Abstract: An acoustic detector is described for detecting acoustic waves in a medium that can be a relatively dense medium. The detector comprises a concentrating structure provided with a lens-shaped cavity and an acoustic lens made of a dense fluid received within the cavity. A sensor is positioned at an acoustic focus distance from the acoustic lens. Sound waves propagating within the medium towards the acoustic detector are captured by the acoustic lens, concentrated through the concentrating structure, and are collected by the sensor. The acoustic detector can be applied to a vast variety of applications.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing at least one item in a chamber, comprising the steps of: disposing the at least one item in the chamber; pumping the atmosphere from the chamber until the atmosphere of the chamber has a pressure of less than ten torr; adding water vapor and ozone to the chamber; and generating electrical discharge in the chamber, such that the electrical discharge produces OH radicals from the water vapor and the ozone so as to contribute to sterilization of at least part of the at least one item.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing at least one item in a chamber, comprising the steps of: disposing the at least one item in the chamber; pumping the atmosphere from the chamber until the atmosphere of the chamber has a pressure of less than ten torr; adding water vapor and ozone to the chamber; and generating electrical discharge in the chamber, such that the electrical discharge produces OH radicals from the water vapor and the ozone so as to contribute to sterilization of at least part of the at least one item.

Abstract: A frame-type ozone generator has a plurality of elongated electrodes deployed in substantially parallel, spaced relation to each other so as to form a substantially flat electrode array, and a flow generator for generating a flow of oxygen containing gas through the electrode array in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode array. According to a first embodiment each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive core covered with polyvinyl-difluoride. According to a second embodiment each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive core covered with a material which includes silicon rubber.

Abstract: A frame-type ozone generator has a plurality of elongated electrodes deployed in substantially parallel, spaced relation to each other so as to form a substantially flat electrode array, and a flow generator for generating a flow of oxygen containing gas through the electrode array in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode array. According to a first embodiment each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive core covered with polyvinyl-difluoride. According to a second embodiment each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive core covered with a material which includes silicon rubber.

Abstract: A frame-type ozone generator (242) has a plurality of elongated electrodes (201, 202) deployed in substantially parallel, spaced relation to each other so as to form a substantially flat electrode array, and a flow generator (241) for generating a flow of oxygen containing gas through the electrode array in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode array. Each of the electrodes is formed from an electrically conductive core (211) covered with polyvinyl-difluoride (212). Preferably, each electrode array is arranged within a frame (206) of a given area. Also disclosed are an apparatus for treating a product with ozone-containing gas in which pressure-waves are used to enhance effectiveness of the ozone treatment, and a two-chamber batch method for implementing treatment of a product with possibly harmful gases such as ozone.

Abstract: A system for producing ozone at a high efficiency from oxygen or air is described. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system comprises at least two parallel electrodes made of metallic surfaces and separated by dielectric insulating material, wherein air or oxygen is passed through the gap between the electrodes with an electric field of at least 4 kV/mm AC, being characterized by: (a) a ratio of the electrodes-surface area to gas volume of at least 2 cm.sup.2.min/l, said electrode being selected from a horizontal, vertical and plate type tube, and (b) the electric field in the said gap is formed by the difference in potentials between the electrodes and the dielectric insulating material. According to a preferred embodiment the dielectric insulating material has a breakdown voltage of at least 12 kV/mm. Among the main advantages of the system is the small size of the generator and the relatively small amount of energy required per unit of ozone produced.

Abstract: A disposable cell for a diaphragm-actuated fluid-transfer control device, which comprises two cell walls peripherally joined to one another, of which at least one wall is flexible, and is adapted to be flexed from a first position, in which it is located in close proximity to the other wall, reducing the space enclosed between the two walls to a minimum, to at least a second position, in which at least some regions of the flexible wall have moved away from the other wall, thereby increasing the space between the two walls, and an inlet port and an outlet port provided in at least one of the walls. There is also described a combination of a disposable cell with a diaphragm-actuated fluid transfer control device.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a diaphragm-actuated fluid-transfer control device, which comprises a flexible, substantially non-stretchable diaphragm body of a substantially circular outline surrounded and delimited by a beaded rim, the body having a substantially dish-like, bi-stable shape invertible from the first stable state, in which a first body surface is convex and a second body surface, concave, to the second stable state, in which the first body surface is rendered concave and the second body surface, convex. The device further comprises at least one substantially rigid, elongated arm fixedly embedded in the diaphragm to a depth exceeding the radial width of the beaded rim, the free end of which arm projects beyond the beaded rim. There is also described a diaphragm-actuated fluid transfer control device including the diaphragm.

Abstract: A housing-like body having at least one concavity provided with electrically conductive surface elements and an electrically conductive diaphragm disposed therein and forming one or more pocket-like chambers. The housing also includes an inlet and outlet aperture. The diaphragm surface element and to cooperate on passage of electric current to generate, in a predeterminable sequence, a plurality of magnetic fields of controllably changing polarities and intensities producing cycles of dynamic deflections of the diaphragm. The generated dynamic deflections of the diaphragm, the pocket-like chambers are peristaltically manipulated to move fluid from the region of the inlet aperture through which the fluid is drawn in, towards the region of the outlet aperture, through which the fluid is expelled.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for fluid transfer. The device comprises a housing-like body with a wall having a concavity. Inside the housing there is disposed a magnetically activatable diaphragm capable of forming, in conjunction with the concavity, one or more pocket-like chambers. The housing also includes an inlet and outlet aperture. The device includes a plurality of means for producing magnetic fields arranged in proximity to the concavity and adapted to generate, in a predeterminable sequence, a plurality of magnetic fields of controllably changing polarities and intensities producing cycles of dynamic deflections of the diaphragm. By means of the magnetically generated dynamic deflections of the diaphragm, the pocket-like chambers are peristaltically manipulated to move fluid from the region of the inlet aperture through which the fluid is drawn in, towards the region of the outlet aperture, through which the fluid is expelled.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for fluid transfer. The device comprises a housing-like body with a wall having a concavity. Inside the housing there is disposed a magnetically activatable diaphragm capable of forming, in conjunction with the concavity, one or more pocket-like chambers. The housing also includes an inlet and outlet aperture. The device includes a plurality of means for producing magnetic fields arranged in proximity to the concavity and adapted to generate, in a predeterminable sequence, a plurality of magnetic fields of controllably changing polarities and intensities producing cycles of dynamic deflections of the diaphragm. By means of the magnetically generated dynamic deflections of the diaphragm, the pocket-like chambers are peristaltically manipulated to move fluid from the region of the inlet aperture through which the fluid is drawn in, towards the region of the outlet aperture, through which the fluid is expelled.