Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for modifying and feeding a liquid nutritional feeding composition. The apparatus comprises a chamber (3) for receiving a beneficial agent for modifying a liquid nutritional feeding composition, the chamber has an inlet (7) connectable to a container (5) that contains the nutritional feeding composition and an outlet (13) connectable to a feeding means (8,9). A pumping means is associated with the chamber (3) for pumping the nutritional feeding composition from the container into the chamber and back into the container to mix the beneficial agent with the nutritional feeding composition before the outlet (13) of the chamber is connected to the feeding means (8,9). The chamber (3) may comprise at least one flexible wall capable of being squeezed and released for pumping the nutritional feeding composition. The invention also relates to a method for modifying and feeding a liquid nutritional feeding composition.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus and method for producing microcavitational activity in aqueous fluids for non-invasive macromolecule delivery into living cells. A standard electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripter is fitted with an adjustable ring reflector that shares the same foci as the standard lithotripter hemi-ellipsoidal reflector. A small portion of the spherical shock wave, generated by the spark discharge at the first focus (F1), is reflected and diffracted by the ring reflector, resulting in a weak preceding shock wave approximately 8.5 &mgr;s in front of the lithotripter shock wave reflected and diffracted by the hemi-ellipsoidal reflector. The peak negative pressure of the preceding weak shock wave or pulse at F2 can be adjusted from −0.96 to −1.91 MPa, using an output voltage of 25 kV. Living cells are exposed to the preceding shock wave and the lithotripter shock wave.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for locking a dosing button in a device for the administration of a product to be injected in predetermined doses. This device comprises a body (1) with a housing (2) for the product, wherein a selected dose for injection is transported from said body out of a container (3) through a transport member (4). This device also comprises a drive member (5,7) for the transport member (4) as well as a dosing button (9) coupled to the drive member (5, 7) which is mounted so as to be capable of sliding within the body (1). The button ensures the transport of the selected dose when it is displaced from a first position into a second by actuating the drive member (5, 7). The dose is selected in the first position by rotating the dosing button (9) so that is can be moved from a first rotation position indicating that no transport is possible into a second rotation position.