Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable self-contained device for the detection of microorganisms in a sample of a liquid, semi-liquid or solid test material. Within a single hermetically sealable vessel are a combined sampling and assay assembly, with means for withdrawal of a sample from a material to be tested, and means for applying the withdrawn sample or portions thereof to the assay assembly. The combined sampling and assay assembly includes a carrier member having a head portion with a cap for sealing the vessel, a main body portion having at least one surface that bears a culture medium, and a tip portion. A slide on the carrier member is reciprocal between the head portion and the tip, comprising a resilient sleeve with at least one applicator tongue being resiliently biased into contact with the culture medium.

Abstract: A device is provided for detecting the presence of a microorganism in a liquid sample or on a solid surface that includes a cover member which is open at least at one end thereof; a support member accommodated within the cover member capable of carrying a microorganism culture medium on one or both opposite faces thereof, which support member is movable into and out from the cover member; a handle for moving the support member into and out from the cover member; and optionally having a sampling member. A combined method for detecting the presence and extent of microbial contamination in a liquid sample and inoculation of micro-organisms by employing the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sedimentation classification of particulate material in liquid dispersion. The dispersion is centrifuged in a tubular vessel comprising at least two neighboring compartments communicating via at least one opening which may be capillary. The lowermost compartment has a sealed bottom and the uppermost has an open upper end. Upon completion of the centrifugation a liquid fraction with dispersed particulate material is decanted from the uppermost compartment. Useful products may also be recovered from other compartments.