Abstract: A rotary pump (10) comprises a housing (20) having a first (21) and second fluid port (22) and an interior surface defining a cavity (24) in which a rotor (30; 230) is located, wherein the rotor comprises at least a surface recess (231a-231d) forming at least a fluid-conveying chamber (232a-232d) with the interior surface of the housing. The pump further comprises at least a resiliently deformable diaphragm (50; 226) providing part of the interior surface of the housing and being urged into contact with the surface of the rotor by the action of pressurising means acting on the rear surface of the resiliently deformable diaphragm. The pump further comprises one or a pair of flow channels (41a, 41b; 241a, 241b) associated with the resiliently deformable diaphragm extending longitudinally from opposite ends of the rotor.

Abstract: A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid.

Abstract: The present application relates to pumps including: a first fluid port and a second fluid port, a housing having an interior surface defining a cavity, a rotor, being rotatably mounted within the housing, and comprising, a housing engaging surface area, and a surface recess that, a resiliently deformable diaphragm providing part of the interior surface of the housing, the rotor comprising an elongate body and a drive shaft, which body is substantially hollow and comprises separate first and second rotor cavities, the pump being arranged such that when the rotor body is located within the housing cavity, the first fluid port is in fluid flow communication with the first rotor cavity via the opening at the first end of the rotor, and the pump being arranged such that the resiliently deformable diaphragm always bisects the first opening and the second opening on the rotor surface recess as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: Methods and systems include a check valve including a valve body formed from a resilient material, the valve body having an inlet side and an outlet side. The valve body includes a rim forming an outer periphery of the valve body, and a hinge section comprising an annular groove formed on the inlet side of the valve body radially inward of and adjacent to the rim. The valve body also includes a plurality of lips formed at a center of the valve body by one or more slits extending radially outward from the center of the valve body towards the hinge. The hinge section is co-planar with the plurality of lips when in a closed position.

Abstract: A reusable fluid dispenser (100) and a disposable fluid pack (200) for use with the reusable fluid dispenser (100) is provided for dispensing fluids. Multiple different disposable fluid packs (200) may be interchangeably used with the same reusable fluid dispenser (100) such that multiple different fluids may be dispensed at multiple different flow rates. without cross contamination of the fluids. The reusable fluid dispenser (100) comprises a housing (102). a motor (106). a controller (114). a power supply (104) and a decoder (110) and a lens array (116). The disposable fluid pack (200) comprises a fluid reservoir (202). a pump (204) and an encoder (206).

Abstract: A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid.

Abstract: A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid.

Abstract: A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid.

Abstract: A dispenser head for in-line mixing and dispensing of beverages, which may be carbonated or nitrogenated. The dispenser head comprising a pump, a dilution mechanism, an additive mechanism, and outlet nozzle and optionally a regulation system. In use, the pump can pump concentrate liquid for the liquid product from a concentrate source to the dilution mechanism; the dilution mechanism can receive diluent liquid suitable for the liquid product from a diluent source, operable to mix the diluent liquid and the concentrate liquid and provide diluted concentrate liquid; and the additive mechanism can receive additive fluid for the liquid product from an additive source, to combine the diluted concentrate liquid and the additive fluid.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A pump assembly comprising a housing, a support frame that can be attached to the housing, and a rotor that can rotate within the housing. The housing consists of resilient material and comprises an interior surface, an inlet portion including an inlet for fluid, an outlet portion including an outlet for the fluid, and a diaphragm portion. A housing-engaging surface area of the rotor will form a sealing interference contact with the interior surface, and a chamber-forming surface area of the rotor disposed radially inward from the housing-engaging surface area will form a chamber with the interior surface. When the rotor rotates within the housing as in use, the chamber can convey fluid from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The diaphragm portion will bear against the chamber-forming surface as the chamber-forming surface travels from the outlet to the inlet, to prevent fluid passing from the outlet to the inlet and to expel the fluid from the chamber through the outlet portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implemented real-time systems and methods for determining success of a revascularization procedure and/or wound healing of a patient, that can involve measuring blood perfusion characteristics utilizing diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA), and determining blood perfusion and vascular health indices predictive of a likely positive or negative patient outcome, and communicating that outcome to an operator utilizing a display, etc.

