Abstract: Derivatised carbon is disclosed in which an amino acid or a derivative thereof is attached to the carbon. Derivatised carbon may be useful in the detection and removal of metal ions from liquid media.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink printer comprises a first portion of a solid ink stick body, the first portion being formed of a first material of a phase change ink composition. The ink stick also comprises a second portion of the solid ink stick body, the second portion being formed of a second material. The first material and the second material combine when the ink stick body is melted.

Abstract: A removable ink stick support for use in an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device comprises a first end for ink stick support proximate a melt end of an ink loader and a second end for ink stick support proximate an insertion end of an ink loader. A longitudinal member extends between the first and second ends, the longitudinal member being configured to provide a contact surface for contacting at least a portion of an ink stick as the ink stick is fed along the feed channel.

Abstract: An ink stick support for use in an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink stick carrier for receiving and supporting an ink stick. The ink stick carrier includes a loading platform for receiving the ink stick thereon and a substantially vertically oriented back wall extending from a back edge of the base plate. A coupler for removably attaching the ink stick carrier to a drive mechanism of an ink loader.

Abstract: A solid ink feed system for a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink loader having an insertion area and a melt area. A collapsible support in the ink loader has a first end attached adjacent the melt area and a second end configured to receive at least one ink stick inserted into the ink loader at the insertion area. The first and second ends are connected by a collapsible body configured to support the at least one ink stick and to vary in length corresponding to the distance of the least one ink stick from the melt area of the ink loader.

Abstract: A filter assembly may include a valve which includes a valve member. The valve member moves between a first position and a second position and the valve is opened and closed.

Abstract: A device and assembly for administering antimicrobial for killing resident microorganisms on human skin and thereby effectively preventing infections caused by the microorganisms, are provided. The device for administering antimicrobial of the invention uses iontophoresis, and it comprises: a donor electrode (100) containing an antimicrobial; a reference electrode (110) provided as a counter electrode of the donor electrode; and a power unit (120) for applying current between the donor electrode and the reference electrode in such a manner as to allow the total amount of current applied to be 1 to 30 mA·min/cm2. The area on the skin to which the donor electrode (100) is applied is suitably 1 to 100 cm2. Thus, the catheter or injection needle insertion site on human skin is disinfected.

Abstract: The method for non-invasively determining the relative levels of two substances present in a biological system includes the steps of extracting by reverse iontophoresis charged and uncharged substances from said biological system, and collecting said substances, analysing the collected amount of a first extracted substance and a second extracted substance and determining the extraction ratio of the first substance to the second substance to determine their relative levels in the biological system. When the first and second substances are both analytes susceptible to changes in their concentration in the biological system, this method provides information about the relative concentrations of the two substances in the biological system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode; (b) a negative electrode, and (c) electrical insulation between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, and the negative electrode, and electrical insulation are positioned on the same side of the membrane sample. The present invention also relates to a device for the removal of or delivery of ionized substances to a mammal through intact skin or mucosal membrane without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) an electrically insulating material between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode and insulating material are physically positioned so that each present a common surface of the device for contact with the same surface of the skin or mucosal membrane of the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises:

Abstract: A separation component for a separator includes a truncated hollow conical separation member having an operatively upper inclined separation surface and an operatively lower inclined separation surface, and a plurality of spacers protruding from, and extending along, one of the separation surfaces of the separation member. The spacers are spaced apart about the separation member A valley is defined between each spacer and the separation surface and provides a pathway along which, in use, solids can pass. The angles at which the pathways are inclined to the horizontal are less than the angle at which the separation surface is inclined to the horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode; (b) a negative electrode, and (c) electrical insulation between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, and the negative electrode, and electrical insulation are positioned on the same side of the membrane sample. The present invention also relates to a device for the removal of or delivery of ionized substances to a mammal through intact skin or mucosal membrane without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) an electrically insulating material between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode and insulating material are physically positioned so that each present a common surface of the device for contact with the same surface of the skin or mucosal membrane of the mammal.

