Abstract: A cell culture system controller for controlling the environment of a cell culture system, the controller configured to receive intrauterine data and adjust an environmental parameter of a cell culture system environment over a period of time based on the intrauterine data.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system (1) includes a reservoir (7) for storing a fluid, a pumping chamber (8) and an actuator (20). The pumping chamber (8) has a volume, an inlet valve (48) providing selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir, an outlet valve (49), and a membrane (47) the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume. The actuator (20) moves a drive member (21) in reciprocating motion. The actuator (20) is disposed in a housing (9) having an aperture (36) from which the drive member projects. The reservoir (7) and the pumping chamber (8) are arranged in a cartridge (3) removably attachable to the housing. When the cartridge (3) is attached to the housing (9) the drive member (20) is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane (47). The fluid delivery system may be applied to an infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product, such as insulin.

Abstract: The present invention proposes assigning a common system identification code to each of a control unit and a plurality of controllable slave units, storing that system identification code in a user-inaccessible memory of those units, and allowing pairing between the control unit and each of the slave units only if the system identification code of the control unit matches that of the respective slave unit. Thus a slave unit can only act upon a control signal if the control signal comes from the control master unit which shares the system identification code, i.e. is verifiably from the same family. This ensures that a slave unit only acts on instructions which come from a specified control unit, so providing security to the user. It is therefore impossible for a slave unit to act on instructions from any device other than the control master unit with which it shares a system identification code, which may be alternatively referred to as a family identification code or family ID.

Abstract: The invention provides an actuator having a wedge shaped member arranged to move in substantially linear reciprocating motion. A drive member is operatively coupled to the wedge shaped member. The wedge shaped member is arranged to deflect the drive member as the wedge shaped member moves. A shape memory material has a first end electrically connected to a first electrical connection terminal and fixed with respect to the first electrical connection terminal, and a second end electrically connected to the wedge shaped member and fixed with respect to the wedge shaped member. The wedge shaped member is electrically connected to a second electrical connection terminal. The actuator may be used in a pump having a pumping chamber with a membrane the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume. The drive member of the actuator is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane. The pump may be used in an infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a fluid delivery system comprising: a reservoir (7); a pumping chamber (8) having a volume, an inlet valve (48), an outlet valve (49) and a membrane (47); an actuator (20); and a drive member (21). The inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprise a passive normally closed one-way check valve. The inlet valve provides selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir. Fluid in the reservoir is at substantially ambient pressure. The drive member is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane. Energising the actuator moves the drive member in reciprocating motion and thereby displaces the membrane to change the pumping chamber volume between a minimum volume and a maximum volume. The pumping chamber volume is held at a pressure above the ambient pressure in the reservoir when the actuator is at rest.

Abstract: A system and method for processing instructions sent wirelessly between a control master unit and a slave device comprising a slave device memory is disclosed. The control master unit transmits an instruction to the slave device. The slave device writes the received instruction to the slave device memory; reads a stored instruction, corresponding to the instruction written to the memory, from the memory; and transmits the stored instruction to the control master unit. The control master unit compares the stored instruction to the instruction and, if the stored instruction is the same as the instruction, enables a process instruction to be sent to the slave device. In response to receiving the process instruction, the slave device processes the stored instruction.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid delivery system (100), comprising a pump (102) for pumping fluid from a cartridge (400) to an outlet. The pump comprises a housing (302), a cartridge which can be removably attached to the housing, and a switch (308) for activating the pump. The switch is arranged such that attaching the cartridge to the housing activates the switch to automatically activate the pump. The system may also include a control unit for wireless connection with the pump.

Abstract: A therapeutic product delivery device is described which comprises a device body and a cartridge for holding a therapeutic product. An engagement structure is provided for releasably engaging the cartridge with the device body. A fault detector is provided for detecting a fault in the delivery of the therapeutic product from the cartridge. A release trigger is responsive to the detection of a fault to cause the engagement structure to release the cartridge from the device body. In this way, a fault causes the cartridge to be released from the device body, which will prevent any further delivery of the therapeutic product to the patient. This solution is strongly preferable to a solution in which a product delivery mechanism (e.g. a pump) is merely paused or stopped, since when the cartridge separates then no further delivery is possible at all, until the cartridge is reattached (or more probably replaced with a new cartridge in case the fault is with the cartridge).

Abstract: A therapeutic product delivery device is described which comprises a device body and a cartridge for holding a therapeutic product. An engagement structure is provided for releasably engaging the cartridge with the device body. A fault detector is provided for detecting a fault in the delivery of the therapeutic product from the cartridge. A release trigger is responsive to the detection of a fault to cause the engagement structure to release the cartridge from the device body. In this way, a fault causes the cartridge to be released from the device body, which will prevent any further delivery of the therapeutic product to the patient. This solution is strongly preferable to a solution in which a product delivery mechanism (e.g. a pump) is merely paused or stopped, since when the cartridge separates then no further delivery is possible at all, until the cartridge is reattached (or more probably replaced with a new cartridge in case the fault is with the cartridge).

Abstract: An actuator comprises: a cavity containing a working medium (B) that reversibly expands as it undergoes a phase change from a solid to a liquid state; a diaphragm disposed adjacent the cavity such that expansion and contraction of the expandable working medium (B) causes the diaphragm to deflect, and a semiconductor element (A) disposed in the cavity. The semiconductor element (A) is operable in a first mode to heat the working medium (B) to cause it to undergo the phase change into the liquid state, and is operable in a second mode to measure the temperature at the semiconductor element (A). The corresponding actuation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for processing instructions sent wirelessly between a control master unit and a slave device comprising a slave device memory is disclosed. The control master unit transmits an instruction to the slave device. The slave device writes the received instruction to the slave device memory; reads a stored instruction, corresponding to the instruction written to the memory, from the memory; and transmits the stored instruction to the control master unit. The control master unit compares the stored instruction to the instruction and, if the stored instruction is the same as the instruction, enables a process instruction to be sent to the slave device. In response to receiving the process instruction, the slave device processes the stored instruction.

