Author: claimsbot

1. A composition for the healing of a multicellular organism, the composition comprising at least one polysulfonated material, the polysulfonated material being insoluble in deionized water and soluble in ion-comprising aqueous media, wherein the polysulfonated material comprises a polystyrene sulfonate, the polystyrene sulfonate comprising one or more of polystyrene arginine sulfonate, polystyrene mafenide sulfonate, silver substituted polystyrene sulfonate, chlorhexidine substituted polystyrene sulfonate, andor doxycycline substituted polystyrene sulfonate.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysulfonated material comprises a backbone that includes at least one repeating unit that is chiral.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysulfonated material comprises an achiral backbone.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysulfonated material is chiral, the chirality being imparted by a chiral pendant group substitution.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysulfonated material further comprises at least one of a proteoglycan, the proteoglycan comprising one or more of dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, aggrecan, neurocan, brevican, versican, decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, keratocan, osteoglycin andor lumican.
6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysulfonated material comprises at least two sulfonate groups modified to sulfonamides, the sulfonamides configured to cross-link at least one portion of the polysulfonated material with another portion of the polysulfonated material.
7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a solid matrix material.
8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the matrix material comprises biodegradable material.
9. The composition of claim 7, wherein the matrix material is a non-biodegradable-biomedical material comprising at least one of a silicone, a polyurethane, a polyalkylene, a hydrogel, or a polyester.
10. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an antimicrobial agent, antibacterial metal cation, angiogenic agent, antifungal agent, antiviral agent, antiparasitic agent, anesthetic, enzyme, enzyme inhibitor, growth factor, anti-inflammatory agent, antihistamine, analgesic, antineoplastic agent, hormone, cytotoxic agent, tranquilizer, a proteoglycan, a glycosaminoglycan, silver cation, nutrient, vitamin, amino acid, nucleic acid, protein, peptide, cytokine, monoclonal antibody, and antiangiogenic agent.
11. The composition of claim 1 formulated as a gel, paste, cream, solution, ointment, or lotion.
12. The composition of claim 1 formulated as an amorphous hydrogel, the sulfonated material being blended into the hydrogel formulation.
13. The composition of claim 1 further comprising collagen or gelatin.
14. A composition for the healing of a multicellular organism, the composition comprising at least one polysulfonated material, the polysulfonated material being insoluble in deionized water and soluble in ion-comprising aqueous media, wherein the polysulfonated material comprises a chondroitin sulfate, the chondroitin sulfate comprising one or more of silver chondroitin-6-sulfate, sodiumsilver chondroitin-6-sulfate, andor arginine chondroitin-6-sulfate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for treating hypertension in a patient, the method comprising:
delivering a cardiac glycoside locally to a portion of a renal nerve in an amount that affects function of the renal nerve and lowers blood pressure of the patient.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the cardiac glycoside delivered reduces nerve conductance in the portion of the renal nerve.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the cardiac glycoside delivered induces death of nerve cells in the portion of the renal nerve and prevents regrowth of nerve cells.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the cardiac glycoside delivered affects nerve function by inducing neuro-muscular block, sensory nerve block, or clinical nerve block.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the cardiac glycoside delivered is approximately 0.05-1 mgkg.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of the cardiac glycoside delivered is approximately 0.05-5 ml per administration.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the renal nerve constitutes the axonal segment.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the renal nerve constitutes receptors that receive signals from cells that can activate nerves.
9. A method for treating hypertension in a patient, the method comprising:
locally delivering a nerve affecting composition to a portion of a renal nerve in an amount that affects function of the renal nerve and lowers blood pressure of the patient, wherein the nerve affecting composition comprises a cardiac glycoside, an ACE inhibitor, and an NSAID.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of the composition delivered reduces nerve conductance in the portion of the renal nerve.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of the composition delivered induces death of nerve cells in the portion of the renal nerve.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of the composition delivered induces death of nerve cells in the portion of the renal nerve and prevents regrowth of nerve cells.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein function of the renal nerve is affected temporarily.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein function of the renal nerve is affected for a sustained period of time.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the composition is delivered in a time release formulation.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the cardiac glycoside comprises digoxin.
17. The method of claim 9, wherein the ACE inhibitor comprises captopril.
18. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory comprises indomethacin.
19. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of the composition delivered is approximately 0.2-2 mgkg of the cardiac glycoside, approximately 2-20 mgkg of the ACE inhibitor, and approximately 0.2-2 mgkg of the NSAID.
20. A method for treating a disease condition of the autonomic nervous system in a patient, the method comprising:
delivering a nerve affecting composition to a portion of a targeted nerve in an amount that affects function of the targeted nerve and alleviates one or more symptoms of the disease condition in the patient,
wherein the nerve affecting composition comprises one or more nerve affecting agents.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is hypertension, and the symptoms include high blood pressure.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is diabetes, and the symptoms include elevated insulin levels, poor glucose tolerance, and poor insulin sensitivity.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is renal disease, and the symptoms include poor glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
24. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is depression, fibromyalgia, dementia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sleep apnea, or migraine headaches, and the symptoms include decreased attention, discomfort and overstimulation, congestive heart failure, and the symptoms include shortness of breath, leg swelling, and the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood into the circulatory system.
25. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is obesity, and the symptoms include uncontrolled weight gain.
26. The method of claim 20, wherein the condition is atrial fibrillation, and the symptoms include heart palpitations, dizziness, lack of energy and chest discomfort.
27. The method of claim 20, wherein the nerve affecting agent comprises a cardiac glycoside.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cardiac glycoside comprises digoxin.
29. The method of claim 20, wherein the nerve affecting agent comprises an ion channel blocker.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the ion channel blocker comprises phenytoin.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the ion channel blocker comprises carbamazepine or lithium chloride.
32. The method of claim 20, wherein the nerve affecting agent comprises an ACE inhibitor.
33. The method of claim 20, wherein the nerve affecting agent comprises an antibiotic.
34. The method of claim 20, wherein the nerve affecting agent comprises an excitatory glutamate receptor.
35. A method for treating a disease condition of the autonomic nervous system in a patient, the method comprising:
delivering a nerve affecting composition to a portion of a targeted nerve in an amount that affects function of the targeted nerve and alleviates one or more symptoms of the disease condition in the patient, wherein the nerve affecting composition comprises a cardiac glycoside, an ACE inhibitor, and an NSAID.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the nerve affecting agent is delivered locally.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein the nerve affecting agent is delivered orally.
38. The method of claim 35, wherein the targeted nerve is affected by temporary neuromuscular block, sustained neuromuscular block, sensory nerve block, or clinical nerve block.
39. The method of claim 35, wherein the targeted nerve is affected by reduced or blocked nerve conductance.
40. The method of claim 35, wherein the targeted nerve is affected by nerve cell death.
41. The method of claim 35, wherein the targeted nerve is affected by damage to axonal segments of neurons.
42. The method of claim 35, wherein the nerve affecting agents are selected from one or more of the following: agents which inhibit sodium-potassium pumps, calcium channels and sodium channels in nerve cells; angiotensin converting enzymes;
glutamate receptors; COX-1 and COX-2 receptors in nerve cells.
43. The method of claim 35, wherein the amount of agent delivered is sufficient to impair nerve function by acting on Schwann cells.
44. A delivery catheter comprising:
a balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a proximal cap coupled to the proximal portion of the balloon;
a distal cap slidably coupled to the distal portion of the balloon;
a plurality of needle housings having proximal portions and distal portions, the proximal portions of the needle housings being coupled to the proximal cap, the distal portions of the needle housings being coupled to the distal cap; and
a delivery needle slidably disposed within a needle lumen formed in each of the needle housings, the delivery needles capable of being advanced and retracted through a needle port formed in an outwardly-facing side of each needle housing.
45. The device of claim 44, wherein the needle housing has a substantially helical configuration.
46. The device of claim 44, where the device profile is between 4-8F.
47. The device of claim 44, where the device has exceptional conformability and torquability while delivering therapy in a tortuous anatomy.
48. The device of claim 44, wherein the delivery needles are coated for improved visibility under various imaging modalities including ultrasound, X-rays, OCT and MRI.
49. The device of claim 44, wherein the delivery needles are coated with a sealing agent to promote sealing of the vessel wall upon needle retraction after delivering the agent.
50. The device of claim 44, wherein the delivery needles are coated with a anti-inflammatory compound to promote healing of the vessel wall upon needle retraction after delivering the agent.
