Abstract: A substance delivery device engages with a reservoir, and includes a pump that draws therapeutic substance from the reservoir into a pump chamber of the delivery device without changing the internal dimensions of the reservoir. The volume of the therapeutic substance within the pump chamber varies in response to changes in the internal dimensions of the pump chamber. An orientation sensor generates an output indicating an orientation of the delivery device with respect to gravity. Control circuitry drives the pump to: calculate a volume of the substance within the reservoir, draw the substance into the pump chamber in response to (i) the calculated volume, in combination with (ii) an output from the orientation sensor that the delivery device is in an orientation that allows the substance to be drawn from the reservoir, and deliver the substance from the pump chamber to the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method for the magnetic pulse soldering of an item having a stack of sheets consisting of a metal material. At least one hole through a thickness of the stack is formed. The first and second plates, both consisting of a metal material, are arranged on either side of the stack. A covering area covering at least one through-hole is formed. The plates-stack assembly is positioned opposite an active part of a coil such that a working area of the covering area faces the active part of the coil and the working area covering at least one hole. The working area is subjected to a magnetic field until the assembly is joined. While the working area is subjected to the magnetic field, pressure is exerted on the first plate, in the region of at least one hole, pressing the first plate against the second plate.

Abstract: A therapeutic substance delivery apparatus includes a housing, a reservoir for holding a therapeutic substance disposed at least partially within the housing, a position sensor having at least three states, a plunger which is slidable within the reservoir, and a plunger-sensor engagement interface coupled to the plunger within the reservoir and extending from within the reservoir to outside of the reservoir. The plunger and the position sensor are arranged such that the plunger-sensor engagement interface causes the position sensor to change states as the plunger slides within the reservoir. Control circuitry identifies a new state indication of the apparatus based on (a) a change in state of the position sensor, or (b) a previous or current state of the apparatus in combination with a threshold amount of time having elapsed without the position sensor changing state. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A therapeutic substance delivery device includes a fluid path having a reservoir needle, a body needle, a body needle injection mechanism, and a pumping assembly (a) configured to pump the substance from the reservoir to the subject, (b) shaped to define a pump chamber, and (c) including a plunger disposed within the pump chamber. The plunger moves back and forth through a plurality of discrete motion phases. A first motion phase of the plunger actuates a first operation from a group of operations including (a) driving the reservoir needle to penetrate the reservoir, (b) advancing the body needle into the body of the subject, (c) withdrawing the substance from the reservoir, (d) pumping the substance into the subject, and (e) retracting the body needle. A second motion phase of the plunger actuates a second operation from the group of operations. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including a therapeutic substance reservoir (24) configured to hold a therapeutic substance (22), and an electromechanical pumping assembly (26). The pumping assembly is shaped to define a pump chamber (28) having (a) a therapeutic substance inlet (30), and (b) a therapeutic substance outlet (32). The pumping assembly includes a plunger (34) disposed such that therapeutic substance in the pump chamber is in direct contact with the plunger, and control circuitry (36) configured to drive the plunger to (a) draw the therapeutic substance into the pump chamber during a first pumping phase, and (b) deliver the therapeutic substance from the pump chamber in a plurality of discrete motions of the plunger during a second pumping phase.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented, including disinfecting a disinfection chamber (34) that is defined between (i) a prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir (32) and (ii) a sterile fluid path (22) disposed within a therapeutic substance delivery device (20). The sterile fluid path includes a needle (26) at an upstream end (24) of the sterile fluid path and an injection assembly (30) at a downstream end (28) of the sterile fluid path. Subsequently to disinfecting the disinfection chamber, the disinfection chamber and then the reservoir are penetrated with the needle. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented, including disinfecting a disinfection chamber that is defined between (i) a prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir and (ii) a sterile fluid path disposed within a therapeutic substance delivery device. The sterile fluid path includes a needle at an upstream end of the sterile fluid path and an injection assembly at a downstream end of the sterile fluid path. The disinfection occurs subsequently to the prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir being engaged with the therapeutic substance delivery device. Subsequently to disinfecting the disinfection chamber, the disinfection chamber and then the reservoir are penetrated with the needle. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A therapeutic substance delivery device is provided for delivering therapeutic substance to the subject. A sterile fluid path includes a needle at an upstream end of the sterile fluid path and an injection assembly at a downstream end of the sterile fluid path. The delivery device engages with a prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir, such that a disinfection chamber is defined between the sterile fluid path and the reservoir. The needle penetrates the disinfection chamber and subsequently the reservoir when the therapeutic substance delivery device and the reservoir are engaged with one another. A disinfection assembly is disposed within the delivery device and configured to disinfect the disinfection chamber prior to the needle penetrating the disinfection chamber. Control circuitry activates the disinfection assembly, terminates the activation of the disinfection assembly, and subsequently drives the needle to penetrate the disinfection chamber and subsequently the reservoir.

