Abstract: One example discloses an organic matter powered device, comprising: a set of electrodes configured to be coupled to a set of biologically active organic matter; a power generation circuit coupled to the electrodes; wherein the power generation circuit is configured to receive a first voltage and current from the organic matter, and output a second voltage and current generated by the first voltage and current; a monitoring circuit coupled to the electrodes and coupled to monitor the first voltage and current, and to be powered by the second voltage and current; wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to translate variations in the first voltage and current into an environmental attribute.

Abstract: One example discloses an organic matter powered device, comprising: a set of electrodes configured to be coupled to a set of biologically active organic matter; a power generation circuit coupled to the electrodes; wherein the power generation circuit is configured to receive a first voltage and current from the organic matter, and output a second voltage and current generated by the first voltage and current; a monitoring circuit coupled to the electrodes and coupled to monitor the first voltage and current, and to be powered by the second voltage and current; wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to translate variations in the first voltage and current into an environmental attribute.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus, kits and methods for the production of biomimetic constructs by plastically compressing a gel, such as a collagen gel, in a well using a plunger, which may be porous. The apparatus, kits and methods allow biomimetic constructs to be produced in a controlled and reproducible manner and are suitable for the production of multilayered constructs.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus, kits and methods for the production of biomimetic constructs by plastically compressing a gel, such as a collagen gel, in a well using a plunger, which may be porous. The apparatus, kits and methods allow biomimetic constructs to be produced in a controlled and reproducible manner and are suitable for the production of multilayered constructs.

Abstract: A capper/de-capper system 1 has a rack support 10 for supporting a rack 11 containing a plurality of capped tubes 31 in a given position. A head unit 12 supports a two-dimensional array of capping/de-capping spindles 13, each of which includes a clutch 133 and a capping/de-capping spigot 131 or socket, the spindles being aligned with the tube positions defined in the rack. A drive mechanism 108 moves the tubes and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another in use, when a rack containing capped tubes is disposed in the rack support, causing engagement and disengagement of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets with and from the tube caps 32. A spindle drive system 15-22 provides simultaneous rotation of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets together after engagement with the caps, either to detach caps from the tubes or attach caps to the tubes.

Abstract: A system 10 for storing and processing a plurality of biological or chemical samples at ultra-low temperatures is provided. The system 10 comprises a plurality of ultra-low temperature storage locations 30; an enclosed pathway 35 adjacent the storage locations 30; and a manipulator module 60 disposed within the pathway 35 for conveying vessels 33 along the pathway 35 between the storage locations 30 in the system 10. Each of the storage locations being accessed through an insulated access panel 36 on the side of the storage location 30, the panel 36 being configured to close the storage location 30 from the pathway 35.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaking a plurality of vessels, for example in an incubator, has at least one rotatable support 10 (101,102) defining a plurality of support locations for vessels 50 at predefined positions 12 around an upright axis and the support or supports 10 are rotatable around the upright axis to move the vessels between a number of positions about the axis for insertion and removal of the vessels onto and from the support(s) respectively. A drive transmission system 38,381 (39,391) connects the support to a drive motor 382 (392), whereby the support can be rotated to a desired position for loading or unloading of a vessel to or from a respective support location 12. A drive mechanism 33, 36 (37). 35 is operable to move each support location eccentrically about an axis independently of the rotation of the support about the upright axis, so that vessels disposed on the support can be shaken.

Abstract: A capper/de-capper system 1 has a rack support 10 for supporting a rack 11 containing a plurality of capped tubes 31 in a given position. A head unit 12 supports a two-dimensional array of capping/de-capping spindles 13, each of which includes a clutch 133 and a capping/de-capping spigot 131 or socket, the spindles being aligned with the tube positions defined in the rack. A drive mechanism 108 moves the tubes and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another in use, when a rack containing capped tubes is disposed in the rack support, causing engagement and disengagement of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets with and from the tube caps 32. A spindle drive system 15-22 provides simultaneous rotation of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets together after engagement with the caps, either to detach caps from the tubes or attach caps to the tubes.