51. The device of claim 44, where the proximal (handle) end of the needle assembly is equipped with a pressure or force sensor to monitor contact with the vessel wall and subsequent advancement of the needle into the vessel wall.
52. The device of claim 44, where the proximal (handle) end of the needle assembly is equipped with a gage to monitor depth of penetration into the vessel wall.
53. The device of claim 44, where the proximal (handle) end of the needle assembly is equipped with a mechanical stop to limit the maximum depth of penetration into the vessel wall.
54. The device of claim 44, where the needle housings and needle exit ports are equipped with radiopaque markers to assist viability under fluoroscopy.
55. A delivery catheter comprising:
a balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a proximal cap coupled to the proximal portion of the balloon;
a distal cap coupled to the distal portion of the balloon;
a plurality of needle housings having proximal portions and distal portions, the proximal portions of the needle housings being coupled to the proximal cap, the distal portions of the needle housings being slidably disposed within one or more openings in the distal cap; and
a delivery needle slidably disposed within a needle lumen formed in each of the needle housings, the delivery needles capable of being advanced and retracted through a needle port formed in an outwardly-facing side of each needle housing.
56. A delivery catheter comprising:
a balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a proximal cap coupled to the proximal portion of the balloon;
a distal cap coupled to the distal portion of the balloon;
a plurality of needle supports having proximal portions and distal portions, the proximal portions of the needle supports being coupled to the proximal cap, the distal portions of the needle supports being coupled to the distal cap, each of the needle supports having a delivery lumen;
a delivery needle coupled to each needle support, the delivery needles being outwardly biased, each of the delivery needles having a delivery lumen in fluid communication with the delivery lumen of each needle support; and
a sheath slidably coupled around the delivery needles, the sheath capable of constraining the delivery needles.

1. An apparatus for noninvasive measurement of a concentration of at least one substance from the conjunctiva, said apparatus comprising:
a mid-infrared radiation detector configured to detect mid-infrared radiation emitted from the conjunctiva, said-mid-infrared radiation from said conjunctiva containing a radiation signature of said at least one substance, said mid-infrared detector producing a signal representative of said mid-infrared radiation signature,
a processor including a memory storing a plurality of predetermined reference values and a processing circuit for
receiving said signal representative of said mid-infrared radiation signature from said conjunctiva,
comparing said signal representative of said mid-infrared radiation signature from said conjunctiva with one of said plurality of reference values, and
determining the concentration of the at least one substance based upon said comparison, and

a display for reporting the concentration of said at least one substance from the conjunctiva.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one substance includes at least one of glucose, ethanol and cholesterol.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one filter for selecting a radiation wavelength.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one filter has a mid-infrared bandwidth centered on about 9,400 nm corresponding to the radiation signature of glucose.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one filter has a mid-infrared bandwidth centered on about 9,900 nm corresponding to the radiation signature of ethanol.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one filter has a mid-infrared bandwidth centered on about 8,300 nm corresponding to the radiation signature of cholesterol.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said at least one filter passes mid-infrared radiation having wavelengths between about 9,000 nanometers and about 11,000 nanometers.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cooling device is used to increase a temperature gradient between a cold junction and a hot junction of an infrared sensor of said mid-infrared detector.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of reference values includes a radiation wavelength corresponding to the concentration of said at least one substance.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an infrared spectrometer.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display includes at least one of a numerical display of a value of said concentration and an audio device for audibly communicating a value of said concentration.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing for the detector and the processor, said housing is one of a pen device and a wired handle to be held by a hand of a subject so that the housing is spaced away from the conjunctiva and measurements are performed without contacting the conjunctiva.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing for the detector and the processor, said housing is a contact device for contacting the conjunctiva during measurement.
14. Amethod for noninvasive of at least one substance from the conjunctiva, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting mid-infrared radiation emitted from said conjunctiva, said mid-infrared radiation containing a radiation a radiation signature of said at least one substance from the conjunctiva,
determining the radiation signature of at least one substance from said mid-infrared radiation from said conjunctiva, and
determining a concentration of said at least one substance present in the conjunctiva from the mid-infrared radiation signature from the conjunctiva.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of selecting a desired wavelength of said mid-infrared radiation.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein said mid-infrared radiation comprises mid-infrared radiation having wavelengths between about 9,000 nanometers and about 11,000 nanometers.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said step for determining the concentration of said at least one substance includes the step of comparing the detected radiation signature from said mid-infrared radiation with a plurality of predetermined reference values.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of predetermined reference values includes a radiation wavelength corresponding to the concentration of said at least one substance.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one substance includes at least one of glucose, ethanol and cholesterol.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein said mid-infrared radiation comprises mid-infrared radiation having wavelengths between about 4,000 nanometers and about 14,000 nanometers.
