Abstract: A drug delivery system for automatically dispensing a pre-set dosage of a drug agent or medication. The drug delivery system generally includes a housing including one or more reservoirs; each having a medical agent hermetically sealed therein. A membrane extends across each of the one or more reservoirs which is adapted to allow the medical agents to pass therethrough in response to external stimuli, such as physical puncturing, melting the membranes through use of heating elements or electrowetting in response to a voltage pulse. A wicking material extends across the membranes through which the medical agents are dispensed to a patient. Because the housing can be made flat, the overall dispensing device can be reduced in size, allowing the drug delivery device to be located and attached to broader areas of the patient's body for expanded medical applications and treatment.

Abstract: A fluidic device includes a porous substrate, a wetting region extending through a first portion of the porous substrate from a first side of the substrate, in which the wetting region is permeable to fluid transport, and a non-wetting region extending through a second portion of the porous substrate from a second side of the substrate, in which the non-wetting region is operable to switch between a first state impermeable to fluid transport and a second state permeable to fluid transport.

Abstract: A reserve battery that is activated via a low energy mechanical force. The reserve battery generally includes a battery case having an electrolyte compartment at a first end and an electrode compartment at a second end, a first terminal having an external button connected to the case at the first end, and a second terminal connected to the case at the second end. A movable ampoule is movably positioned within the electrolyte compartment. A bias member is located within the case between the external button and the ampoule and a porous cutter is positioned within the case between the electrodes and the ampoule and supported by an inverted U-shaped support structure. When an external force is applied to the external button, the bias member transfers an internal force to the ampoule to cause the ampoule to engage the cutter and allow the electrolyte to release thus activating the battery.

Abstract: A modular device for use in emergency or everyday applications and having a plurality of modular components that are interchangeable with one another depending on the particular desired use. The modular device generally includes a plurality of interchangeable load modules, wherein each of the load modules has a load connected thereto, wherein the load is different for each load modules, and at least one power module having at least one battery therein, wherein the power module removably separately connects to each of the load modules and wherein the battery(ies) electrically connects to the load for powering the load. The load modules and power modules may be connected in various manners, such as a push-fit, friction, threadably, slidably, or various other manners to allow quick, easy, and reliable connectivity. The load of the load modules may be comprised of lights, external connectors, radios, MP3 players, or various other electrical devices.

Abstract: A battery system for efficiently operating a battery under various circumstances, such as relating to extreme temperature ranges and varying load (i.e. current) ranges. The battery system generally includes at least one first cell having a first chemistry, at least one second cell having a second chemistry and a controller in communication with the first cell and the second cell. The controller is adapted to employ a chemical reaction of the first chemistry in the first cell or the second chemistry in the second cell. The first chemistry is different than the second chemistry, wherein the first chemistry and the second chemistry may be adapted to provide current over varying temperature ranges or to provide current for varying current loads.

Abstract: A cell-array battery is disclosed having end-of-life cells that can be activated at the end of a battery's life to, illustratively, neutralize the toxic chemicals inside the battery. In one embodiment, neutralization of the electrolyte in the battery is achieved through immobilization of the electrolyte at the end of the life of the battery by, for example, a vitrification process. Using electrowetting techniques, the electrolyte is made to contact a neutralizing substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, thus causing a reaction that results in the electrolyte becoming immobilized by, for example, a polymer substance. In a second illustrative embodiment, when the electrolyte contacts the substance between the nanostructures in one or more end-of-life cells, the chemical composition of the electrolyte is changed into a less toxic chemical compound, thus neutralizing the electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a first cell, a second cell and a barrier isolating a fluid in the first cell from the second cell in which the barrier, in response to an activation signal, changes to a second state to allow the fluid to pass into the second cell and activate the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A method of activating a micro-cell in which the micro-cell includes a first compartment, a second compartment, a fluid in the first compartment, an element in the second compartment and a porous barrier separating the first compartment from the second compartment. The porous barrier, in a first state, is operable to prevent the fluid from entering the second compartment whereas the porous barrier, in a second state, is operable, in response to an event, to allow the fluid to enter the second compartment and interact with the element in the second compartment so as to generate an activation signal.

Abstract: An apparatus that comprises a membrane having a plurality of fluid-support-structures and openings located between the fluid-support-structures. The fluid-support-structures have at least one dimension that that is about 1 millimeter or less. The apparatus also comprises a wicking material positioned adjacent to a surface of the membrane. When a fluid locatable on a surface of the fluid-support-structures penetrates the fluid-support-structures, at least a portion of the fluid passes through the openings and into the wicking material.

Abstract: In signal-splitting equipment for multiple subscribers, circuitry is disposed on a signal-splitter card which connects with a back plane providing physical support and electrical connection to other splitter cards and to distant sites, as well as to an interface with a system conducting automatic testing of DSL circuits. Each splitter card also carries a separate relay card with signal-routing relay circuitry, the relay card being affixed by means of a switching connector having bypass circuitry which ensures normal communication of DSL signals and audio signals in the event that a relay card is disconnected from its signal-splitter card. During a testing of the equipment, the system operates the relays of the relay cards of the respective signal-splitter cards for a connection of test equipment to various equipment associated with a specific subscriber.