Abstract: Implementations of a novel inflatable are provided. In some implementations, the novel inflatable comprises an inflatable housing having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to store a gas therebetween to inflate and deflate the inflatable housing, and an inner opening extending through the inflatable housing surrounded by the inner surface and configured to receive and conceal an object therein when the inflatable is inflated. In some implementations, a method for using the novel inflatable comprises receiving and concealing the object within the inner opening by inflating the inflatable housing, and revealing and releasing the object from the inner opening by deflating the inflatable housing.

Abstract: A rotatable thermoforming machine for producing soluble pockets made from a soluble web. The machine has a plurality of pocket forming cavities 38a, b, c in each of which a respective pocket is formed in the soluble web. The pockets travel in a machine direction defined as the X direction and filling means 44 is arranged to at least partially fill the or each pocket formed in the soluble web. The filling means 44 comprising one or more nozzles 44, each nozzle 44 being arranged to be moveable in at least the X-direction as the or each respective pocket is filled from the filling nozzle 44.

Abstract: A multi-compartment pouch is formed from two water soluble substrates, wherein the pouch is substantially symmetrical about a weld line between the two substrates.

Abstract: A method of producing a water soluble pouch having at least one compartment containing more than one component includes forming an open compartment in a base web, adding a component to the compartment at a sufficiently high temperature to be in a molten form, and solidifying at least an upper surface of the molten material. The method further includes adding at least one further component to the compartment after the upper surface has solidified to prevent the components mixing with each other and closing the compartment with a lidding web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing multi-compartment water-soluble pouches 38 from a base web 27 and a lidding web 35 is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable former 21 having compartment forming cavities 23 into which the base web 27 can be formed. The former 21 is configured so that compartments 26,29,32 of a pouch 38 can be formed and filled sequentially and thereafter all compartments 26,29,32 closed and sealed by affixing the lidding web 35 to the base web 27.

Abstract: A machine and method of forming multi-compartment pouches is disclosed in which two pouches formed on separate adjacent formers (1, 3) are brought together in register and the lidding webs (9, 15) of the pouches joined to form a combined pouch (33). The pouches may be held on the formers (1, 3) by vacuum until the pouches are joined whereupon the vacuum holding one of the pouches on its former (1) is released while maintaining the vacuum holding the other pouch on its former (3) so that the combined pouches (33) are held on that former by the vacuum until the vacuum is released.

Abstract: The generator for a piezoelectric motor is also suitable for powering a high power LED for a dental polymerisation lamp via a rectifier, and comprises two transformers each including a primary winding and a secondary winding and four switches controlled by an ultrasonic reference oscillator, two switches being arranged to alternately connect the secondary windings of the two transformers to the piezoelectric load, and the other two switches being arranged to alternately connect the two primary windings to a voltage supply so that during the positive alternation, the primary winding of one of the transformers is charged with energy whereas the secondary winding of the other transformer is discharged into the piezoelectric load, and so that during the negative alternation, the secondary winding of the first transformer discharges the energy thereof whereas the primary winding of the first transformer is charged.

Abstract: A single-use lancet cartridge for inserting into a multi-use lancet driver assembly of a meter housing includes an elongated lancet housing with an open end, a lancet within the lancet housing and movable between a retracted and resting orientation to a piercing orientation through the open end, and a re-use prevention component that is a rotated drive wing incorporated within the lancet cartridge and oriented to cooperatively engage with a driver piston of the multi-use lancet driver assembly only one time thereby preventing the lancet from being moved into a piercing orientation a second time.

Abstract: A lancet carrier for an integrated lancet sensor assembly incorporating a lance cover includes an elongated body with a bottom, an open top, a body open end and a body closed end, a lancet-receiving recess with a recess bottom surface, the recess extending between the open end and the closed end, and a trough-forming member forming a trough with a trough open end in communication with the body open end, the trough-forming member longitudinally extending a predefined distance along the bottom from the body open end, the trough replacing a portion of the recess bottom surface at the body open end.

Abstract: A method of making a pouch from webs that include soluble polymeric substrates includes, among other steps, rotating a former that includes a plurality of cavities around its periphery and one or more heaters around the former for heating the cavities and heating the cavities. A base web is drawn into the cavities with a vacuum to form pockets in the base web, after which the pockets are filled and closed.

