Abstract: Provided herein are fluid reservoirs or hoppers for controlled delivery of liquid biological sample to a microfluidic device.

Abstract: Provided herein are fluid reservoirs or hoppers for controlled delivery of liquid biological sample to a microfluidic device.

Abstract: A liquid food fountain comprises a center barrel having a top opening and a bottom opening and a plurality of stackable modules (16, 14, 12, 10) adapted for a slip fit on the center barrel (20). Each module has a tier (16) extending around the center barrel (10). A liquid collector (24) is adapted to be placed below the modules. An auger (34) assembly is adapted to fit inside the center barrel to carry liquid entering the center barrel at the bottom opening to the top opening. A drive module is connectable to the auger assembly. The described parts can be assembled for use and disassembled for cleaning and storage.

Abstract: A liquid food fountain comprises a center barrel having a top opening and a bottom opening and a plurality of stackable modules (16, 14, 12, 10) adapted for a slip fit on the center barrel (20). Each module has a tier (16) extending around the center barrel (10). A liquid collector (24) is adapted to be placed below the modules. An auger (34) assembly is adapted to fit inside the center barrel to carry liquid entering the center barrel at the bottom opening to the top opening. A drive module is connectable to the auger assembly. The described parts can be assembled for use and disassembled for cleaning and storage.

Abstract: A plastic vial having a fill port with a structure that is easily collapsible, is sealable in less time, and that minimizes the residual stresses in the vial after it has been filled and sealed. The structure of the fill port includes a proximal end, with respect to the body of the vial, and a distal end, also with respect to the body of the vial. The proximal end is selected from the group consisting of a diamond-shaped end, an elliptical end and a circular end. Additionally, the vial has dispensing openings that minimize the effects of distorting a dispensing end of the vial when the vial is opened.

Abstract: A device for treating a user's hand with a treatment fluid is provided. The device includes a housing that defines a basin for holding the treatment fluid. The device includes a hand rest portion for supporting the user's hand with the fingers in the basin. The treatment fluid is circulated within the basin to provide therapy to the user's hand. The treatment device may also provide a vibratory massage and heat therapy to the user's hand.

Abstract: A device for treating a user's hand with a treatment fluid is provided. The device includes a housing that defines a basin for holding the treatment fluid. The device includes a hand rest portion for supporting the user's hand with the fingers in the basin. The treatment fluid is circulated within the basin to provide therapy to the user's hand. The treatment device may also provide a vibratory massage and heat therapy to the user's hand.

Abstract: A ball operated, automatic vibration safety latching device including a cantilevered arm which is gravity biased to a radial position to leave a catch normally disengaged, a ball positioned atop a ball support, and a retaining cup attached to the arm and arranged beneath the ball support. Any undue vibration such as that caused by an earthquake or nearby explosion will dislodge the ball causing the ball to drop into the retaining cup which will cause the cantilevered arm to rotate around its pivot so as to then engage the catch or otherwise block the door. A single latching device may be used with two catches to serve two doors or other items that need to be restrained. The door is normally completely unimpeded and only requires unlatching in the event that undue vibration has occurred since the door was last closed. Unlatching the arm allows the door to be opened and automatically resets the device to the normal unlatched mode.

Abstract: A cover for a cup, the cover comprising a cap and a lid, with the cap mountable on a cup, with the lid rotatably attached to the cap and with the cap and lid having openings for fluid flow from the cup when the openings are in alignment. The cap-lid attachment includes a first ring on the cap and a second ring on the lid, with the second ring rotating within the first ring, and with the second ring having resilient fingers projecting from the second ring past the first ring, with outwardly projecting hooks at the end of the fingers for latching the rings together. The first ring has projecting stops for engagement by the second ring hooks for limiting rotation of the lid between aligned and non-aligned positions of the openings, with the cap and lid having bands with openings therein, with the lid band overlying the cap band, and with the cap band having a rib around the cap openings and in sealing engagement with the lid band.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing assembly and method of construction for a push-pull type valve having a sealing mechanism which resists undesirable dislodgement or leakage such as encountered during transport. The push-pull valve for a container or bottle is equipped with a security seal or connection plug formed between the inner stem and the outer sleeve which preventing any relative movement between the inner and the outer sleeve during transport, is easily fracturable through deliberate actuation by the user rotating the inner stem.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing assembly and method of construction for a push-pull type valve having a sealing mechanism which resists undesirable dislodgement or leakage such as encountered during transport. The push-pull valve for a container or bottle is equipped with a security seal or connection plug formed between the inner stem and the outer sleeve which preventing any relative movement between the inner and the outer sleeve during transport, is easily fracturable through deliberate actuation by the user rotating the inner stem.

Abstract: A bottle carrier unit which attaches to the necks of one or more bottles for lifting and carrying the bottles. The two-bottle carrier unit is a support device with first and second collars attachable to respective necks of a pair of bottles, the collars being supported on opposite sides of a central handle section, with a longitudinal slit or gap bisecting the central handle section and a radial portion of each collar adjacent thereto. The slit allows the bisected handle sections to be pulled apart, thereby enlarging the size of the collars to facilitate insertion and removal of the bottles. The slit also allows for the torques applied by carrying the unit or the forces applied by grasping the handles to provide additional connection strength to the collars onto the bottle necks. The handle sections may include side stiffening members for providing structural stiffness thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lancet injector for use with a lancet and an isolating platform to obtain blood samples for diagnostic purposes in a very safe and accurate manner. This lancet injector makes use of two elastomeric bands to push the lancet forwards and to rapidly withdraw the needle from the skin. The lancet injector also has an interlocking mechanism which completely precludes a lancet from being used more than once and thus obviates accidental misuse which could cause cross-contamination between patients. It further has a mechanism which allows the lancet itself to dislodge the platform thereby causing it to automatically jump forward in front of the needle as it collapses and thus to hood the needle and grip the main body of the lancet. It may also be provided with a window in its housing, through which a three color display panel can be viewed. When the lancet injector is ready for loading, a color is displayed, thus indicating that the injector has been emptied and may now be loaded and then cocked.

Abstract: A combined lancet and multi-function cap of the disposable type, for use in obtaining blood samples for diagnostic purposes. The lancet includes a needle with a sharp end and an elongated body of plastic material embedding the needle except for its sharp end. The multi-function cap is also made of plastic material and is detachably mounted onto one end of the body to embed the sharp end and keep it sterile until the lancet is used. The multi-function cap includes a ring having a central opening sized to let pass the sharp end of the needle but not the body of the lancet. The multi-function cap also includes a set of legs or a skirt that project from the ring for connecting the same to the mouth of a lancet injector. Thus, the cap also serves as an isolation barrier between the patient's finger and the physical lancet injector.