Abstract: An airfoil family for a helicopter rotor blade, designated SC362XX. SC362XX essentially removes the large lower surface suction peak associated with ‘drag creep’ at moderate lift coefficients while reducing the peak Mach number and shock strength at high lift/Mach number conditions. Another optional airfoil family for use at inboard regions of the helicopter rotor, which is designated SC3252XX airfoil family, is a relatively thicker airfoil section that includes a significant increase in thickness forward of the 30% x/c location to provide a relatively thick and rigid inboard section. The lift coefficient at which the drag divergence Mach number was optimized is the same in both families thereby readily providing application to a single rotor blade.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for loading or unloading a vessel, say a flask, on to or from a selected position on a support arranged to oscillate substantially in a plane. The apparatus includes a transporter in the form of a robotic arm having a gripper unit for gripping the flask. A mechanism, preferably a flexible restraint mechanism, is arranged to accommodate lost movement between the transporter and the support when the gripper unit releases or grips the flask to load it on to or unload it from the support respectively.

Abstract: A system 10 for storing and processing a plurality of biological or chemical samples at ultra-low temperatures is provided. The system 10 comprises a plurality of ultra-low temperature storage locations 30; an enclosed pathway 35 adjacent the storage locations 30; and a manipulator module 60 disposed within the pathway 35 for conveying vessels 33 along the pathway 35 between the storage locations 30 in the system 10. Each of the storage locations being accessed through an insulated access panel 36 on the side of the storage location 30, the panel 36 being configured to close the storage location 30 from the pathway 35.

Abstract: A pipetting device has top and bottom supports, the first support supporting a pipetting head and the second support defining a location for one or more vessels or substrates to or from which fluid is to be pipetted in use. The pipetting head has a two-dimensional array of pipetting cylinders having pistons for controlling the aspirating or dispensing of liquid, each pipetting cylinder piston being connected to a platen for simultaneous movement of the pistons within the cylinders. The pipetting head and the second support are relatively movable to one another between an operating and a retracted relationship. A detachable pipetting tip holder has a two-dimensional array of pipetting tips which are connectable to the pipetting cylinders for aspirating liquid from or dispensing liquid into or onto a corresponding vessel.

Abstract: Navigational functionality is abstracted from user interface pages associated with a wizard and allocated to a navigation module. The navigation module provides a hierarchical tree of nodes representative of the user interface pages in the wizard. In operation, a token is transmitted from a user interface page to the navigation module when a user activates a user interface control within the user interface pages. The token instructs the navigation module to traverse the hierarchical tree to determine a successor page to present to the user, such as a next user interface page, a previous user interface page, a user interface page defining a selected branch, and so on. Abstracting navigational information from individual user interface pages is advantageous because it simplifies the design and modification of user interface pages, as well as promotes the modularity and portability of the user interface pages.

Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.

Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.

Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.

Abstract: An automated packaging line for filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS. The PHS units are substantially identical, with DIP switch modifying operation of the controlling software thereof to implement different features at different points on the line.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a flexible article, longer than it is wider, in a predetermined orientation which has an orientation for tumbling the article generally about one direction while retaining the article so that it can rotate about another direction while it is being tumbled. The retention mechanism on the apparatus includes a retention face and is moveable between a first position in which the retention face is disposed to receive the article generally downwardly from the orientation head while it is being tumbled thereby, and a second position displaced from the first. Additionally, when the article is received on the retention face, it can be detected if it is correctly orientated on the retention face. In response to this detection, the retention mechanism moves to the second position and the article is received in a predetermined orientation from the retention face at the second position of the retention mechanism.

Abstract: A system 10 for storing and processing a plurality of biological or chemical samples at ultra-low temperatures is provided. The system 10 comprises a plurality of ultra-low temperature storage locations 30; an enclosed pathway 35 adjacent the storage locations 30; and a manipulator module 60 disposed within the pathway 35 for conveying vessels 33 along the pathway 35 between the storage locations 30 in the system 10. Each of the storage locations being accessed through an insulated access panel 36 on the side of the storage location 30, the panel 36 being configured to close the storage location 30 from the pathway 35.