21. The method of claim 14, wherein said detecting step includes detecting mid-infrared radiation from said conjunctiva without contact with the surface of said conjunctiva.
22. A method of determining an analyte concentration in a tissue of a subject, the subject including an eye with an ocular surface and a conjunctiva surface, comprising the steps:
a. detecting naturally occurring mid-infrared radiation emitted from the conjunctiva without contact with the ocular surface using a non-invasive instrument comprising a mid-infrared detector;
b. comparing a radiation signature of said mid-infrared radiation to a radiation signature of mid-infrared radiation corresponding to an analyte concentration; and
c. analyzing said radiation signature of said mid-infrared radiation from said subject to determine said analyte concentration in a tissue of said subject.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said analyte is selected from the group consisting of metabolic compounds or substances, carbohydrates, sugars, glucose, proteins, peptides, amino acids, fats, fatty acids, triglycerides, polysaccharides, alcohols, ethanol, toxins, hormones, vitamins, bacteria-related substances, fungus-related substances, parasite-related substances, pharmaceutical compounds, non-pharmaceutical compounds, pro-drugs, drugs, and any precursor, metabolite, degradation product or surrogate marker.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said analyte is glucose.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein said naturally occurring mid-infrared radiation comprises infrared radiation having wavelengths between about 2.5 microns and about 25.0 microns.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein said detecting step further comprises selecting and detecting desired wavelengths of said naturally occurring mid-infrared radiation.
27. The method of claim 22, wherein said comparing step and said analyzing step further comprise using a microprocessor.
28. A method of downloading and storing a subject’s measured analyte concentration, comprising the steps of: a. measuring said analyte concentration according to the method of claim 22, using a non-invasive mid-infrared detecting instrument having a communications interface; b. connecting said instrument through said communications interface to a computer system having a computer processor, a computer program which executes in said computer processor, and an analogous communications interface; and c. downloading from said instrument to said computer system said measured analyte concentrations.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A communication system for use in a dental treatment facility comprising a plurality of operatories, each of the operatories comprising a dental chair for supporting a patient, wherein a dentist moves between operatories to perform dental procedures on the patients within the respective operatories, the communication system comprising:
a plurality of display devices each adapted for positioning in one of the dental operatories so that patients in the dental operatories may view respective display devices while positioned in respective dental chairs, the display devices each displaying at least one user interface concurrently depicting a plurality of textual phrases that are commonly spoken by patients to dentists, including at least a request to rinse, a request to swallow, a Yes response, and a No response;
a plurality of input device each associated with one of the plurality of operatories, the input devices adapted for allowing patients to select textual phrases displayed on the display devices in the respective operatories;
a data structure storing a plurality of sound files, wherein each of the textual phrases is associated with one or more of the sound files, the associated one or more sound files comprising audible representations of the respective textual phrases that are prerecorded and are not in the voice of the patient;
a processor configured to execute software code in order to cause the communication system to perform operations comprising:
determining a dental operatory in which the dentist is currently positioned;
selecting from said data structure one or more of the sound files associated with a textual phrase selected by the patient, wherein the textual phrases include one or more phrases that are commonly spoken in casual conversations outside of a dental operatory; and
initiating playback of the selected one or more sound files associated with the selected textual phrase on an audio headset worn by the dentist so that the dentist hears the textual phrase selected by the patient in the determined operatory verbally spoken.
2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the input devices comprise at least a first button programmed to provide a first signal to the processor to play an audio signal on the audio headset verbally speaking \u201cyes\u201d without requiring a selection on the user interface, and a second button programmed to provide a second signal to the processor to play an audio signal on the audio headset verbally speaking \u201cno\u201d without requiring a selection on the user interface.
3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the input devices comprise one or more of: a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a drawing a tablet, and a touchpad.
4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further displays a representation of at least one educational media item.
5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further displays a representation of at least one entertainment media item.