Abstract: Analysis apparatus which uses a solid reaction support designed to hold successively a quantity of a compound such as a biological liquid which contains a substance to be analyzed, and then a quantity of a first reagent on which is fixed a biological indicator. The apparatus is constituted by an analysis rotor (1) which includes a plurality of peripheral reaction cells (2) each of which contains said reaction support (3), said cells being provided with a peripheral liquid-removal orifice (7). Means (4, 5) convey a washing liquid towards each reaction cell. Each of said reaction cells (2) is associated with a buffer cell (10), which successively receives at least the compound and the first reagent. It shares a common wall (11) with the reaction cell (2). A passage (25) is provided between the cells of each pair through said common wall (11). The first reagent is contained in a suitable receptacle (14) supported by the analysis apparatus.

Abstract: Frozen goods, e.g. frozen foods, are arranged in a vertical stack of generally rectangular packages, 2, 3, 4, . . . . The bottom of the bottom package is supported by supports 7. Inflatable members 5, 5A, 6, 6A are provided for grasping the stack and for separating the bottom package from the stack while retaining the remaining packages. Those portions of the supports and the grasping and separating members which come into contact with the packages are inflatable at least to an extent such that inflation thereof breaks any ice that may have formed on these portions, thereby ensuring that the packages do not adhere to these portions during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: Analysis apparatus which uses a solid reaction support designed to hold successively a quantity of first reagent such as a biological liquid which contains the substance to be analysed, and then a quantity of second reagent which contains a protein on which is fixed a biological indicator. The apparatus is constituted by an analysis rotor (1 ) which includes firstly a plurality of peripheral cells (2) each of which contains said reaction support (3) and secondly means which allow a washing liquid to be conveyed towards each cell, each of said cells (2) being provided with a peripheral orifice (7) for removing liquid and having an upper portion provided with a reagent inlet orifice (8) and a lower portion which accommodates said reagent.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing machine dispenses stacked objects when a box (2) at the bottom of a vertical stack (4) is ejected forwards by a cam wheel (20) when inflatable bladders (12) which raise the stack are deflated and thus allow contact between the box and an arc of the wheel. The machine could be used to dispense medicine in parallelepipedical boxes.

Abstract: The device for conditioning a sample of liquid for medical analysis which comprises a plurality of calibrated peripheral cells connected to a central receptacle by way of ducts including an air inlet orifice for conveying the sample from the receptacle to the cell and to completely fill the cell by centrifugal action and employing an air escape orifice in each cell within a wall closer to the axis of rotation than that wall bearing the inlet orifice, carries a filter disposed between the central receptacle and the calibrated peripheral cell for prevention of solid particles in suspension from passing with the sample liquid from the central receptacle to the calibrated peripheral cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for dispensing a predetermined amount of a liquid substance into a vessel.The device comprises a pipette (1) provided with a piston (5) for pumping of the liquid substance, a sleeve (19) for cooling the lower tube (2) of the pipette and means (23,24,25) for cutting the thread (40) of frozen substance leaving the calibrated tube when pressure is applied on the piston.Application to measuring out of reagents in laboratory analyses.

Abstract: The invention relates to the conditioning of a sample of a liquid for medical analysis. The conditioning device according to the invention, comprises a plurality of calibrated peripheral cells connected to a central receptacle and includes, for each cell, ducts including an air inlet orifice for conveying the sample from the receptacle to said cell to completely fill the cell by centrifuging and an air escape orifice in each cell for the escape of the air contained in said cell closer to the axis of rotation than said inlet orifice and leading into said receptacle, said orifices further being dimensioned so as to retain the liquid contained in each cell after complete filling thereof.

Abstract: The hospital bed includes a tank which is partially filled with a liquid or a gel. A plurality of juxtaposed individual floats are disposed in the tank and each float is surmounted by a support. The floats are restricted to substantially vertical movements and the set of supports therefore defines a substantially continuous patient-supporting surface which applies a substantially uniform supporting thrust distributed over the entire lower surface of the patient.

Abstract: Load conveyor comprising a pneumatic mat comprising first elements and second elements which are inflatable respectively by a first and second inflating circuit, the elements having fixed ends in relation to a face of the mat and free ends capable of being brought, by means of the inflating circuits, by a pivoting movement, from a rest position to a work position, the elements having a same parity always being parallel to one another and situated on a same side in relation to their fixed ends, the projections of the first elements being parallel to the projections of the second elements, but pointing in opposite directions.