Abstract: An automated teller machine comprises an envelope-free deposit slot mechanism configured to receive a funds deposit from a user. The automated teller machine further comprises control logic configured to cause the deposit slot mechanism to receive an authentication printout from the user and to optically scan information printed on the authentication printout. The automated teller machine further comprises an authentication circuit configured to authenticate the transaction based on the information scanned from the authentication printout. The automated teller machine further comprises a cash dispenser mechanism configured to dispense cash to the user. Cash is dispensed to the user responsive to authentication of the user based on the authentication printout.

Abstract: A pump comprising a housing and a rotor rotatably accommodated in the housing and having an axis of rotation. The housing comprises a resilient seal member, an inlet and an outlet for fluid. The rotor comprises first and second surface areas, and the rotor and housing are cooperatively configured such that the second surface area is radially recessed from the first surface area, forming a chamber with an interior surface of the housing, and the first surface area seals against the interior surface. The seal member is located azimuthally between the outlet and the inlet. The seal member will engage the first and second surface areas, operative to prevent the passage of fluid from the outlet to the inlet as the rotor rotates. An edge of the seal member is coterminous with an aperture through which the fluid can flow.

Abstract: A pump comprises a housing, with an interior defining a rotor path, an inlet formed in the housing at a first position on said rotor path, an outlet formed in the housing at a second position on said rotor path spaced from said first position. A rotor is rotatable in the housing with a first surface that seals against the housing. A second surface is formed on said rotor circumferentially spaced from said first surface and forms a chamber that travels around said rotor path to convey fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A resilient seal formed with the housing is located on the rotor path to prevent fluid flow from said outlet to said inlet past the seal. A passage may be provided to supply fluid to an under surface of the seal at a pressure that acts to urge the seal against the rotor.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing a specimen is provided that may be configured to determine the presence of at least one microorganism specie in the specimen. The assembly may include a pipette configured to acquire a specimen from a sample and an imaging cartridge configured to be in fluid communication with the pipette. The imaging cartridge and the pipette may be configured to be irreversibly coupled such that the specimen is bio-contained within the imaging cartridge and the pipette when the imaging cartridge and pipette are coupled together. Associated methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A pump assembly comprising a housing, a support frame that can be attached to the housing, and a rotor that can rotate within the housing. The housing consists of resilient material and comprises an interior surface, an inlet portion including an inlet for fluid, an outlet portion including an outlet for the fluid, and a diaphragm portion. A housing-engaging surface area of the rotor will form a sealing interference contact with the interior surface, and a chamber-forming surface area of the rotor disposed radially inward from the housing-engaging surface area will form a chamber with the interior surface. When the rotor rotates within the housing as in use, the chamber can convey fluid from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The diaphragm portion will bear against the chamber-forming surface as the chamber-forming surface travels from the outlet to the inlet, to prevent fluid passing from the outlet to the inlet and to expel the fluid from the chamber through the outlet portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for treating a solid fertilizer. The method comprises contacting the solid fertilizer with an amount of a liquid composition effective for reducing clumping in the fertilizer caused by absorption of water. The liquid composition may comprise one or more organic solvents and/or petroleum distillates. The organic solvents may be selected from the group consisting of glycol, dialkylcarbonate, C1-C4 alcohol, vegetable oil, esters of hydroxyacids, heterocyclic alcohols, cyclic esters of carbonic acid, and esters of dicarboxyacids.

Abstract: A pump is formed by a housing (10) having a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (12) and containing a rotor (15) forming with the housing (10) chambers (17a, 17b) that, on rotation of the rotor (15) by a drive, convey fluid from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12) to pump the fluid. A seal assembly (14) is arranged between the outlet (12) and the inlet (11). The seal assembly (14) includes a membrane (21) that contacts the rotor (15) and a flexible resilient spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) that provides a force urging the membrane (21) against the rotor (15). The spring member (22, 28, 35, 37, 40) thus, on rotation of the rotor (15), moves radially relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor (15) and is arranged to provide a force on the rotor (15) via the membrane (21) that is constant and a minimum to maintain a seal between the rotor (15) and the seal (14) for a given outlet pressure of the pumped fluid.