Abstract: The present invention proposes assigning a common system identification code to each of a control unit and a plurality of controllable slave units, storing that system identification code in a user-inaccessible memory of those units, and allowing pairing between the control unit and each of the slave units only if the system identification code of the control unit matches that of the respective slave unit. Thus a slave unit can only act upon a control signal if the control signal comes from the control master unit which shares the system identification code, i.e. is verifiably from the same family. This ensures that a slave unit only acts on instructions which come from a specified control unit, so providing security to the user. It is therefore impossible for a slave unit to act on instructions from any device other than the control master unit with which it shares a system identification code, which may be alternatively referred to as a family identification code or family ID.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system (1) includes a reservoir (7) for storing a fluid, a pumping chamber (8) and an actuator (20). The pumping chamber (8) has a volume, an inlet valve (48) providing selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir, an outlet valve (49), and a membrane (47) the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume. The actuator (20) moves a drive member (21) in reciprocating motion. The actuator (20) is disposed in a housing (9) having an aperture (36) from which the drive member projects. The reservoir (7) and the pumping chamber (8) are arranged in a cartridge (3) removably attachable to the housing. When the cartridge (3) is attached to the housing (9) the drive member (20) is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane (47). The fluid delivery system may be applied to an infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product, such as insulin.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a fluid delivery system comprising: a reservoir (7); a pumping chamber (8) having a volume, an inlet valve (48), an outlet valve (49) and a membrane (47); an actuator (20); and a drive member (21). The inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprise a passive normally closed one-way check valve. The inlet valve provides selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir. Fluid in the reservoir is at substantially ambient pressure. The drive member is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane. Energising the actuator moves the drive member in reciprocating motion and thereby displaces the membrane to change the pumping chamber volume between a minimum volume and a maximum volume. The pumping chamber volume is held at a pressure above the ambient pressure in the reservoir when the actuator is at rest.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid delivery system (100), comprising a pump (102) for pumping fluid from a cartridge (400) to an outlet. The pump comprises a housing (302), a cartridge which can be removably attached to the housing, and a switch (308) for activating the pump. The switch is arranged such that attaching the cartridge to the housing activates the switch to automatically activate the pump. The system may also include a control unit for wireless connection with the pump.

Abstract: The invention provides an actuator having a wedge shaped member arranged to move in substantially linear reciprocating motion. A drive member is operatively coupled to the wedge shaped member. The wedge shaped member is arranged to deflect the drive member as the wedge shaped member moves. A shape memory material has a first end electrically connected to a first electrical connection terminal and fixed with respect to the first electrical connection terminal, and a second end electrically connected to the wedge shaped member and fixed with respect to the wedge shaped member. The wedge shaped member is electrically connected to a second electrical connection terminal. The actuator may be used in a pump having a pumping chamber with a membrane the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume. The drive member of the actuator is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane. The pump may be used in an infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product.

Abstract: An actuator comprises: a cavity containing a working medium (B) that reversibly expands as it undergoes a phase change from a solid to a liquid state; a diaphragm disposed adjacent the cavity such that expansion and contraction of the expandable working medium (B) causes the diaphragm to deflect, and a semiconductor element (A) disposed in the cavity. The semiconductor element (A) is operable in a first mode to heat the working medium (B) to cause it to undergo the phase change into the liquid state, and is operable in a second mode to measure the temperature at the semiconductor element (A). The corresponding actuation method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A therapeutic product delivery device is described which comprises a device body and a cartridge for holding a therapeutic product. An engagement structure is provided for releasably engaging the cartridge with the device body. A fault detector is provided for detecting a fault in the delivery of the therapeutic product from the cartridge. A release trigger is responsive to the detection of a fault to cause the engagement structure to release the cartridge from the device body. In this way, a fault causes the cartridge to be released from the device body, which will prevent any further delivery of the therapeutic product to the patient. This solution is strongly preferable to a solution in which a product delivery mechanism (e.g. a pump) is merely paused or stopped, since when the cartridge separates then no further delivery is possible at all, until the cartridge is reattached (or more probably replaced with a new cartridge in case the fault is with the cartridge).

Abstract: A device for performing the manipulation of particles suspended in a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises a duct for the flow of a fluid in which particles are suspended, an acoustic transducer, and a reflector for establishing an acoustic standing wave field across the width of the duct. It has been unexpectedly found that optimum performance of the device occurs when the spacing between the transducer and a reflector is 300 microns or less. The device seeks to overcome prior engineering difficulties that prevented one from observing the individual particle bands or separating the individual particle bands from the duct.

Abstract: Fluid-handling methods and devices for ultrasonic manipulation of fluid-borne particles comprise a fluid-handling manifold and an ultrasonic particle manipulator defining an ultrasonic cavity within the manifold. Fluid-borne particles introduced into the manifold are manipulated by controlling ultrasonic standing waves at the ultrasonic cavity. Cavities having non-uniform configurations, asymmetric standing waves and/or multiple ultrasonic cavities within the manifold are operative to control the movement of the fluid-borne particles, optionally including collecting and holding such particles, transferring particles through an intersection from one channel to another, etc. Solid phase extraction (SPE) particles, biological particles and other fluid-borne particles can be manipulated within the fluid-handling manifold.