Abstract: A method for determining a flow rate and/or a concentration of particles of a fluid flowing in a chamber, which includes the steps of: producing an ultrasound beam of a given frequency with a first transducer such that all fluid components traveling through an intersection region between the ultrasound beam and the chamber are insonated by the first transducer; receiving Doppler-shifted ultrasound signals generated by the fluid components in the insonated region of the chamber with a second transducer; acquiring the ultrasound signals received by the second transducer during an acquisition time; obtaining a Doppler Power Spectrum of the acquired ultrasound signals; and determining the flow rate and/or the concentration of particles of the fluid by adjustment between, on the one hand, the obtained Doppler Power Spectrum and, on the other hand, a model of the Doppler Power Spectrum.

Abstract: A device for separating and/or isolating and/or washing target particles from a particles suspension. The device includes at least two inlets, at least two outlets, a container having a longitudinal axis and a chamber for fluid flow, being configured to be associated with a transducer, at least one transducer configured to generate bulk acoustic waves within the chamber, and at least one flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid in the chamber. The inlets are located on one end of the container and the outlets are located on the other end along the longitudinal axis. The first and second inlet are each located on either side of the longitudinal axis, the first inlet and the second outlet are each located on either side of the longitudinal axis, and the second inlet and the first outlet are each located on either side of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating blood, the system including a fluid collecting bag including at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each including at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a unit for transferring fluid from the fluid collecting bag to the sampling bags; wherein the unit for transferring fluid includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating blood into blood products.

Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding said beverage out of the cavity (10a). The cavity (10a) is delimited by a first module part (11) and a second module part (12). At least one (11) of the parts (11, 12) is movable along a module direction (10?) into a position distant from the other part (12) for transferring an ingredient capsule (2) to and/or from the cavity (10a) and into a position close to the other part (12) for processing the capsule (2) in the cavity (10a) to form said beverage (7). The machine (1) includes a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is movable between: a dispensing position for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) to a beverage dispensing area; and a non-dispensing position for preventing liquid from being guided to the dispensing area.

Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes: a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding the beverage out of the cavity (10a); and a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is arranged for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) and out thereof so as to be dispensed to a beverage dispensing area. The guide (100) has a guide channel (101,101?,101?,101b) extending along the guide direction (100?) for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) to the guide outlet (102). The guide channel (101,101?,101?) has a cross-section orthogonal to the guide direction (100?) and a bottom (101,101b?) generally extending along the guide direction (100?). The cross-section has a width that increases with distance from the bottom (101,101b?), e.g. with height above the bottom.

Abstract: A system for changing a concentration of at least one group of particles in a fluid, which includes a first container and a second container; a first transfer device and a second transfer device, and an element for keeping the volume of fluid in the first and second containers constant. The first container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first transfer device, and the second container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second transfer device. The first and second transfer devices include a chamber associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating acoustic waves within the chamber; at least two outlets including a first outlet for fluid enriched with the particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of the particles; the first outlet being fluidly connected to the first container and the second outlet being fluidly connected to the second container.

Abstract: A method for determining a flow rate and/or a concentration of particles of a fluid flowing in a chamber, which includes the steps of: producing an ultrasound beam of a given frequency with a first transducer such that all fluid components traveling through an intersection region between the ultrasound beam and the chamber are insonated by the first transducer; receiving Doppler-shifted ultrasound signals generated by the fluid components in the insonated region of the chamber with a second transducer; acquiring the ultrasound signals received by the second transducer during an acquisition time; obtaining a Doppler Power Spectrum of the acquired ultrasound signals; and determining the flow rate and/or the concentration of particles of the fluid by adjustment between, on the one hand, the obtained Doppler Power Spectrum and, on the other hand, a model of the Doppler Power Spectrum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating blood, the system including a fluid collecting bag including at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each including at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a fluid transfer unit to transfer fluid from the collecting bag to the sampling bags. The fluid transfer unit includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating blood into blood products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device, suitable for use as an acoustic resonator, including a base adapted to be coupled to at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer including an aperture and a reflector, wherein the base includes a protruding part having a thickness t; the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part of the base; the device further includes a housing having an aperture complementary to the protruding part of the base and wherein the inner edge of the aperture has the same thickness t than the protruding part; and the housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector, such that the thickness of the inner edge of the spacer defined the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector. Also disclosed is a method of trapping particles in a fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating a fluid, including a fluid collecting bag with at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a mechanism for transferring fluid from the fluid collecting bag to the sampling bags. The fluid transfer mechanism includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating a fluid into fluid products.

Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding said beverage out of the cavity (10a). The cavity (10a) is delimited by a first module part (11) and a second module part (12). At least one (11) of the parts (11, 12) is movable along a module direction (10?) into a position distant from the other part (12) for transferring an ingredient capsule (2) to and/or from the cavity (10a) and into a position close to the other part (12) for processing the capsule (2) in the cavity (10a) to form said beverage (7). The machine (1) includes a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is movable between: a dispensing position for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) to a beverage dispensing area; and a non-dispensing position for preventing liquid from being guided to the dispensing area.

Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes: a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding the beverage out of the cavity (10a); and a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is arranged for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) and out thereof so as to be dispensed to a beverage dispensing area. The guide (100) has a guide channel (101,101?,101?,101b) extending along the guide direction (100?) for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) to the guide outlet (102). The guide channel (101,101?,101?) has a cross-section orthogonal to the guide direction (100?) and a bottom (101,101b?) generally extending along the guide direction (100?). The cross-section has a width that increases with distance from the bottom (101,101b?), e.g. with height above the bottom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating blood, the system including a fluid collecting bag including at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each including at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a unit for transferring fluid from the fluid collecting bag to the sampling bags; wherein the unit for transferring fluid includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating blood into blood products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating a fluid, including a fluid collecting bag with at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a mechanism for transferring fluid from the fluid collecting bag to the sampling bags. The fluid transfer mechanism includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating a fluid into fluid products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device, suitable for use as an acoustic resonator, including a base adapted to be coupled to at least one acoustic wave generator, a spacer including an aperture and a reflector, wherein the base includes a protruding part having a thickness t; the aperture of the spacer is complementary to the protruding part of the base; the device further includes a housing having an aperture complementary to the protruding part of the base and wherein the inner edge of the aperture has the same thickness t than the protruding part; and the housing is positioned between the spacer and the reflector, such that the thickness of the inner edge of the spacer defined the thickness of a cavity between the protruding part and the reflector. Also disclosed is a method of trapping particles in a fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple bag system for fractionating blood, the system including a fluid collecting bag including at least one outlet port; at least first and second sampling bags, each including at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and a fluid transfer unit to transfer fluid from the collecting bag to the sampling bags. The fluid transfer unit includes an acoustic sorter. Also disclosed is a method for fractionating blood into blood products.

Abstract: Alloy on the basis of copper, zinc, nickel, lead and manganese having properties of resistance to corrosion, notably to inks and gel-inks. The inventive alloy can have a mono-phased alpha structure and a bi-phased alpha-beta structure and is especially suited to the production of tips and reservoirs for writing implements.

Abstract: Alloy containing between 1% and 20% by weight of Ni, between 1% and 20% by weight of Sn, between 0.5%, 3% by weight of Pb in Cu which represents at least 50% by weight of the alloy; characterized in that the alloy further contains between 0.01% and 5% by weight of P or B alone or in combination. The invention also pertains to a metallic product having enhanced mechanical resistance at intermediate temperatures (300° C. to 700° C.) and excellent machinability. The metallic product of the invention can be advantageously used for the fabrication of connectors, electromechanical, or micromechanical pieces.

Abstract: Alloys based on copper, nickel, tin and lead obtained by a method of continuous or semi-continuous casting, or static billet casting or sprayforming billet casting, and capable of spinodal hardening. The machinability index of the inventive alloys exceeds 80% relatively to standard ASTM C36000 brass and can even reach 90%.

Abstract: An SRAM memory cell includes first and second inverters (14, 16) interconnected between first and second data nodes. Each inverter is formed from complementary MOS transistors (18, 20, 18?, 20?) connected in series between a DC voltage supply source and a grounding circuit (22). A circuit (28, 30) programs the MOS transistors by causing an irreversible degradation of a gate oxide layer of at least some of the transistors (18, 18?).