Abstract: There is provided a method of measuring a sedimentation parameter of suspensions or precipitants in a fluid medium sample, said method compromising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterize a response of the micro-cantilever during sedimentation in the fluid medium sample, and determining a value of the sedimentation parameter from the characterized response. There is also provided an apparatus arranged to carry out the method.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: A method for contact information backup and recovery comprising receiving, by a contact information backup and recovery system, subscriber information, storing the subscriber information in a contacts data store, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, contacts information associated with the subscriber information, storing the contacts information in the contacts data store, wherein the contacts information is stored in relation to the subscriber information, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery request, and performing, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery operation, comprising acquiring target contact information from the stored contacts information in the contacts data store, performing a telephonic communication using the target contact information, and sending the stored contacts information to a remote storage device.

Abstract: A method for contact information backup and recovery comprising receiving, by a contact information backup and recovery system, subscriber information, storing the subscriber information in a contacts data store, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, contacts information associated with the subscriber information, storing the contacts information in the contacts data store, wherein the contacts information is stored in relation to the subscriber information, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery request, and performing, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery operation, comprising acquiring target contact information from the stored contacts information in the contacts data store, performing a telephonic communication using the target contact information, and sending the stored contacts information to a remote storage device.

Abstract: The invention provides a dynamically swept tunable laser system and method for measuring sensor characteristics obtained from an array of optical sensors comprising means for dividing the total wavelength sweep of the laser into different regions in any particular order where each region contains single or multiple contiguous sweep segments and where each sweep segment is referenced by a start and a stop reference and can have different lengths compared to the other sweep segments. The sensor characteristics are determined from each region swept by the tunable laser. The invention provides for the tunable laser to be adapted to operate in a quasi-continuous mode to select segments in any order. The relative sweep rates of regions can be changed such that some regions can be swept more times than other regions.

Abstract: The implants of the invention relate to improved implants formed using additive manufacturing techniques, the implants including a hemispherical cup portion, and an ischium flange, a pubic ramus flange and an ilium flange, each flange extending outwardly from the perimeter of the hemispherical cup portion, wherein the implant surface includes an area of integrally formed three dimensional scaffold on the bone apposition surfaces of the cup portion and on a bone apposition surface of at least one of the flanges of the implant. The invention also relates to implants with different surface texture and alignment features, together with methods for the manufacture of patient-specific implants of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical shield, wherein the shield includes one or more walls including at least one substantially smooth surface, the one or more walls individually or collectively forming a single substantially elongate member; and at least one attachment means directly or indirectly attached to the one or more walls for securing the shield in position during a surgery.

Abstract: A method for analysing performance of a media recording system in a telecommunications network comprising the steps of selecting an extension within a telecommunications network, the extension capable of exchanging communication media, designating a time period within which communication records for the extension should be analysed, receiving communications data for the network extension, the communications data comprising data associated with communications involving the extension with the time period, receiving media data for the network extension, the media data comprising data associated with recorded media content of communications involving the extension within the time period, comparing the communications data with the media data to determine the performance of the communications recording system.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: A method for contact information backup and recovery comprising receiving, by a contact information backup and recovery system, subscriber information, storing the subscriber information in a contacts data store, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, contacts information associated with the subscriber information, storing the contacts information in the contacts data store, wherein the contacts information is stored in relation to the subscriber information, receiving, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery request, and performing, by the contact information backup and recovery system, a contacts recovery operation, comprising acquiring target contact information from the stored contacts information in the contacts data store, performing a telephonic communication using the target contact information, and sending the stored contacts information to a remote storage device.

Abstract: There is provided a method of measuring a sedimentation parameter of suspensions or precipitants in a fluid medium sample, said method compromising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterise a response of the micro-cantilever during sedimentation in the fluid medium sample, and determining a value of the sedimentation parameter from the characterised response. There is also provided an apparatus arranged to carry out the method.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a dynamically swept tunable laser system and method for measuring sensor characteristics obtained from an array of optical sensors comprising means for dividing the total wavelength sweep of the laser into different regions in any particular order where each region contains single or multiple contiguous sweep segments and where each sweep segment is referenced by a start and a stop reference and can have different lengths compared to the other sweep segments. The sensor characteristics are determined from each region swept by the tunable laser. The invention provides for the tunable laser to be adapted to operate in a quasi-continuous mode to select segments in any order. The relative sweep rates of regions can be changed such that some regions can be swept more times than other regions.

Abstract: The invention provides a control layer for an Optical Burst Switch (OBS) system, said system comprising at least one stage configured with a closed optical burst switch addressing scheme and one or more ports for sending or receiving data packets. The control layer comprises a control addressing scheme independent of the closed optical addressing scheme and means to provide interconnectivity for each port with every other port. In one embodiment there is provided a closed optical burst switch ring network. The control layer encapsulates or maps the optical data at a port into an independent packet format and passes the independent packet format into a queuing system for transmission by the optical burst switch ring network to a destination port.

Abstract: Methods and devices for exchanging therapeutic agents, such as cells, from one liquid medium to another liquid medium are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include transferring a therapeutic agent from a first medium, such as a freezing, storage or shipping buffer, into a second medium, such as a sterile physiologically compatible buffer. In certain aspects, the transfer of the therapeutic agent from a first medium to a second medium involves the use of acoustic-focusing, or acoustophoresis. Embodiments of the subject methods may facilitate the transfer of a therapeutic agent from a storage medium to an infusion medium, and in certain embodiments include administering the therapeutic agent contained in the infusion medium to the subject. Also provided by the present disclosure are devices for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a control layer for an Optical Burst Switch (OBS) system, said system comprising at least one stage configured with a closed optical burst switch addressing scheme and one or more ports for sending or receiving data packets. The control layer comprises a control addressing scheme independent of the closed optical addressing scheme and means to provide interconnectivity for each port with every other port. In one embodiment there is provided a closed optical burst switch ring network. The control layer encapsulates or maps the optical data at a port into an independent packet format and passes the independent packet format into a queuing system for transmission by the optical burst switch ring network to a destination port.

Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed that is suitable for testing an earth connection (30) that is isolated from a mains electricity supply. The device (10) comprises means (14, 40) for electrically connecting the device (10) to the earth connection (30), and means (16, 32) for electrically connecting the device (10) to an electrically conductive item (20) having a capacitance relative to an adjacent surface of the earth that is within a pre-determined range of capacitances. Furthermore, the device (10) includes means for generating an AC signal and delivering the AC signal to the electrically conductive item, and means for determining whether the resistance between the earth connection (30) and earth reference potential is less than a maximum earth resistance value. This determination is achieved by comparing the frequency of the generated AC signal with a pre-determined range of frequencies.