Abstract: A tonometric device for use in hollow viscus tonometry and remote sensing of patient fluid parameters is disclosed in combination with a secondary apparatus, such as a urinary catheter, a nasogastric sump apparatus, or a feeding tube, for example. The device is capable of monitoring certain critical fluid properties of interest, such as oxygen gases and carbon dioxide gases in the wall tissue itself of the patient's organ, rather than monitoring such properties in a lumen of the organ. A walled sampling chamber, which is preferably an inflated balloon member, is provided on an elongated tube, with provisions for positioning the sampling chamber in direct contact with a wall portion of the patient's internal organ.

Abstract: The current invention provides methods for relieving congestion associated with interfacing multiple types of subscriber link traffic, i.e. voice, voice-band data, and broad-band data, with a network such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In an embodiment of the invention waste of modem resources is diminished by reducing the magnitude of the transmission parameters between a data terminal and modem resources during intervals of reduced data flow. This frees scarce modem resources for other sessions. In another embodiment of the invention the time required to initiate session setup is reduced. This reduces the time devoted by modem facilities to call setup at the start of session, or after an idle period.

Abstract: A locking apparatus which is suitable for use with a manually operated control. The control is of a type which has a body and a handle. The handle is rotatable relative to the body and which is restricted to rotate between a first position defined by a first pair of abutment surfaces touching one another. In such a condition, a second pair of abutment surfaces are spaced apart to define a first gap between them. Rotation to a second limiting position is defined by the second pair of abutment surfaces touching one another and the first pair of abutment surfaces being spaced apart to define a second gap. The locking apparatus includes a first member which is attachable to the handle and a second member which is attached to the first member. The second member fits for use into either one of the first or second gap and provides further abutment surfaces each disposed to abut a respective adjacent abutment surface on the body of the control thereby to restrict rotation of the handle relative to the body.

Abstract: A tonometric device for use in hollow viscus tonometry and remote sensing of patient fluid parameters is disclosed. The device is capable of monitoring certain critical fluid properties of interest, such as oxygen gases and carbon dioxide gases in the wall tissue itself of the patient's organ, rather than monitoring such properties in a lumen of the organ. A walled sampling chamber, which is preferably an inflated balloon member, is provided on an elongated tube, with provisions for positioning the sampling chamber in direct contact with a wall portion of the patient's internal organ.

Abstract: A pressure fluid apparatus includes first and second parts which are adapted to be secured together. A first sealing surface of the first part forms a seal with a corresponding second sealing surface of the second part. The first sealing surface includes a spigot, and the second sealing surface includes a corresponding recess adapted to receive the spigot. The inside corner where the base of the spigot meets the first sealing surface is radiussed, and the outside corner where the mouth of the recess meets the second sealing surface is correspondingly truncated, so as to accommodate the radius. On either the radiussed inside corner or the truncated outside corner, an integral projection is provided which is deformable upon assembly of the parts, to block leakage of fluid along the path defined between the two corners.

Abstract: A method of modifying epidermis for transport of a material by electroporation includes applying to epidermis an agent that, upon entry into the epidermis, will modify the epidermis to thereby cause and altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. Typically, the altered rate will be an increased rate of transport. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the modifying agent enters the electroporated epidermis, thereby modifying the epidermis to cause an altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. In another embodiment, the modifying agent can modify the epidermis to enable measurement and/or monitoring of physiological conditions or change within or beneath the epidermis. The modifying agents can also be employed to facilitate discharge of fluids from within an organism, such as by providing pathways for discharge of fluids from a tumor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of separating particulate material from a carrier fluid in which it is suspended. A first zone of a body of the carrier fluid is separated from a second clarified fluid zone thereof, and a suspension of particulate material in carrier fluid is fed into the body of fluid. Clarified fluid is withdrawn from the clarified fluid zone, and substantially all the clarified fluid which enters the clarified fluid zone is allowed to pass from the first zone to the second zone through a sub-zone in which at least some separation of particulate material from carrier fluid, against the direction of flow, takes place. The sub-zone is of smaller cross-sectional area than the body of fluid.

Abstract: Coin validation apparatus comprising a coin path (2, 5, 6); an impact element (14) disposed in the coin path to be contacted by a coin (10); an impact transducer (8) arranged to generate an output signal in dependence on vibration of the impact element (14); and control means (7) for determining a coin parameter based on the output signal; characterised in that the impact element (14) is shaped to create multiple impacts with a passing coin (10).