Abstract: A cleaning tool (1) for use in cleaning ferrous material from a wellbore has a magnetic cleaning element (14) mounted to a tool body (2) within a slot (5) using a releasable concealed interference fit fastener assembly (15) comprising a fastener member having a head (16), and a shank (17) with a configured end (18) and a deformable fastener ring (20) adapted to fit closely over the shank, and a press-fit collar (21) adapted to deform the deformable fastener ring upon the configured end of the shank when assembled, and wherein the respective head and collar are each flanged to permit an interference fit with a corresponding contact surface of the tool body around said slot.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a device includes performing a plurality of non-bonding processes during at least one web-based manufacturing stage and during at least one sheet-based manufacturing stage. The processes may be performed by a plurality of modules. The modules may be independently controlled and/or monitored. The modules may be interchangeable. One or more modules may receive and/or pass material to another module. The devices that are manufactured may be a layered device, a smart card, a sensor, an actuator, an in vitro diagnostic device, a microfluidic device, or a laminar product. An apparatus for manufacturing device includes at least one web-based manufacturing component and at least one sheet-based manufacturing component. The at least one web-based manufacturing component and the at least one sheet-based manufacturing component are configured to perform a plurality of non-bonding processes.

Abstract: A downhole debris recovery tool including a ported sub coupled to a debris sub, a suction tube disposed in the debris sub, and an annular jet pump sub disposed in the ported sub and fluidly connected to the suction tube is disclosed. A method of removing debris from a wellbore including the steps of lowering a downhole debris removal tool into the wellbore, the downhole debris removal tool having an annular jet pump sub, a mixing tube, a diffuser, and a suction tube, flowing a fluid through a bore of the annular jet pump sub, jetting the fluid from the annular jet pump sub into the mixing tube, displacing an initially static fluid in the mixing tube through the diffuser, thereby creating a vacuum effect in the suction tube to draw a debris-laden fluid into the downhole debris removal tool, and removing the tool downhole debris removal tool from the wellbore after a predetermined time interval is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a stamped feature (P) on a substrate (S) includes: applying a plurality of stamping tool segments (32, 40a, 40b, 40c, 50, 60, 70, 80, 92) to at least one surface of the substrate. An arrangement (30, 90) for forming a stamped feature (P) on a substrate (S) includes a plurality of stamping tool segments (32, 40a, 40b, 40c, 50, 60, 70, 80, 92) that actuatable individually, in concert in groups of more than one, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fluid handling structure includes: an actuation area (03, 08) to control fluid flow within the structure; and a plurality of actuation components (09, 11, 12, 13) within the actuation area (03, 08); wherein the actuation area (63, 68) is constructed and arranged to activate or control each of the plurality of actuation components (09, 11, 12, 13). A fluid handling structure comprising: a fluid channel (204); and a deformable material (202); wherein the fluid channel is bounded, at least in part, by the deformable material (202). A fluidic device comprising: at least one channel (403) defining a path for the travel of an electromagnetic wave. A method of performing a function with an instrument, the method comprising: associating an insert with the instrument, the insert comprising one or more of program code, data, or commands, which enable performance of the function.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for manufacturing a microfluidic device (10) is disclosed in which a laser is used to remove selected portions of one of the layers that make up the device. The portion of the layer may be removed before the layer is amalgamated with other layers making up the device, or the portion may be removed after the layers have been bonded together. The laser beam used to accomplish removal is a combination of at least two laser beams (3, 4), one of which (3) may be a continuous beam to form a melt of the portion to be removed, the other (4) being pulsed or modulated in some way to periodically induce shockwaves which remove the portion. The laser beams use at least one part (5, 8, 9) of the same alignment system.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object comprises a plurality of shutter elements (601, 606, 614) and a sensor (603, 608, 612), each shutter element (601, 606, 614) being operable to control (602, 609, 613) passage of light from a separate spatial location on the object to be imaged, wherein the incident light from the shutters (601, 606, 614) simultaneously illuminates a common area on a sensor (603, 608, 612) surface and wherein the incident light from the different shutters (601, 606, 614) is still individually discernible due to shutter control (602, 609, 613).

Abstract: A device (600) for performing at least part of an analytical process comprises a communicator (605) to facilitate communication with the device, and a data handler (610) to handle data of the analytical process and/or the device. In an embodiment, the device (600) is a consumable device and/or a microfluidic device. A method for performing at least part of an analytical process using a device comprises the steps of: (a) introducing a sample into the device; (b) handling data associated with the test using a data handler of the device; and (c) facilitating communications about the test using a communicator of the device. In another embodiment, the method is performed using a consumable device and/or a microfluidic device.

Abstract: A clamp (10) for holding two members (12, 14) together. The first member includes a recess (30) into which a fastener (38) is located. A further access port (42) is provided to the recess to allow a tool (44) to be used to operate the fastener. The second member is arranged to accept the fastener and so join the members. The recess and port are sized to prevent release of the fastener through the port. In this way, the fastener cannot easily be removed or lost when the clamp is in use and is tamperproof. Embodiments of a downhole tool are described where the clamp is used to hold portions of a sleeve around a body of the tool, and to hold scraper blades (384) and/or brushes (394) to the body.

Abstract: A downhole tool which can perform a task in a well bore, such as circulating fluid radially from the tool. The function is selectively performed by virtue of a sleeve moving within a central bore of the tool. Movement of the sleeve is effected by dropping a ball through a ball seat on the sleeve. Movement of the sleeve is controlled by an index sleeve such that the tool can be cycled back to the first operating position by dropping identical balls through the sleeve. Embodiments are described wherein the balls are deformable, the seat is deformable and the seat provides a helical channel through which the ball passes.

Abstract: A security module (95) for a transaction processing system is disclosed. The transaction processing system includes a transaction manager (20) which runs in a first process and is responsive to transaction requests from one or more applications (10, Page_1.htm) and a service provider layer (30, 36, 37) adapted to relay transaction requests passed from said transaction manager to associated hardware (14) for execution. The security module is adapted to communicate with a supervisor application to receive and store application rights to execute transaction requests and is responsive to requests from the service provider layer to determine an application's right to execute a transaction request.

Abstract: In a three electrode arc plasma flame ignition device, the first electrode surrounds the second electrode and the first and second electrodes define between them an annular gap across which the potential from a first source can be discharged, and the third electrode is surrounded by the second electrode and is so arranged that a higher potential applied to it discharges in series across a gap between the third electrode and the second electrode and radially across the annular gap between the second electrode and the first electrode.

Abstract: An ignition device for igniting a gaseous medium, such as a fuel/air mixture, comprises a chamber having a wall provided with an aperture through which the chamber can be placed in communication with the medium to be ignited, a first electrode extending across said chamber to said aperture to define an annular gap between the tip of said first electrode and the wall of said aperture, which wall forms at least part of a second electrode, and a third electrode surrounding and insulated from said first electrode and defining a second gap within said chamber between said third electrode and one of said first and second electrodes.