Abstract: A fluid dispensing device is provided for dispensing a measured amount of fluid into a living organism. The device includes a rigid fluid reservoir closed by a septum for use in a fluid dispensing device for dispensing a measured amount of fluid into a living organism, wherein the device has a main housing enclosing the operative components of the device, the said fluid reservoir located within the main housing, an injection assembly including a needle, and a trigger mechanism. The needle has a first end adapted to piercing the septum and pushing the septum into the reservoir so that the septum acts as a piston, expelling the fluid through the needle, and a second end adapted to injecting the fluid into the living organism.

Abstract: A cadence system consists of a mainspring powering a pump pumping a liquid through a regulation valve, providing a constant energy discharge of said mainspring, the system optionally being immersed in the liquid.

Abstract: A construct having an aesthetic form is adapted to please a wearer and to be worn by the wearer. The construct provides a structure having a wearer connection element such as a ring, a chain, a wristband, a pin, a clasp, a clip, and a body piercing element. The functional elements including a fluid reservoir in which at least two fluids are disposed, and a motion generation system are integrated on the structure, The motion generation system is functionally affixed to the structure so as to agitate the at least two fluids, causing a visual animation effect. The construct, in particular jewelry, may have incorporated therein one or more channels and/or reservoirs containing one or more fluids wherein the fluids as well as the forms and surface treatments of channels/reservoirs are selected possess physical properties so as to promote a defined interaction with the one or more fluids.

Abstract: A device for fluid display comprising a fluid, wherein the fluid is displaced by an electrowetting process. The device is filled with at least 2 immiscible fluids, whereas one fluid is located within the electrical field generated by a reference electrode and a control electrode and partially within the electrical field generated by the same reference electrode and at least one second control electrode so that the electric activation of the second control electrode generates a deformation or movement of the fluid in the direction of the second control electrode. Also provided is a method of switching the control electrodes of the device above-mentioned device in a sequence so that a portion of the fluid is displaced within the device.

Abstract: An analysis and/or treatment device (100) for at least one smoking article (60). comprising a closable receptacle (4) for receiving the at least one smoking article (60) therein; a reservoir (62) for a fluid treatment material (8, 9); a hollow injection needle. (2) interiorly insertable into the smoking article (60) received in the receptacle (4) and operably connected to the reservoir (62); means (3) for moving the treatment material (9) from the reservoir (62) through the needle (2) into the interior of the smoking article (60); and at least one sensor means (15) provided in the receptacle (4) for detecting at least one parameter characterizing a property of the smoking article (60) and/or characterizing the treatment conditions in the receptacle (4).

Abstract: A drive system for energizing a device that includes a bellows actuated drive. The bellows actuated drive provides linear forward and backward movement by fluid expansion and contraction of a fluid within a reservoir according to a temperature differential while the reservoir is in fluid contact with the bellows. In one variant, two bellows are configured in a V shaped conformation. Various devices are driven using the drive system of the current invention and include a timepiece, a medical device, an implantable medical device, a cardiac rhythm management device, a hearing aid, a medical micro-injector, a sensor, and a biometric transmitter.

Abstract: An indication device is provided. The indication device includes an elongated fluid chamber containing at least one electrically conductive liquid driven by a pump for conductive liquids and an immiscible, relatively non-conductive fluid. At least one segment of at least one fluid is used as an indicator. This segment is driven by the pump along adjacent indices of an indicator visible to an observer using a meniscus location sensor and a feedback controller so as to e.

Abstract: An analysis and/or treatment device (100) for at least one smoking article (60). comprising a closable receptacle (4) for receiving the at least one smoking article (60) therein; a reservoir (62) for a fluid treatment material (8, 9); a hollow injection needle. (2) interiorly insertable into the smoking article (60) received in the receptacle (4) and operably connected to the reservoir (62); means (3) for moving the treatment material (9) from the reservoir (62) through the needle (2) into the interior of the smoking article (60); and at least one sensor means (15) provided in the receptacle (4) for detecting at least one parameter characterizing a property of the smoking article (60) and/or characterizing the treatment conditions in the receptacle (4).

Abstract: A fluid dispensing device is provided for dispensing a measured amount of fluid into a living organism. The device includes a rigid fluid reservoir closed by a septum for use in a fluid dispensing device for dispensing a measured amount of fluid into a living organism, wherein the device has a main housing enclosing the operative components of the device, the said fluid reservoir located within the main housing, an injection assembly including a needle, and a trigger mechanism. The needle has a first end adapted to piercing the septum and pushing the septum into the reservoir so that the septum acts as a piston, expelling the fluid through the needle, and a second end adapted to injecting the fluid into the living organism.

Abstract: A device (1) for receiving an ingredient cartridge (2) and extracting the ingredient by passing heated liquid through the cartridge, comprises: a cartridge seat (10) that has an open configuration for receiving and/or removing a cartridge from such device and a closed configuration for extracting the ingredient; and a force generation means (46) for assisting a closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat. The force generation means can be associated with a dampening means (47, 48) for dampening the closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat when assisted by the force generating means. The device can have a user-movable handle (41) that is associated with an end-of-stroke feed-back means (50) for providing a corresponding feed-back to a user actuating the handle.

