Alza Corporation

Leland Stanford Junior University

W. R. Grace Co.

Boehringer Ingelheim Gmbh

Alan S Michaels

Alejandro C Zaffaroni

Felix T Theeuwes

Stanley N Cohen

Harold M Leeper

Channing R Robertson

Patrick S Wong

Su Il Yum

Jacob Block

Santosh K Chandrasekaran

Siegfried Darda

Anthony J Appleby

Richard G Buckles

Hemant Jalan

Jeremy C Wright

John D Bashaw

Douglas S Inloes

Kelly L Smith

William J Smith

Mark S Guillod

Gary W Cleary

Michael W Weiner

An improved method and electrolytic cell for the oxidation of nitrogen-containing waste materials in a dialysate stream used for hemodialysis, hemofiltration or peritoneal dialysis comprises a cylinder having a porous anode and a porous cathode spaced apart in the direction of flow. By flowing the spent dialysate in the direction from the anode to the cathode, and applying sufficient voltage to oxidize chloride ion present to activated chlorine, the waste materials are oxidized to chlorinated intermediates. In the vicinity of the cathode, the chlorinated intermediates react further to yield to nitrogen and carbon dioxide, with the chlorine being reduced back to chloride ion. In this way, the dialysate is regenerated without the net evolution of undesirable chlorine species.

Flowthrough electrochemical hemodialysate regeneration

A dispenser is disclosed comprising a housing formed of a semipermeable polymer having a hydrophilic polymer grafted thereto. The housing surrounds a container made of an elastomeric material and the container has an outlet through the housing to the exterior of the dispenser.

Dispenser constructed with semipermeable polymer-hydrophilic polymer wall

A system is disclosed for dispensing an useful agent. The system comprises (1) means for storing an agent, (2) an agent stored in the means, (3) means for releasing agent from the system, (4) means for absorbing fluid into the system surrounding the storing means, and (5) means for admitting fluid into the system. In operation fluid is admitted into the system by the admitting means cooperating with the absorbing means, causing it to increase in dimensions and apply force against the storing means, which force urges the storing means to decrease its dimensions and correspondingly dispense agent through the releasing means from the system. Laminates are disclosed useful for manufacturing the system.

Microporous film with polymer in pores for regulating passage of fluid

Hollow fiber reactors for growing microbial cells. Isotropic hollow fibers are supported in a housing inoculated with cells. Nutrient medium passing through the lumen undergoes a pressure drop resulting in radial convective flow: the nutrient medium flows outwardly from the lumen into the surrounding area adjacent the entry port and fluid surrounding the hollow fiber flows into the lumen adjacent the exit port. With the efficient distribution of nutrients and removal of product, high cell densities are achieved providing for high product yields per unit reactor volume.

Method of using isotropic, porous-wall polymeric membrane, hollow-fibers

Methods for microbiological processing of organic materials for production of valuable products. Asymmetric hollow fibers are employed in a flow reactor, where the hollow fibers have a semipermeable membrane surrounding a lumen, where the semipermeable membrane is supported by a sponge structure. The pores of the sponge structure serve as a housing for microorganisms or cells with high density packing of the microorganisms or cells in the pores. Nutrient medium continuously flowing through the lumen provides nutrients to the microorganisms or cells as well as any substrates to be processed by the microorganisms or cells. The nutrients and substrates diffuse through the semipermeable membrane into the pores, where they are processed, and the metabolic products diffuse into the lumen. The lumen effluent is then processed for the desired products. Optionally, oxygen is provided external to the hollow fiber to enhance the amount of oxygen available to the microorganisms and cells.

Microbiological methods using hollow fiber membrane reactor

A process for forming polymeric particles from water-soluble polymers by introducing the polymer into an aqueous salt solution in which the salt is of a composition and present in an amount sufficient to inhibit solubilization of the polymer therein and subsequently introducing into the aqueous medium a multifunctional reagent and mixing said aqueous medium for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause reaction between the polymer and the reagent. The resultant solid polymer is readily recovered.

Method of forming polymer particles

Poly(vinyl acetate) latex reacted with an aldehyde at acid pH to prepare crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) suitable as water-loss agent in drilling fluids.

Method of preparing crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)

A dispenser is disclosed comprising a housing formed of a laminate of a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer layer grafted to a noncross-linked hydrophilic layer. The housing surrounds a container made of an elastomeric material and the container has an outlet through the housing to the exterior of the dispenser.

Dispenser powered by cross-linked hydrophilic polymer grafted to

An osmotically driven fluid dispenser is disclosed comprising a flexible container having a port for filling and emptying same, a layer of an osmotically effective solute on the container, and a shape retaining microporous housing having a fluid rate controlling material in its micropores. The dispenser can be used for delivering fluids and solid agents, and as a displacement pump.

Dispenser for delivering fluids and solids

Unit system having multiplicity of means for dispensing useful agent

Method and compositions are provided concerning stable supersaturated aqueous solutions of sparingly soluble inorganic salts. The method involves exceeding the solubility level of a sparingly soluable inorganic salt in water at ambient temperatures in the presence of polyanionic polyelectrolyte having a molecular weight of at least about 900 daltons and an ionic equivalent weight of not greater than about 65 and at least five ionizable groups per molecule. The solubility level may be exceeded by cooling a saturated solution of the sparingly soluble salt, preparing the sparingly soluble salt in situ, or adding a soluble salt having a common ion with the sparingly soluble salt to a concentrated or saturated solution of the sparingly soluble salt.

Stable supersaturated solutions of sparingly soluble salts

A self-powered cervical dilator is disclosed. The dilator comprises (1) an expandable housing positioned around (2) a swellable laminate, which laminate surrounds (3) a support member. The laminate comprises (a) a lamina formed of an absorbent material laminated to (b) a lamina formed of a swellable polymer facing the housing. In operation, when the dilator is in the cervical canal, fluid therefrom is imbibed by the laminate into the dilator causing the laminate to swell and apply pressure against and expand the housing, which housing correspondingly exerts force against the walls of the cervical canal thereby dilating the canal.

Cervical dilator

A self-powered device for delivering drug is disclosed. The device comprises (1) a substantially rigid housing, (2) a collapsible container storing a drug and having a passageway for delivering the drug in the housing, and (3) an expandable laminate positioned between the housing and the container. The laminate comprises (a) a lamina formed of an absorbent material laminated to (b) a lamina placed adjacent to the container and formed of a swellable hydrophilic polymer. In operation, when the device is in a biological environment, fluid from the environment is imbibed by the laminate into the housing causing the laminate to expand and exert pressure on the container, thereby collapsing the container and concomitantly pumping drug through the passageway from the device at a correspondingly controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.

Device using hydrophilic polymer for delivering drug to biological

Device for delivering drug to a fluid environment

Therapeutic system in the form of a skin patch that administers clonidine transdermally in an initial priming dose of 10 to 300 mcg/cm.sup.2 of skin that brings the concentration of clonidine in the blood to a level sufficient to elicit alpha-adrenergic stimulation without intolerable side effects, followed by a substantially constant continuous dosage in the range of 0.1 to 100 mcg/hr that maintains said level. The system is a four-layer laminate of, from the top: a protective backing; a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-clonidine reservoir lamina that is the source of the clonidine for the continuous constant dosage; a microporous membrane that controls the constant dosage rate; and a gelled, mineral oil-polyisobutene-clonidine contact adhesive layer that is the source of the clonidine for the priming dose and the means by which the system is attached to the skin.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Alan S Michaels