invention describes computer based virtual models of complex systems, together with integrated systems and methods providing a development and execution framework for visual modeling and dynamic simulation of said models. The virtual models can be used for analysis, monitoring, or control of the operation of the complex systems modeled, as well as for information retrieval. More particularly, the virtual models in the present implementation relate to biological complex systems. In the current implementation the virtual models comprise building blocks representing physical, chemical, or biological processes, the pools of entities that participate in those processes, a hierarchy of compartments representing time-intervals or the spatial and/or functional structure of the complex system in which said entities are located and said processes take place, and the description of the composition of those entities. The building blocks encapsulate in different layers the information, data, and mathematical models that characterize and define each virtual model, and a plurality of methods is associated with their components. The models are built by linking instances of the building blocks in a predefined way, which, when integrated by the methods provided in this invention, result in multidimensional networks of pathways. A number of functions and graphical interfaces can be selected for said instances of building blocks, to extract in various forms the information contained in said models. Those functions include: a) on-the-fly creation of displays of interactive multidimensional networks of pathways, according to user selections; b) dynamic quantitative simulations of selected networks; and c) complex predefined queries based on the relative position of pools of entities in the pathways, the role that the pools play in different processes, the location in selected compartments, and/or the structural components of the entities of those pools. The system integrates inferential control with quantitative and scaled simulation methods, and provides a variety of alternatives to deal with complex dynamic systems and with incomplete and constantly evolving information and data.

Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in the concentration of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), hydrogen ions, and nucleotide triphosphates.

An interbody spinal implant, such as a solid-body or composite implant, includes at least one graft contact surface as one or more of the internal surfaces of the implant. The graft contact surface, for example, having at least one ridge or groove is designed to contact and promote retention and stabilization of bone growth-inducing materials placed within the internal openings of the implant body. In addition, the ridges or grooves may influence the biological processes to promote bone healing and fusion. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the graft contact surfaces and other surface topographies on the implant.

Methods of identifying proteases participating in heparanase activation, methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful in modulating heparanase activation and methods of modulating biological processes depending, at least in part, on heparanase activity are disclosed.

A method for fluidization of a particulate bed material in a fluidized bed reactor with an upflow of fliud being treated, wherein a step of recycling said treated fluid is provided and further comprising the steps of (a) uniformly collecting at least a portion of the fluid above the fluidized bed and lifting this fluid by at least one gaslift having an intake above the bed, and (b) recycling the lifted fluid under the bed via at least one downcomer positioned within the bed. An generic apparatus for conducting the method steps in a variety of applications is also provided. The fluidized bed reactor can be used for chemical, physical chemical, biological processes, and combinations thereof in the chemical processing, food, environmental and other industries.

The present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and applications for treating wastewater, and more particularly to biological processes for removing pollutants from wastewater. This invention further relates to apparatus and methods for growing microbes on-site at a wastewater treatment facility, and for economically inoculating sufficient microbes to solve various treatment problems rapidly

A stormwater treatment system and method for removing sediment, chemical pollutants, and debris from stormwater runoff by utilizing bioretention practices including physical, chemical and biological processes by passing stormwater runoff water through a multi-phase filtering and treatment train. Stormwater is initially directed to and enters a pretreatment collection chamber located within or exterior of a primarily open-bottomed, multi-dimensional container whereby entrained sediment and other transportable materials are captured and collected prior to continued transport, filtration and treatment through a media filter layer. A live plant (preferably a tree) situated within the container with roots resident in the media filter layer with the ability for expansion beyond the perimeter of the container through openings in one or more sidewalls. The treated water may be further conveyed to a separate compartment or storage area for additional filtration and temporary collection and storage, or discharged exterior of the container. A vertically positioned overflow/bypass piping apparatus may be included within the stormwater treatment system to provide additional water conveyance. Additional ancillary filtration and storage facilities may be connected to the described stormwater treatment system as conditions warrant.

One aspect of the present invention relates to magnetic nanoparticles colloidally stabilized in aqueous milieu by association with an organic phase. The organic phase may be either a fluorinated polymer or an organic hydrocarbon bilayer, wherein the two layers are chemically bonded to each other. The stabilized particles are further non-toxic and provide useful enhancements in bioprocesses. Another aspect of the present invention relates to compositions comprising an oxygen-dissolving fluid vehicle and surface modified, nanometer-sized magnetic particles. The inventive compositions have utility in a wide range of applications, but are particularly suitable for use as recyclable oxygen carriers, separation and purification vehicles, and bioprocessing media, including fermentation processes.

