Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging system provides a program stored in the imaging system having a graphical user interface and providing a plurality of tools to align hardware components of the imaging system including cameras for imaging cell culture vessels received by the imaging system and having a tool for providing a video image output of a cell culture vessel received in the imaging system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging system provides a program stored in the imaging system having a graphical user interface and providing a plurality of tools to align hardware components of the imaging system including cameras for imaging cell culture vessels received by the imaging system and having a tool for providing a video image output of a cell culture vessel received in the imaging system.

Abstract: A downhole tool has a release device for releasing a downhole device in a wellbore. The downhole tool has a collet with an inner surface and a collet shoulder; a release rod configured to engage the collet shoulder in a locked position and disengage from the collet shoulder in a release position; and a release tube surrounding the release rod and having a release ramp proximate a nose of the release tube.

Abstract: A downhole tool has a release device for releasing a downhole device in a wellbore. The downhole tool has a collet with an inner surface and a collet shoulder; a release rod configured to engage the collet shoulder in a locked position and disengage from the collet shoulder in a release position; and a release tube surrounding the release rod and having a release ramp proximate a nose of the release tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to HIV and, in particular, to immunogens that present epitopes located in the membrane external proximal region (MPER) of HIV-I envelope gp41 in multivalent form and to methods of using same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.

Abstract: A downhole steering tool is disclosed. The steering tool includes a rotatable shaft, a substantially non-rotating tool body deployed about the shaft, and a plurality of force application members deployed on the steering tool body. The steering tool further includes a bendable section deployed in the steering tool body. The bendable section is disposed to bend preferentially relative to the steering tool body under an applied bending load. The use of a steering tool body having a bendable section tends to advantageously reduce bending stresses in the steering tool body during use. Moreover, tools embodying this invention may be suitable for higher dogleg severity applications.

Abstract: A steering tool for use in a well bore is disclosed. The tool includes at least one extendable and retractable blade deployed thereon. The blade is elastically spring biased radially inwards towards the tool such that upon removal of an actuating force, the blade retracts. In exemplary embodiments, the blade includes at least one spring-like, elastically deformable member disposed to elastically spring bias the blade. The spring-like member may include first and second elongated leg portions located on opposing sides of a sprung hairpin portion. Tools embodying this invention may be advantageous for small diameter applications.

Abstract: A well fluid sampling tool is provided. The sampling tool includes at least one insulated sample chamber mounted in a tool collar. The tool collar may be coupled with a drill string such that, when the tool collar is deployed in a well bore, selected sample chambers may receive a fluid sample from outside the drill string without removing the drill string from the well bore (e.g., during measurement while drilling or logging while drilling operations). A heating module in thermal communication with at least one of the sample chambers is disposed to selectively heat the sample chambers in thermal communication therewith. The sampling tool may be particularly useful for acquiring and preserving substantially pristine formation fluid samples.

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool is provided. The formation fluid sampling tool includes at least one sample tank mounted in a tool collar. The tool collar includes a through bore and is disposed to be operatively coupled with a drill string such that each sample tank may receive a correspondingly preselected formation fluid sample without removing the drill string from a well bore. At least one of the sample tanks further includes an internal fluid separator movably disposed therein. The separator separates a sample chamber from a pressure balancing chamber in the sample tank. The pressure balancing chamber is disposed to be in fluid communication with drilling fluid exterior thereto. The sampling tool further includes a sample inlet port connected to the sample chamber by an inlet passageway. A method is also provided for acquiring a formation fluid sample from a formation of interest.