368results about How to "Improve viability" patented technology

A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H.sub.2, and / or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. A heating rate to a selected volume of the formation may be controlled by altering an amount of heating energy per day that is provided to the selected volume.

A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and / or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may be applied to the formation from heating elements positioned within wellbores. Portions of the heater elements may be free to move within the wellbores to inhibit failure of the heater elements due to thermal expansion.

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and / or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and / or viability of the harvested tissue.

The invention provides for translating two-dimensional microfabrication technology into the third dimension. Two-dimensional templates are fabricated using high-resolution molding processes. These templates are then bonded to form three-dimensional scaffold structures with closed lumens. The scaffolds can serve as the template for cell adhesion and growth by cells that are added to the scaffolds through the vessels, holes or pores. These scaffolds can be formed by layering techniques, to interconnect flat template sheets to build up a fully vascularized organ.

Synthetic and isolated translational regulatory elements, including oligonucleotides that have translational enhancing activity, internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity, or translational inhibitory activity, and multimers of such translational regulatory elements are provided. In addition, compositions that include such translational regulatory elements are provided, as are methods of using the translational regulatory elements.

There is a need for water-based sperm- and egg-friendly vaginal lubricant. We describe novel water-based nature-friendly personal moisturizers and lubricants that relive vaginal dryness. In addition to being non-spermicidal, sperm- and egg-friendly and biological-fluids mimicking, these personal moisturizers and lubricants also enhance sperm survival and motility, promote binding of sperm to eggs and facilitate the process of fertilization. Novel articles, and systems as well as methods of preparation and use of the novel compositions are also provided.

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and / or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and / or viability of the harvested tissue.

The present invention relates to methods for mammalian cell culture, wherein the methods make use of media containing polyamines, such as putrescine, spermidine and spermine.

The invention provides methods and compositions for improved in vitro culture of cells that make use of vanadate. The methods enhance cell survival thereby recovery of the polypeptide of interest produced in the cells is increased relative to cells grown without vanadate.

Compositions and methods for making a pharmaceutical dosage form include making a pharmaceutical composition that includes one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients by thermokinetic compounding into a composite. Compositions and methods of preprocessing a composite comprising one or more APIs with one or more excipients include thermokinetic compounding, comprising thermokinetic processing the APIs with the excipients into a composite, wherein the composite can be further processed by conventional methods known in the art, such as hot melt extrusion, melt granulation, compression molding, tablet compression, capsule filling, film-coating, or injection molding.

The present invention provides a cell culture data and cell image capturing and remote monitoring system that includes an imaging sensor pod having one or more cameras to capture multiple color still and / or motion images of cell cultures and cells located on a support and / or in a liquid located in a culture vessel within an incubator. The images can be taken at varying magnifications, and from different discrete locations on the support or in the vessel round the clock. The captured data and images are wirelessly transmitted to a management control unit, and / or another wirelessly connected and remotely located data transmission device such as PDA, for a researcher to review and analyze to determine the health and viability of cells, and the status of the cell culture. The image capturing and remote monitoring system taught herein alleviates the need for a researcher to be in the physical presence of a biological sample in order to visually ascertain and analyze the health and viability of the sample and status of the cell culture.

The present invention relates to a method of preventing or treating benign estrogen sensitive gynecological disorders in a female mammal, wherein the method comprises the administration to said female mammal of a combination of progestogen and androgen in an amount that is therapeutically effective to prevent or reduce the symptoms of these disorders. The present method is particularly suitable for preventing or treating disorders selected from the group consisting of endrometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia. Another aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical kit comprising a plurality of oral dosage units which comprise a progestogen in an amount equivalent to 3-500 μg levonorgestrel and either 5 to 250 mg dehydroepiandrosterone or 1 to 50 mg testosterone undecanoate.

Methods of producing a protein in cell culture comprising an anti-senescence compound, such as the antioxidant carnosine, are provided. According to teachings of the present invention, cells grown in a cell culture medium comprising an anti-senescence compound exhibit increased viability and productivity. Furthermore, cell cultures grown in the presence of an anti-senescence compound exhibit decreased levels of high molecular weight aggregates in the cell culture medium.

The present invention relates generally to glutamine-free cell culture media supplemented with arginine. The invention further concerns the production of recombinant proteins, such as antibodies, in arginine-supplemented glutamine-free mammalian cell culture.

Compositions having antimicrobial activity contain surface functionalized particles comprising an inorganic copper salt which has low water solubility. These types of inorganic salts may also be introduced in porous particles to yield antimicrobial compositions. The compositions may optionally comprise additional antimicrobial agents, salts with high water solubility, organic acids, salts of organic acids and their esters. The compositions may be added to various fluids used in the petroleum extraction industry, or used as coatings on components used in this industry. These antimicrobial materials may be used for reducing both anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and are also useful for reducing corrosion of ferrous components caused by anaerobic bacteria. Although such compositions may be used for any antimicrobial application, and some of the other important uses of these compositions are in wound care, personal care and waste processing.

The present invention relates to systems and apparatuses for improving quality and viability of biological material, such as harvested adipose cells, stem cells, or other cells or biological components, by treatment of the biological material with membrane-repairing / stabilizing agents or the like and / or mechanical removal of components, such as impurities and / or excess treatment agents. The present invention further relates to systems and apparatuses for transplanting tissue, such as adipose tissue.

The present invention provides methods for designing a filtration systems for capturing viable tumor cells, such as circulating tumor cells at high efficiency and high viability. The methods involve development of a set of “key engineering design parameters” that are crucial to achieve high tumor cell viability. These important design parameters include the filter geometry design, fluid delivery method, transfilter pressure and total filtration time.