Abstract: A substance delivery device engages with a reservoir, and includes a pump that draws therapeutic substance from the reservoir into a pump chamber of the delivery device without changing the internal dimensions of the reservoir. The volume of the therapeutic substance within the pump chamber varies in response to changes in the internal dimensions of the pump chamber. An orientation sensor generates an output indicating an orientation of the delivery device with respect to gravity. Control circuitry drives the pump to: calculate a volume of the substance within the reservoir, draw the substance into the pump chamber in response to (i) the calculated volume, in combination with (ii) an output from the orientation sensor that the delivery device is in an orientation that allows the substance to be drawn from the reservoir, and deliver the substance from the pump chamber to the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented, including disinfecting a disinfection chamber that is defined between (i) a prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir and (ii) a sterile fluid path disposed within a therapeutic substance delivery device. The sterile fluid path includes a needle at an upstream end of the sterile fluid path and an injection assembly at a downstream end of the sterile fluid path. The disinfection occurs subsequently to the prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir being engaged with the therapeutic substance delivery device. Subsequently to disinfecting the disinfection chamber, the disinfection chamber and then the reservoir are penetrated with the needle. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A therapeutic substance delivery device includes a fluid path having a reservoir needle, a body needle, a body needle injection mechanism, and a pumping assembly (a) configured to pump the substance from the reservoir to the subject, (b) shaped to define a pump chamber, and (c) including a plunger disposed within the pump chamber. The plunger moves back and forth through a plurality of discrete motion phases. A first motion phase of the plunger actuates a first operation from a group of operations including (a) driving the reservoir needle to penetrate the reservoir, (b) advancing the body needle into the body of the subject, (c) withdrawing the substance from the reservoir, (d) pumping the substance into the subject, and (e) retracting the body needle. A second motion phase of the plunger actuates a second operation from the group of operations. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including a therapeutic substance reservoir (24) configured to hold a therapeutic substance (22), and an electromechanical pumping assembly (26). The pumping assembly is shaped to define a pump chamber (28) having (a) a therapeutic substance inlet (30), and (b) a therapeutic substance outlet (32). The pumping assembly includes a plunger (34) disposed such that therapeutic substance in the pump chamber is in direct contact with the plunger, and control circuitry (36) configured to drive the plunger to (a) draw the therapeutic substance into the pump chamber during a first pumping phase, and (b) deliver the therapeutic substance from the pump chamber in a plurality of discrete motions of the plunger during a second pumping phase.

Abstract: A method for the magnetic pulse soldering of an item having a stack of sheets consisting of a metal material. At least one hole through a thickness of the stack is formed. The first and second plates, both consisting of a metal material, are arranged on either side of the stack. A covering area covering at least one through-hole is formed. The plates-stack assembly is positioned opposite an active part of a coil such that a working area of the covering area faces the active part of the coil and the working area covering at least one hole. The working area is subjected to a magnetic field until the assembly is joined. While the working area is subjected to the magnetic field, pressure is exerted on the first plate, in the region of at least one hole, pressing the first plate against the second plate.

Abstract: A therapeutic substance delivery device is provided for delivering therapeutic substance to the subject. A sterile fluid path includes a needle at an upstream end of the sterile fluid path and an injection assembly at a downstream end of the sterile fluid path. The delivery device engages with a prefilled therapeutic substance reservoir, such that a disinfection chamber is defined between the sterile fluid path and the reservoir. The needle penetrates the disinfection chamber and subsequently the reservoir when the therapeutic substance delivery device and the reservoir are engaged with one another. A disinfection assembly is disposed within the delivery device and configured to disinfect the disinfection chamber prior to the needle penetrating the disinfection chamber. Control circuitry activates the disinfection assembly, terminates the activation of the disinfection assembly, and subsequently drives the needle to penetrate the disinfection chamber and subsequently the reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed is an injection tip for injecting liquid metal under pressure, suitable for being inserted between a liquid metal supply conduit and an injection opening of a mould, the injection tip having a tubular in shape, made from electrically insulating refractory material and in that it includes a channel suitable for the flow of liquid metal between a first end referred to as the upstream end, suitable for being connected to the conduit, and a second end, referred to as the downstream end, suitable for being connected to the mould, and an electromagnetic coil, positioned between the ends, the axis of which merges with at least a portion of the axis of the channel. Also disclosed is a casting machine using such a tip and a method for casting metal using the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optoelectronic transducers, driving circuitry, one or more cooling elements, and a light coupling module. The optoelectronic transducers are configured to convert between optical signals conveyed over optical fibers and respective electrical signals. The driving circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals. The cooling elements are configured to remove heat that is produced at least by the driving circuitry. The light coupling module is configured to couple the optical signals between the optical fibers and the optoelectronic transducers, and additionally serves as a baseplate for the cooling elements.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optoelectronic transducers, driving circuitry, one or more cooling elements, and a light coupling module. The optoelectronic transducers are configured to convert between optical signals conveyed over optical fibers and respective electrical signals. The driving circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals. The cooling elements are configured to remove heat that is produced at least by the driving circuitry. The light coupling module is configured to couple the optical signals between the optical fibers and the optoelectronic transducers, and additionally serves as a baseplate for the cooling elements.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optoelectronic transducers, driving circuitry, one or more cooling elements, and a light coupling module. The optoelectronic transducers are configured to convert between optical signals conveyed over optical fibers and respective electrical signals. The driving circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals. The cooling elements are configured to remove heat that is produced at least by the driving circuitry. The light coupling module is configured to couple the optical signals between the optical fibers and the optoelectronic transducers, and additionally serves as a baseplate for the cooling elements.