Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for transport and incubation of a medical sample in a blood culture flask includes a sealable container having a thermally insulated compartment for receiving the blood culture flask and a heater for heating the medical sample to a temperature suitable for pre-culturing of the sample. An agitator is provided for agitating the sample in the blood culture flask.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for transport and incubation of a medical sample in a blood culture flask includes a sealable container having a thermally insulated compartment for receiving the blood culture flask and a heater for heating the medical sample to a temperature suitable for pre-culturing of the sample. An agitator is provided for agitating the sample in the blood culture flask.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a fluid recovery system and method for use with concentrator systems for concentrating particles suspended in a fluid and where this suspension is recovered from a fluid stream drawn from the concentrator system. A controller is configured to control valve actuation to direct concentrate being drawn from the concentrator chamber through a recovery tube to a recovery reservoir based on fluid volume movement. The system can use a density sensor to detect density transitions in fluid in the fluid recovery tube to identify leading and trailing edges of a portion of concentrated particles in fluid suspension passing through the recovery tube and actuate recovery valves based on objectives for maximising particle recovery with minimal dilution.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: Provided is a chamber configuration for a reverse flow centrifuge, and a reverse flow centrifuge system configured for low fluid volume and small radius rotation. The compact reverse flow centrifuge system has a reusable subsystem and a single use replaceable subsystem. The replaceable subsystem comprises a separation chamber, fluid delivery manifold and rotational mounting connecting the separation chamber to the fluid manifold. The single use replaceable subsystem provides a closed environment for execution of reverse flow centrifugation processes. The separation chamber has a substantially conical fluid enclosure portion connected to a neck portion, and a dip tube extends centrally through the conical fluid enclosure to provide a fluid path to the tip of the conical fluid enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing counter flow centrifugation. The apparatus includes at least one vessel, a gear fixedly attached to at least a portion of the vessel such that rotation of the gear rotates the vessel, a handle assembly and a plurality of tubes extending through the handle assembly and to the vessel. The gear is configured to be rotated by a drive system. The handle assembly is rotatably attached to the gear and includes an opening therein. At least a portion of the gear engages at least a portion of the drive system through the opening. The handle assembly is configured to be rotated by the drive system. The vessel can be rotated at twice a speed of the handle assembly when the apparatus is inserted into a bowl of the counter flow centrifuge.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for transport and incubation of a medical sample in a blood culture flask includes a sealable container having a thermally insulated compartment for receiving the blood culture flask and a heater for heating the medical sample to a temperature suitable for pre-culturing of the sample. An agitator is provided for agitating the sample in the blood culture flask.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber (50) mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube (125) connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit (130) residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways (135) for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus of a counter flow centrifuge can include at least one vessel, a handle assembly, and a plurality of tubes extending through the handle assembly and to the vessel. The vessel can be rotated at twice a speed of the handle assembly when the apparatus is inserted into a bowl of the counter flow centrifuge.

Abstract: A cartridge (1) comprises a working film (10) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array (20) when the working film (10) of the cartridge (1) is placed on said electrode array (20).

Abstract: A cartridge (1) comprises a working film (10) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array (20) when the working film (10) of the cartridge (1) is placed on said electrode array (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles includes: a rotor rotatable at a speed about an axis, the rotor having an outer periphery and front and rear opposite sides; at least one chamber (50) mounted on the rotor, each chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an umbilical assembly rotatable about the axis; and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the umbilical assembly at about one-half the speed of the rotor. The umbilical assembly includes: a curvilinear guide tube (125) connecting to a drum at the rear side of the rotor; a flexible conduit (130) residing in the guide tube; and first and second elongate passageways (135) for each chamber extending through the conduit, wherein the first passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet of a respective chamber and the second passageway is in fluid communication with the outlet of the respective chamber. The passageways are held in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: Apparatus for a bottle forming machine; wherein the apparatus comprises i) a tong arm assembly for gripping a formed bottle and for transferring it from a first location to a second location through a swinging action about a shaft, and ii) a drive that drives said swinging action; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises the following: a) a release mechanism that can disengage a tong head assembly from the drive when a collision occurs; and/or b) a tensioning device that automatically maintains tension in a drive belt or chain when the assembly is in use.

Abstract: A three piece nozzle assembly for injecting molten plastic in an injection molding machine carrying out a high pressure, high volume continuous molding process to mold thin walled parts. A nozzle housing has an internally threaded dual diameter bore in one end which receives in one bore portion an externally threaded shank of a nozzle. A sleeve is threaded into the other bore portion and is tightened adjacent to a flange on the nozzle shank to lock the nozzle to the housing and prevent the pressure of the injection molding from working the nozzle loose from the housing. A gap is formed between the sleeve and nozzle shank to reduce the thermal effects.

Abstract: This invention concerns a resilience testing gauge and a resilience testing system, which includes the gauge, suitable for testing the seal quality of partly inflated bags. This invention also concerns a method of testing the seal quality of partly inflated bags using the resilience testing gauge. The gauge employs a first (2) and a second (3) beam cantilevered from a rigid block (4). In use the rigid block (4) is vibrated and one of the beams (3) is brought into contact with the article under test. The phase responses of the two beams (2 and 3) then provide information from which the test results can be determined.