Abstract: A sampler for use with a bioreactor for growing a cell culture is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bioreactor includes a structured fixed bed including a removable sample portion for recovering a sample of cells from the cell culture. Related apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor implant system comprises a shunt implant comprising a central flow portion configured to maintain an opening through a tissue wall and a sensor implant device. The sensor implant device comprises a shunt body configured to fit at least partially within the central flow portion of the shunt implant and a sensor device coupled to the shunt body.

Abstract: An implant includes a frame, and a textile mounted on the frame. The textile includes fibers formed from a mixture of a polymer and an additive molecule. The additive molecule includes a polyurethane backbone and one or more fluorinated end-groups at at least one end of the backbone. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical implant comprises a central flow portion having a first network of struts forming two or more cells, a first set of anchoring arms, and a second set of anchoring arms. The two or more cells are arranged linearly and extend from the first set of anchoring arms to the second set of anchoring arms.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells with enhanced gas transfer and thermal regulation is provided. The apparatus includes a bioreactor with a cell culture bed, such as a fixed structured bed. A pump, such as an agitator, serves to pump liquid through the cell culture bed, and a container is provided for the agitator. A first conduit may be associated with the container, such as by being connected to it or adjacent an opening into it. The bioreactor may also include flow extenders to enhance the gas transfer to a liquid used as media to culture the cells, as well as optional thermoregulators. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bioprocessing, such as for culturing cells. The apparatus includes a bioreactor with a chamber having cells and a chamber for) temperature regulation of the cells. In some embodiments, a freezer is connected to the bioreactor for freezing the cells in the chamber, and a heater may also be provided for actively thawing the cells. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bio reactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed beds arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sampler for use with a bioreactor for growing a cell culture is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bioreactor includes a structured fixed bed including a removable sample portion for recovering a sample of cells from the cell culture. Related apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-assessment tool, application program and method for assisting a person or medical doctor in diagnosing the person's nutritional, functional, physical and cognitive abilities in order to suggest remedial actions. The method includes displaying results that show each of the standard cognitive and physical abilities in a sized depiction with the patient's cognitive and physical abilities shown in another sized depiction such that when the patient's cognitive or physical abilities are lower than the standard abilities, the patient's sized depiction is smaller in size than the depiction of the standard abilities, and when the patient's cognitive or physical abilities are higher than the standard abilities, the patient's sized depiction is larger in size. This allows the patient's doctor to quickly and visually determine which abilities, if any, require remedial action to try to enhance or increase the patient's abilities to thus improve the patient's further aging and quality of life.

Abstract: This device comprises a cable working line bearing a lower assembly and a winch for maneuvering the line. The hydraulic central unit (46) of the winch includes a tank (50) for storing a hydraulic control fluid, a pump (52) for driving the hydraulic fluid, connected to the tank (50) through an upstream conduit (54) and at least one hydraulic motor (56) for driving the drum (42) connected to the pump (52) through an intermediate conduit and connected to the tank (50) through a downstream conduit. The hydraulic central unit comprises a regulator (62) for the hydraulic fluid flow rate at the outlet of the pump (52). The regulator (62) is driven according to at least one hydraulic fluid pressure depending on the load exerted on the motor (56) by the rotary drum (42), said or each pressure being directly taken on one of said conduits.

Abstract: This device comprises a cable working line bearing a lower assembly and a winch for maneuvering the line. The hydraulic central unit (46) of the winch includes a tank (50) for storing a hydraulic control fluid, a pump (52) for driving the hydraulic fluid, connected to the tank (50) through an upstream conduit (54) and at least one hydraulic motor (56) for driving the drum (42) connected to the pump (52) through an intermediate conduit and connected to the tank (50) through a downstream conduit. The hydraulic central unit comprises a regulator (62) for the hydraulic fluid flow rate at the outlet of the pump (52). The regulator (62) is driven according to at least one hydraulic fluid pressure depending on the load exerted on the motor (56) by the rotary drum (42), said or each pressure being directly taken on one of said conduits.

Abstract: Method and device for programming an image acquisition system including a camera having a field of vision and a processor of images taken by the camera, in order to define at least one detection area in the field of vision of the camera, in which a sending device (21) is placed in at least one position in the field of vision of the camera and the sending device sends at least one initialization light signal having predetermined light characteristics towards the camera when it is in the position. The content of the images (9a) obtained from the camera is analyzed so as to recognize the initialization signal and the signal is located by its coordinates in the images obtained from the camera. A program predetermines at least one detection area (15) in the field of vision of the camera based on the coordinates of the initialization signal.

Abstract: An electric incandescent lamp has a filament having two incandescent portions interconnected by an intermediate non-lightemitting conductor. The filament is accommodated in a single ended, pinchsealed tubular glass envelope and is supported therein in that the intermediate conductor is embedded in an inner portion of a second pinch seal. The lamp has means to lower the temperature of the intermediate conductor and thereby of the second pinch, if the maximum permissible temperature of the latter would otherwise be exceeded.

Abstract: In this method, the pictures are processed in blocks whose dimensions (H,V) expressed in a number of pixels are integral powers of two, and the contents (pixels) of the different blocks are stored in the memories one after the other. The device for calculating the position of a pixel in the memory from the position x, y of the said pixel in the picture is formed by two material operators 11, 12 which extract from x and y, respectively, the most significant bits m and p, m and p being the integers such as 2.sup.m =H and 2.sup.p 32 V, a multiplier 19 multiplying the number of blocks in a picture line NBLOCH by the vertical component ADBLOCV supplied by the operator 12, and an adder 20 which adds together the result supplied by the said multiplier and the coordinate ADBLOCH supplied by the operator 11.

Abstract: An integrated digital-to-analogue (D/A) converter circuit provided with a device for reducing glitches. The D/A converter converts control signals having n binary states Bn into analogue signals and comprises n differential pairs Pn of transistors T1n and T2n connected to n current generators which supply currents of a value In weighted according to the binary weights 2.sup.n of the binary states Bn. The transistors T1n receives their respective binary control signals and the transistors T2n receive the respective binary control signals inverse to the preceding signals.

Abstract: An edible gelled emulsion of a combination of oil, a hydrophobic pigment and/or 5 coloring, an emulsifier, a gelling agent and water.The gelling agent constitutes carrageen, optionally agar-agar; the gelled emulsion can also contain guar gum, gelatin, or mixtures thereof.The gelled emulsion is used, for food decorating.