Abstract: A liquid dispensing device includes a dispensing head, an outlet valve and a nozzle. The dispensing head includes an inlet valve, a piston and a piston chamber, an actuator for controlling the piston, and a buffer or bladder. The outlet valve has a defined minimum opening pressure and is in direct fluid communication with either the buffer or bladder, or both the buffer or bladder and the piston chamber. The nozzle, with a defined throughput, is in fluid communication with the outlet valve. A volume of the piston chamber, a volume of the buffer, a pressure response of the buffer, the throughput of the nozzle, and the minimum opening pressure of the outlet valve are together arranged to restrict the outlet pressures of liquid droplets exiting the nozzle within a defined range of from (P??P) to (P+?P), where P is a nominal pressure and ?P a maximum pressure variation.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various novel dispensing devices can be provided. Such devices can involve a range of sprayer heads and sprayer/foamer systems incorporating such heads. Novel sprayer/foamer heads can include buffers of various types. By using a buffer, a user need not continually be pumping the device in order for the device to be spraying or foaming. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, such a buffer can be spring loaded, spring loaded combination, elastomeric or gas. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the buffer can be in line or adjacent to a piston chamber. If adjacent, it can be connected to the piston chamber with a one way valve, to provide for spray after a downstroke of the piston has been completed, or without, to allow spraying to cease once a user releases the trigger or other actuator.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various novel dispensing devices can be provided. Such devices can involve a range of sprayer heads and sprayer/foamer systems incorporating such heads. Novel sprayer/foamer heads can include buffers of various types. By using a buffer, a user need not continually be pumping the device in order for the device to be spraying or foaming. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, such a buffer can be spring loaded, spring loaded combination, elastomeric or gas. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the buffer can be in line or adjacent to a piston chamber. If adjacent, it can be connected to the piston chamber with a one way valve, to provide for spray after a downstroke of the piston has been completed, or without, to allow spraying to cease once a user releases the trigger or other actuator.

Abstract: Dispensing devices can include buffers. This obviates the need for continually pumping the device to dispense spray or foam. A buffer can be spring loaded, spring loaded combination, elastomeric or gas, and can be in line or adjacent to a piston chamber. Such sprayers and foamers can be mounted upside down. With a buffer, a piston chamber can deliver a greater amount of liquid per unit time than can be dispensed through the nozzle(s). The fraction of liquid that cannot be dispensed can be sent to the buffer for dispensing after the piston downstroke has completed. Volume of the piston chamber and buffer, pressure response of the buffer, throughput of the nozzle, and the minimum opening pressure of the outlet valve can be arranged to restrict the outlet pressures of liquid droplets exiting the nozzle within a defined range.

Abstract: Dispensing devices can include buffers. This obviates the need for continually pumping the device to dispense spray or foam. A buffer can be spring loaded, spring loaded combination, elastomeric or gas, and can be in line or adjacent to a piston chamber. Such sprayers and foamers can be mounted upside down. With a buffer, a piston chamber can deliver a greater amount of liquid per unit time than can be dispensed through the nozzle(s). The fraction of liquid that cannot be dispensed can be sent to the buffer for dispensing after the piston downstroke has completed. Volume of the piston chamber and buffer, pressure response of the buffer, throughput of the nozzle, and the minimum opening pressure of the outlet valve can be arranged to restrict the outlet pressures of liquid droplets exiting the nozzle within a defined range.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various new generation dispensing devices can be provided. Such devices are vertically aligned, provide greater than 1.0 cc per piston stroke, and can involve a range of sprayer heads and sprayer/foamer systems incorporating such heads. Such novel sprayer heads can include a novel stretched piston, or, for example, the standard separate piston and piston chamber configuration. By using integration of parts, and a novel dome valve, exemplary sprayers are more easily manufactured, and have better operating properties. Finally, pre-compression is such novel valves is supplied by a novel dome valve with binary behavior, and minimal hysteresis.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing immunological status of individuals and populations is presented. The method includes establishing a database containing a plurality of records, each record containing information representative of the immune status of an individual, including (1) bioassay results, and (2) individual specific information such as, medical history, clinical observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial/genetic information. By processing the information trends and/or patterns are obtained correlating various variables in the records across an individual, population or sub-population. The identified trends and/or patterns can, for example, be used in health care related decision making. In exemplary embodiments such processing can include generating a set of correlations and for each correlation generating a set of explanatory or relevant hypotheses. Then, for example, each hypothesis can be automatically refuted or supported, to the extent possible.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.