Abstract: The invention generally relates to microfluidic devices that include orthogonally positioned channels that are slidable relative to each other and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a first channel having an open end, and an open second channel. The first and second channels are slidable relative to each other such that when the open end of the first channel and the open portion of the open second channel are aligned with each other, fluid flows from the first channel into the second channel.

Abstract: A positive exhalation pressure device (1) is described. The device (1) comprises a housing (2) having an annular chamber (5), a chamber inlet (6) configured to permit air into the chamber, a chamber outlet (7) configured to permit air out of the chamber, and a mouthpiece (8) in fluid communication with the chamber inlet. A movable body such as a ball (3) is disposed in the housing within the annular chamber and configured to revolve around the annular chamber in response to flow of air through the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet. The movable body is configured to at least partially block the chamber outlet as it revolves around the annular chamber causing cyclical fluctuations in airflow resistance.

Abstract: An ostomy pouching system comprises a fixing plate and a bag having an opening, the fixing plate comprising a central hole for receipt of a stoma, a base layer bearing a first major surface and formed of a flexible tacky material and an upper layer bearing the second major surface and formed of a material that is harder than the base layer. The central hole has a perimeter that is smaller than a perimeter of a stoma, in which at least a portion of the first major surface that surrounds the central hole comprises a resiliently deformable region capable of stretching to form a neck region that in use conforms to a sidewall of the stoma when the stoma protrudes through the central hole. The system comprises a belt for attaching the fixing plate to the patient's body, the belt having a central hole configured to receive a stoma and a surrounding surface configured to abut the fixing plate with the base layer disposed against one face of the belt and the upper layer disposed against an opposite face of the belt.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample with a light probe with a spatial resolution smaller than the wavelength of the light probe comprising the steps of: —illuminating the sample by a first light pulse saturating a vibrational and/or electronic transition, said light pulse presenting an intensity spatial distribution on the sample presenting at least one minimum wherein saturation does not occur, —measuring the local absorbance properties and/or the local second order non-linear susceptibility of the sample by using a second light pulse forming the light probe at a wavelength corresponding to said electronic and/or vibrational transition, wherein the second light pulse overlap said first light pulse intensity minimum.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to microfluidic devices that include channels that are slidable relative to each other and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a first channel having an open end, and a second channel having an open end. The first and second channels are slidable relative to each other such that when the open end of the first channel and the open end of the second channel are aligned with each other, fluid flows from the first channel into the second channel.

Abstract: A casein hydrolysate formed by controlled hydrolysis of a casein substrate by an aspergillus-derived (fugal) proteolytic preparation is described. The controlled hydrolysis employs a FlavorPro-Whey™ formulation and a degree of hydrolysis (% DH) of from 5% DH to 15% DH. The Hydrolysate has at least a 98% reduction in antigenicity compared to intact sodium caseinate and a mean bitterness score of less than 30%. The invention also provides a low molecular weight fraction of casein hydrolysate of the invention which is substantially free of peptides having a molecular weight greater than 5 kDa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining VIV or VV concentration in mixtures of VIV and VV solutions, the method comprising the steps of determining the absorbance of the solution at at least one wavelength; and calculating the concentration of the VIV and VV solution based on the absorbance. In one embodiment the VIV, VV and/or total vanadium concentration in a solution is calculated based on the fact that the absorbance at a specific wavelength can be predicted by taking into account the formation of vanadium complexes.

Abstract: A transurethral catheter kit containing a balloon catheter and a syringe assembly adapted for inflation of the balloon. The syringe assembly includes a syringe and a nozzle incorporating a narrow bore proximal to a pressure relief valve. The narrow bore serves to resist the flow of fluid between the syringe and the balloon, thereby avoiding a rapid pressure increase in the balloon that can result in damage to tissues or premature activation of the pressure relief valve. Also provided is a method for correctly placing a transurethral balloon catheter in a patient using the kit.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip (2, 190, 210) with an orifice (4) having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly (13-15, 50, 80) comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws (51, 52, 61) adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip (180) followed by movement of the actuator assembly (153) to engage the tip (180).

Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises an protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip with an orifice having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip followed by movement of the actuator assembly to engage the tip.

Abstract: A method of adapting a security configuration of a data processing application at runtime, and a system, together with its computing architecture, are disclosed. The system stores a causal network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of incoming and outgoing causal links associated therewith, wherein each node of the causal network is associated with a security concern or a requirement that can be affected by any configuration of the security controls. The current value of assets nodes, as well as those of the security concerns that can be affected by monitored contextual factors, are updated. The control nodes corresponding to the security controls is updated according to the security configuration whose utility is evaluated by the causal network. The node corresponding to the at least one variable is updated with the determined current value, which is propagated through the causal network through the causal links associated with the updated node.