Abstract: A drive system for energizing a device that includes a bellows actuated drive. The bellows actuated drive provides linear forward and backward movement by fluid expansion and contraction of a fluid within a reservoir according to a temperature differential while the reservoir is in fluid contact with the bellows. In one variant, two bellows are configured in a V shaped conformation. Various devices are driven using the drive system of the current invention and include a timepiece, a medical device, an implantable medical device, a cardiac rhythm management device, a hearing aid, a medical micro-injector, a sensor, and a biometric transmitter.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is disclosed that includes a base and at least one module. The base conditions and delivers a fluid to the at least one module that houses an ingredient to be mixed with the fluid. The base is controlled by a control unit that is configured to control the flow and the pressure of the liquid delivered to the module, during the preparation of a beverage, according to a command selected from a plurality of commands suitable for different types of ingredients and/or for different preparation processes of a given ingredient.

Abstract: A device (1) has: a cartridge seat (10) arranged to receive an ingredient cartridge (2) for extraction; a beverage outlet (35) connected to this cartridge seat for dispensing beverage during extraction; and a liquid injection arrangement (50, 60, 61, 70, 80, 81) comprising a pump (60) for pressurizing and circulating liquid from a source (50) via the cartridge seat into the beverage outlet. The liquid injection arrangement further comprises a valve (80?) between the pump and the cartridge seat. The liquid injection arrangement is configured to release via the valve (80?) pressure from this pressurized liquid in the injection arrangement and maintain liquid in the injection arrangement from the pump (60) to the cartridge seat (10) after the pump is stopped, so as to inhibit dripping from the beverage outlet (35).

Abstract: A device (1) for receiving an ingredient cartridge (2) and extracting the ingredient by passing heated liquid through the cartridge, has a cartridge seat (10) and a liquid injection arrangement (50, 60, 61, 70, 80, 81) for injecting heated liquid into the cartridge seat. The cartridge seat comprises a first cartridge support (20) and a second cartridge support (30) facing the first support. The first and second cartridge supports are arranged to be movable relative to one another from an open position for insertion or removal of a cartridge into the seat to a closed position for passing heated liquid through such a cartridge. At least one support (20) of the cartridge supports (20, 30) is hydraulically actuatable and movable into the closed position by the liquid injection arrangement.

Abstract: A device (1) has: a cartridge seat (10) arranged to receive an ingredient cartridge (2) for extraction; a beverage outlet (35) connected to this cartridge seat for dispensing beverage during extraction; and a liquid injection arrangement (50, 60, 61, 70, 80, 81) comprising a pump (60) for pressurizing and circulating liquid from a source (50) via the cartridge seat into the beverage outlet. The liquid injection arrangement further comprises a valve (80?) between the pump and the cartridge seat. The liquid injection arrangement is configured to release via the valve (80?) pressure from this pressurized liquid in the injection arrangement and maintain liquid in the injection arrangement from the pump (60) to the cartridge seat (10) after the pump is stopped, so as to inhibit dripping from the beverage outlet (35).

Abstract: A device (1) has: a cartridge seat (10) arranged to receive an ingredient cartridge (2) for extraction; a beverage outlet (35) connected to this cartridge seat for dispensing beverage during extraction; and a liquid injection arrangement (50, 60, 61, 70, 80, 81) comprising a pump (60) for pressurizing and circulating liquid from a source (50) via the cartridge seat into the beverage outlet. The liquid injection arrangement further comprises a valve (80?) between the pump and the cartridge seat. The liquid injection arrangement is configured to release via the valve (80?) pressure from this pressurized liquid in the injection arrangement and maintain liquid in the injection arrangement from the pump (60) to the cartridge seat (10) after the pump is stopped, so as to inhibit dripping from the beverage outlet (35).

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: a base (10) having a fluid circuit for conditioning and delivering a fluid via a base outlet (11), said fluid circuit being coupled to a fluid source and controlled by a control unit and comprising a pump; and, at least one module having a module inlet cooperating with the base outlet, said module having a unit for housing an ingredient to be mixed with such fluid. The pump is a membrane pump, the control unit being configured to control the flow and the pressure of the liquid delivered by the membrane pump to the module, during the preparation of a beverage, according to a command selected from a plurality of commands suitable for different types of ingredients and/or for different preparation processes of a given ingredient.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) has a fluid circuit (3-10c) that comprises a liquid flavoring arrangement (9a, 3, 4, 5) for circulating a liquid, such as water, through a flavoring ingredient (2, 2?) to flavor this liquid and for dispensing this flavored liquid to a user-receptacle (100). The fluid circuit further comprises a dilution arrangement (9b, 9?, 9?) for mixing the liquid unflavored with the flavored liquid upon flavoring.

Abstract: A device (1) for receiving an ingredient cartridge (2) and extracting the ingredient by passing heated liquid through the cartridge, comprises: a cartridge seat (10) that has an open configuration for receiving and/or removing a cartridge from such device and a closed configuration for extracting the ingredient; and a force generation means (46) for assisting a closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat. The force generation means can be associated with a dampening means (47, 48) for dampening the closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat when assisted by the force generating means. The device can have a user-movable handle (41) that is associated with an end-of-stroke feed-back means (50) for providing a corresponding feed-back to a user actuating the handle.

Abstract: A combination including a heater, a first connection device and a second connection device. The heater has heating elements or resistors; and a heater connector with electric heater conductors connected to the electric heating elements. The first and second connection devices have first and second output connectors with conductors for connection to the conductors of the heater connector and first and second input connector for connection to first and second standard connectors of first and second power sources with first and second voltage levels. The electric conductors of the first output connector have a first connection configuration in the first connection device and the electric conductors of the second output connector have a second connection configuration in the second connection device different to the first connection configuration.