Abstract: A buoyant apparatus and method of use buoyancy to offset the weight of a load during immersion of the load in a fluid medium such as a payload manipulated by a cable and crane or by a remotely operated undersea vehicle. Buoyancy modules that can be of different size and shape have elongated supports that are attachable via complementary connection fixtures at the ends. The attached supports form a skeleton of the array. The connection fixtures are axially resiliently compressible and maintain the buoyancy modules in abutment notwithstanding shrinkage or expansion of the buoyant material due to hydrostatic pressure that increases with depth.

Abstract: A buoyant apparatus and method of use buoyancy to offset the weight of a load during immersion of the load in a fluid medium such as a payload manipulated by a cable and crane or by a remotely operated undersea vehicle. Buoyancy modules that can be of different size and shape have elongated supports that are attachable via complementary connection fixtures at the ends. The attached supports form a skeleton of the array. The connection fixtures are axially resiliently compressible and maintain the buoyancy modules in abutment notwithstanding shrinkage or expansion of the buoyant material due to hydrostatic pressure that increases with depth.

Abstract: An electrochemical-based analytical test strip includes an electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned conductive layer disposed over the electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned insulating layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, an enzymatic reagent layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, a patterned adhesive layer disposed above the enzymatic reagent layer and a top layer disposed over the enzymatic reagent layer. In addition, the test strip has a sample-receiving chamber defined by the electrically-insulating substrate, the patterned conductive layer, the patterned insulating layer, the enzymatic reagent layer, the patterned adhesive layer and the top layer. The sample receiving chamber of the test strip has a working portion and a non-working portion and the top layer has a first portion and an opaque second portion.

Abstract: A method for determining an analyte (such a glucose) in a bodily fluid sample includes introducing a bodily fluid sample (e.g., a whole blood sample) into a sample-receiving chamber of an analytical test strip. The method also includes verifying that the bodily fluid sample has filled at least a working portion of the sample-receiving chamber by user visual observation of the working portion through a first portion of a top layer of the analytical test strip, while an opaque second portion of the top layer precludes user visual observation of a non-working portion of the sample-receiving chamber. Thereafter, in the method, the concentration of analyte in the bodily fluid sample is determined only if during the verifying step the user has verified that the bodily fluid sample has filled the working portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical-based analytical test strip includes an electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned conductive layer disposed over the electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned insulating layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, an enzymatic reagent layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, a patterned adhesive layer disposed above the enzymatic reagent layer and a top layer disposed over the enzymatic reagent layer. In addition, the test strip has a sample-receiving chamber defined by the electrically-insulating substrate, the patterned conductive layer, the patterned insulating layer, the enzymatic reagent layer, the patterned adhesive layer and the top layer. The sample receiving chamber of the test strip has a working portion and a non-working portion and the top layer has a first portion and an opaque second portion.

Abstract: A frozen aerated product in a container, the container having a wall delimiting a cavity and having an opening, the cavity containing a bag, the opening being closed by a valve having a product inlet and a product outlet, the bag containing the product inlet, the cavity containing a propellant, the frozen aerated product being contained within the bag and gastightly separated from the propellant by the bag, there being an annular hermetic seal between the bag and the wall; characterised in that the bag is resiliently inflatable and the frozen aerated product is under a gauge pressure of between 4 and 18 bar.

Abstract: A comprehensive container inspection system includes axial container examining features, side wall inspection features and a controllable diverter for routing the containers to one of at least two sorting paths. Each stage of the inspection system is adapted to process moving containers, a continuous line of moving containers being processed and controllably diverted without stoppages. In an axial inspection area, containers are carried through rim, energy absorption and base inspection areas by means of side rollers bridging a gap in endless belt conveyor sections. In a side wall inspection area, containers are continuously rolled before a video detector operable to record and analyze images including at least three of the rolling bottles.

Abstract: A video inspection system with collimated viewing of plural containers has a conveyor for continuously transporting bodies disposed immediately adjacent one another to an inspection zone at which the bodies are backlighted. A video detector for capturing and analyzing a digital image of successive containers views the containers through a preferably fresnel collimating lens disposed between the bodies and the video detector, whereby an elevation view of the bodies is achieved. A data processing device operable to correlate the portions of successive images corresponding to a single body proceeding through the inspection zone analyzes the images and operates a downstream apparatus for segregating the bodies based upon visible features.

Abstract: An illumination system for video inspection of transparent and translucent bodies to be inspected sequentially while moving along a conveying path has a light source and light-transmitting block partly enclosing over the end of the bodies moving on the path. A light source, especially one or more strobe lamps is located along the conveying path, and light from the source is directed inwardly by the block to a diffuse surface defining side walls of a channel through which rims move along the conveying path. The diffuse side walls direct light inwardly and obliquely of the rim. The rim can be illuminated on the fore and aft sides in the channel by light emission from an additional block of material forming a connection web between the inwardly-reflective blocks, tending to evenly illuminate the rim.