Abstract: A surface NMES stimulation device the device has a control processor, a voltage regulator connected to a high voltage supply, a bridge of control switches, and electrodes or electrode terminals connected in the bridge to receive drive signals via the control switches. The processor directs a drive scheme for the bridge control switches in which charge build-up on a user's skin is allowed to dissipate to ground in an inter-pulse interval. An isolation capacitor isolates the high voltage supply from the electrodes, and charging of the capacitor only occurs if a switch allows it. Sensors senses supply voltage and bridge current and the processor monitors there to determine further stimulation and faults.

Abstract: A mixture of powders for preparing a sintered nickel-titanium-rare earth (Ni—Ti—RE) alloy includes Ni—Ti alloy powders comprising from about 55 wt. % Ni to about 61 wt. % Ni and from about 39 wt. % Ti to about 45 wt. % Ti, and RE alloy powders comprising a RE element.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to record the absorption of a sample, said method comprising the steps of providing first and second pulsed beam of light on said sample using one or more light beams, said first and second pulsed beam having different spatial definition; measuring the difference in intensity transmitted through and/or reflected by a sample; and generating an image by scanning the sample while making such measurements. The system and method of the invention can work down to resolution of several 100 of nm, affording thus a large improvement in comparison to synchrotron IR imaging that is the closest technique existing today. The advantage versus scanning probe approach is the absence of physical probe, thus suppressing confinement to surface information and removing uncertainty regarding the working behaviour of the probe.

Abstract: A nickel-titanium-rare earth (Ni—Ti-RE) alloy comprises nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, boron at a concentration of up to about 0.1 at. %, with the balance of the alloy being titanium. In addition to enhanced radiopacity compared to binary Ni—Ti alloys and improved workability, the Ni—Ti-RE alloy preferably exhibits superelastic behavior. A method of processing a Ni—Ti-RE alloy includes providing a nickel-titanium-rare earth alloy comprising nickel at a concentration of from about 35 at. % to about 65 at. %, a rare earth element at a concentration of from about 1.5 at. % to about 15 at. %, the balance being titanium; heating the alloy in a homogenization temperature range below a critical temperature; and forming spheroids of a rare earth-rich second phase in the alloy while in the homogenization temperature range.

Abstract: A therapeutic device has a body (2) with a shoulder-engaging part (12) and a chest-engaging part (11) and elevated pivot supports (12) extending upwardly from the shoulder-engaging part (12) at locations to be on opposed sides of a patient's head in use. A head support (3) with a chin cradle (35) is pivotally connected by pivot joints (20) to the pivot supports (12). Torsion springs (24) bias the head support (3) upwardly. Sensors wirelessly provide data to a processor such as a smartphone so that the extent of movement of the head support can be monitored.

Abstract: A transurethral catheter kit containing a balloon catheter and a syringe assembly adapted for inflation of the balloon, The syringe assembly includes a syringe and a nozzle incorporating a narrow bore proximal to a pressure relief valve. The narrow bore serves to resist the flow of fluid between the syringe and the balloon, thereby avoiding a rapid pressure increase in the balloon that can result in damage to tissues or premature activation of the pressure relief valve. Also provided is a method for correctly placing a transurethral balloon catheter in a patient using the kit.

Abstract: A sensor (1) has a light conductor (2) having a grating (FBG), a cavity (5), and a transparent cavity end wall (4), a light emitter for directing light through the conductor, and a light detector for detecting reflected light, and a processor. The processor is adapted to analyse light reflected due to the grating (FBG, 6) to determine an indication of temperature, light reflected from the end (7) of the cavity (5) to determine an indication of pressure, and also light reflected from the outer surface (8) of the cavity wall (4) to determine an indication of refractive index of a medium outside said cavity wall. The processor may use one output to compensate another, for example pressure and temperature may be used to compensate for variation in refractive index.

Abstract: A water dispersible, biocompatible, non-toxic, seedless Group IV nanowire having an etched surface and surface oxide is provided. Also provided is a method of forming water dispersible seedless Group IV nanowires, comprising the steps of providing pristine seedless Group IV nanowires, and reacting the nanowires with a solution of an acidic amino acid to etch the nanowires and promote the formation of a water dispersible oxide layer through the formation of etched nanowires.