An expandable medical device includes a plurality of elongated struts, forming a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. A plurality of different beneficial agents may be loaded into different openings within the struts for delivery to the tissue. For treatment of conditions such as restenosis, different beneficial agents are loaded into different openings in the device to address different biological processes involved in restenosis and are delivered at different release kinetics matched to the biological process treated. The different beneficial agents may also be used to address different diseases, such as restenosis and acute myocardial infarction from the same drug delivery device. In addition, anti-thrombotic agents may be affixed to at least a portion of the surfaces of the medical device for the prevention of sub-acute thrombosis.

The present invention provides compounds useful for inhibiting the ADAM-10 protein, with selectivity versus MMP-1. Such compounds are useful in the in vitro study of the role of ADAM-10 (and its inhibition) in biological processes. The present invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more ADAM-10 inhibitors according to the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such compositions are useful for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, and diseases related to angiogenesis. Correspondingly, the invention also comprises methods of treating forms of cancer, arthritis, and diseases related to angiogenesis in which ADAM-10 plays a critical role.

Compact, low-power-consuming systems and methods for exposing samples to high-energy radiation, for example, for exposing samples to x-rays for implementing x-ray absorption near edge analysis (XANES). The systems and methods include a low-power-consuming radiation source, such as an x-ray tube; one or more tunable crystal optics for directing and varying the energy of the radiation onto a sample under analysis; and a radiation detecting device, such as an x-ray detector, for detecting radiation emitted by the sample. The one or more tunable crystal optics may be doubly-curved crystal optics. The components of the system may be arranged in a collinear fashion. The disclosed systems and methods are particularly applicable to XANES analysis, for example, XANES analysis of the chemical state of chromium or another transition metal in biological processes.

An Intermodal container, also known as an ISO Ocean Freight Container is suitable for the dual purposes of bio-containment and also Intermodal shipping. Provision is made for the introduction of water, oxygen or other liquids or gasses to be treated into the container, for exit of liquids or gasses generated or converted in the container, and for the monitoring of biological processes occurring within the container, all in a liquid impervious container. Improved air ducts and flow paths are provided, while the effects of shrinkage and channeling are reduced, through a strategically placed and relative percentage of openings through the floor. Further improvements in air distribution are achieved by an elimination or substantial reduction in percentage of opening through the floor in areas immediately adjacent to the container side walls. The flooring incorporates a self-cleaning hole design which increases in diameter with increasing distance from the container contents. The increases in diameter may be achieved either through smooth and continuous increases, or through discontinuous increments, though the objective regardless of the approach is to ensure that the holes do not clog either when the container is filled with matter, or when vibrated and jolted during handling and transport.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) and L-carntine (LCAR) are nutraceuticals with indications in treating a variety of mental health disorders. A metabolomics-guided bioprocess method is presented to enhance ALCAR and LCAR formation in germinating plant seeds. Metabolic fluxes are manipulated by germination in bioreactors to increase oxygen availability as well as provide an aseptic environment to alter carbohydrate consumption and feedback repress gluconeogenesis. Large shifts in sunflower seed fatty acid, phospholipid and high-energy metabolism change the germination environment and these metabolic changes lead to an approximate 1000-fold increase in natural LCAR and ALCAR production by the seeds. The resulting LCAR and ALCAR products from the seeds are used for treating mental health disorders including Alzheimer's disease, geriatric depression, non-geriatric depression and schizophrenia.

A process for converting carbon material into fuel bases comprising two liquefaction stages in the presence of hydrogen in a boiling-bed reactor containing a supported catalyst and integrating a hydrogen production stage generated by non-fossil sources that do not emit CO₂. The hydrogen production stage comprises the gasification of biomass and/or the decomposition of water, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen chloride or hydrogen sulfide by thermal, electrolytic, chemical or biological processes. The thus produced hydrogen is sent into at least one of the liquefaction stages.

A process and apparatus for the treatment of septage, particularly grease trap waste, is disclosed. The inventive process will convert the septage into Biosolids (sludge) and water dischargeable to the environment. The treated septage achieves pathogen reduction, and reduced vector attraction. Treatment of septage by pasteurization causes the destruction of harmful pathogens. Pasteurization of septage having high water content provides for even temperature elevation and distribution of heat within the thermal mass of the septage allowing for consistent pathogen destruction. An alkaline compound is utilized to form a filter cake from the solids fraction of the pasteurized septage preventing vector attraction, while producing a beneficial bio-solid. The liquid fraction of the septage is treated by biological process allowing for its discharge into the environment.