The subject invention relates to viruses that are able to purge (reduce or eliminate) undesirable cells in a mixture of cells. Undesirable cells can include neoplastic cells, cells mediating graft-versus host diseases, and autoimmune cells. The subject invention also relates to the purging of undesirable cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood cell harvests in the treatment of mammals including cancer patients, transplant recipients, and patients with autoimmune disease.

The present invention relates to preventing or delaying programmed cell death by expressing one or more anti-apoptotic polypeptides in a cell such that programmed cell death in the cell is prevented or delayed. The present invention also relates to increasing production of a cell-related product by expressing one or more anti-apoptotic polypeptides in a cell such that production of the cell-related product by the cell is increased. Recombinant cells useful for producing cell-related product or cellular therapy are also provided.

A biocompatible biological component is provided comprising a membrane-mimetic surface film covering a substrate. Suitable substrates include hydrated substrates, e.g. hydrogels which may contain drugs for delivery to a patient through the membrane-mimetic film, or may be made up of cells, such as islet cells, for transplantation. The surface may present exposed bioactive molecules or moieties for binding to target molecules in vivo, for modulating host response when implanted into a patient (e.g. the surface may be antithrombogenic or antiinflammatory) and the surface may have pores of selected sizes to facilitate transport of substances therethrough. An optional hydrophilic cushion or spacer between the substrate and the membrane-mimetic surface allows transmembrane proteins to extend from the surface through the hydrophilic cushion, mimicking the structure of naturally-occurring cells. An alkylated layer directly beneath the membrane-mimetic surface facilates bonding of the surface to the remainder of the biological component. Alkyl chains may extend entirely through the hydrophilic cushion when present. To facilitate binding, the substrate may optionally be treated with a polyelectrolyte or alternating layers of oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes to facilitate charged binding of the membrane-mimetic film or alkylated layer beneath the membrane-mimetic film to the substrate. The membrane-mimetic film is preferably made by in situ polymerization of phospholipid vesicles.

A metal particulate fuel system is described. The metal fuel system may include particulate metal fuel for use in nuclear reactors. The particulate metal fuel may include a plurality of particles of at least one enriched alloy where the particles are compacted into a fuel column. The metal particulate fuel system may also include a cladding and / or a gas-filled plenum.

Methods and systems for providing emission of incoherent radiation and uses therefor are disclosed. A system for providing emission of high peak power (in watts) incoherent radiation, comprises an electrically impeded discharge lamp linked to an electrical energy supply. The lamp comprises a discharge chamber which is at least partially transparent to the incoherent radiation, a discharge gas in the chamber, two electrodes disposed with respect to the chamber for discharging electrical energy therebetween, at least one dielectric barrier disposed between the two electrodes to electrically impede electrical energy passing between the two electrodes, an electrical energy supply capable of providing fast risetime, high peak power unipolar linking the electrodes with the supply, the energy supply being capable of providing a sequence of high peak power unipolar voltage pulses from the energy supply to the electrodes and means to control (i interpulse period, and (ii) pulse risetime, whereby, in use, a substantially homogeneous discharge occurs between the two electrodes which causes emission of incoherent radiation pulses of high peak power from the lamp.

A power supply system for powering an electric motor (16) in an electric vehicle includes a metal-air converter (12) connected to the motor (16) for driving the motor (16) and a generator (10) connected to the metal-air converter (12) for recharging the metal-air converter (12). The generator (10) may also directly provide electricity to the motor (16) simultaneously with the metal-air converter (12). The system further includes a structure for providing a supply of fuel to the generator (10) that in turn converts the fuel to electricity.

The present invention relates to methods for mammalian cell culture. The methods make use of independent tyrosine and cystine feed streams.

An improved snowboard binding system allows the snowboarder to maintain full control of the snowboard while also allowing the snowboarder to rotate the feet during the operation of the snowboard without the requirement of manual adjustment. A binding base (22) is attached to the snowboard and contains a circular, downward-facing surface (23) having several discontinuities. A boot catch structure (26) is attached to the user's boot and has a corresponding number of upward facing planar surfaces (27) that fit into the base surface discontinuities. Engagement of the binding is accomplished by the insertion of the boot catch into the binding base and relative rotation of the two parts. The binding system is equipped with a locking plate (24) that guards against accidental release of the binding system.

The invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol (TBA) by reacting isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures with water over acidic solid catalysts in a plurality of reactors, wherein the conversion is increased upstream of the last reactor by removing a portion of the TBA present in the reaction mixture.

The invention relates to polymeric coatings on proppants. These coatings have antimicrobial materials incorporated within these coatings. Preferably the antimicrobial materials have low water solubility. These antimicrobial agents are incorporated as particles whose surfaces are modified or these may also be incorporated within porous particles which are then added to the coating formulations. The antimicrobially active agents are incorporated in a fashion so that they can be released from these coatings in the environment of the proppants.

This invention provides methods, devices and device components for treating biological samples with electromagnetic radiation. The methods, devices and device components of the present invention are capable of providing well characterized, uniform and reproducible net radiant energies and / or radiant powers to biological samples undergoing processing. In addition, the present methods, devices and device components are capable of delivering electromagnetic radiation to biological samples having a distribution of wavelengths selected to provide enhanced pathogen reduction, while minimizing photoinduced damage to components comprising therapeutic and / or reinfusion agents.

The present invention is a release liner including a film formed of a thermoplastic polymer and a non-migratory silicone additive. The additive is formed with a siloxane polymer that can be added directly to the thermoplastic polymer prior to compounding the thermoplastic polymer into an extrudable release liner film. The additive provides the desired release properties to the film, and due to bonds formed between the siloxane polymer and a binding component added to the siloxane polymer during formation of the additive, as well as the high molecular weight of the siloxane polymer, is non-migratory.