Abstract: Soluble pouches are formed on a continous motion rotating thermoforming machine having cavities in the surface of a drum into which a web of polymeric film is drawn by a vacuum to form pockets. The pockets are filled with one or more components and closed by a further web of polymeric film. Shrink-back of the polymeric film within the cavities is reduced by heating the cavities with heaters.

Abstract: A single-use lancet cartridge for inserting into a multi-use lancet driver assembly of a meter housing includes an elongated lancet housing with an open end, a lancet within the lancet housing and movable between a retracted and resting orientation to a piercing orientation through the open end, and a re-use prevention component that is a rotated drive wing incorporated within the lancet cartridge and oriented to cooperatively engage with a driver piston of the multi-use lancet driver assembly only one time thereby preventing the lancet from being moved into a piercing orientation a second time.

Abstract: The generator for a piezoelectric motor is also suitable for powering a high power LED for a dental polymerisation lamp via a rectifier, and comprises two transformers each including a primary winding and a secondary winding and four switches controlled by an ultrasonic reference oscillator, two switches being arranged to alternately connect the secondary windings of the two transformers to the piezoelectric load, and the other two switches being arranged to alternately connect the two primary windings to a voltage supply so that during the positive alternation, the primary winding of one of the transformers is charged with energy whereas the secondary winding of the other transformer is discharged into the piezoelectric load, and so that during the negative alternation, the secondary winding of the first transformer discharges the energy thereof whereas the primary winding of the first transformer is charged.

Abstract: A single-use lancet cartridge for inserting into a multi-use lancet driver assembly includes an elongated lancet housing with an open end, a lancet within the lancet housing and movable between a retracted and resting orientation to a piercing orientation through the open end, and a re-use prevention component incorporated within the lancet cartridge and oriented to cooperatively engage with a driver piston of the multi-use lancet driver assembly only one time thereby preventing the lancet from being moved into a piercing orientation a second time. The single-use lancet cartridge is used that contains the multi-use lancet driver assembly.

Abstract: Electrical connection means are provided for a first item for allowing electrical connection between the first item or a part of the first item with electrical means of at least a second item or further part of the first item. The electrical connection means include first and at least second non-linear surfaces or parts providing one or more electrical terminals for the electrical connection means.

Abstract: A light curing device is provided including a housing having a light source provided therein or associated therewith and cooling means to dissipate heat associated with or generated by the light source in use. The cooling means includes one or more heat pipes and/or vapour cooling means.

Abstract: Soluble pouches are formed on a continous motion rotating thermoforming machine having cavities in the surface of a drum into which a web of polymeric film is drawn by a vacuum to form pockets. The pockets are filled with one or more components and closed by a further web of polymeric film. Shrink-back of the polymeric film within the cavities is reduced by heating the cavities with heaters.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a test sample from a specimen using a lancet system includes engaging a lancet driver against a drive wing of a lancet system, the lancet system having a major portion of a lancet member slidably engaged within a lancet carrier and a sensor strip with a sample chamber attached to the lancet carrier, the lancet system having a lance connected to a first end of a lancet body of the lancet member wherein the lance is movable from a retracted position within the lancet carrier to an extended position outside the lancet carrier, the drive wing extending outwardly and transversely from the lancet body, the major portion of the lancet member having a sinuous portion with a distal end restricted from movement by the lancet carrier, the sinuous portion being non-compressible when initially disposed within the lancet carrier wherein the drive wing prevents the sinuous portion from being compressed, moving the drive wing with the lancet driver a predetermined distance causing the lancet tip to move

Abstract: A lancet carrier for an integrated lancet sensor assembly incorporating a lance cover includes an elongated body with a bottom, an open top, a body open end and a body closed end, a lancet-receiving recess with a recess bottom surface, the recess extending between the open end and the closed end, and a trough-forming member forming a trough with a trough open end in communication with the body open end, the trough-forming member longitudinally extending a predefined distance along the bottom from the body open end, the trough replacing a portion of the recess bottom surface at the body open end.