Abstract: Devices and systems disclosed herein may include a negative pressure pump that includes a reservoir defining a lumen and a longitudinal axis, a piston, and a drive assembly comprising a spring. Motion of the spring may move the piston along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir to create a negative pressure within the reservoir. Methods of manufacturing a negative pressure pump and using a negative pressure pump to remove fluid from a target site are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a cooling, heating and fan arrangement for maintaining a predetermined optimum temperature of the samples during testing; a visual, circumferential and axial alignment system for aligning the samples within the carousel; a transfer system for transferring the samples from the carousel to the centrifuge; a balancing system of minimizing the rotational vibrations of the centrifuge; a safety system and anti-tipping design for the sample containing system; liquid dispensing arms for dispensing the buffered saline solution; and discharge ports for discharging and disposing of the liquid removed from the samples to a location external of the system.

Abstract: A puller assembly for removing a shield from around a needle of a syringe. The puller assembly includes a grip component and a cap. The grip component has a tubular body defining an interior hollow which axially receives the shield. The tubular body has a slit that allows it to be forcibly shifted from a first arrangement to a second arrangement to change the size of the interior hollow. The tubular body includes a radial inner face with at least one radial inward projection for directly engaging the shield. The cap is grippable by a user. The grip component is held by the cap when inserted within a cavity of the cap during manufacturing installation, and when so held at least one radial inward projection of the grip component engages the shield for removal of the shield from around the needle when the cap is moved. A method of mounting a puller assembly to a shield around a needle is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a cooling, heating and fan arrangement for maintaining a predetermined optimum temperature of the samples during testing; a visual, circumferential and axial alignment system for aligning the samples within the carousel; a transfer system for transferring the samples from the carousel to the centrifuge; a balancing system of minimizing the rotational vibrations of the centrifuge; a safety system and anti-tipping design for the sample containing system; liquid dispensing arms for dispensing the buffered saline solution; and discharge ports for discharging and disposing of the liquid removed from the samples to a location external of the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for injecting a medicine, especially a highly viscous medicine. Conventional methods and apparatus for injecting viscous medicines suffers from a variety of problems such as excessive force during the initial needle insertion and initial injection. In an inventive method, during the initial phase of the injection, energy is stored in a torsion spring that is subsequently released during a later stage of the injection. The present invention also provides for an improved autoinjector; especially via the use of a combination compression and torsion spring that powers the injection through controlling force applied to plunger via a screw flange or nut having pins that ride in a prescribed path down the length of the autoinjector.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery system is disclosed, the system comprising: an aerosol delivery unit, the aerosol delivery unit comprising: a cartridge receiver, which is configured to receive a cartridge assembly; and an inductor configured to receive the cartridge assembly and heat a liquid formulation within a capillary tube to produce an aerosol by induction heating. The cartridge assembly including an active part of the cartridge assembly including a capillary tube; a susceptor, the susceptor configured to partially surround the capillary tube; and a pair of displaceable covers, which surround at least the capillary tube and the susceptor.

Abstract: A puller assembly for removing a shield from around a needle of a syringe. The puller assembly includes a grip component and a cap. The grip component has a tubular body defining an interior hollow which axially receives the shield. The tubular body has a slit that allows it to be forcibly shifted from a first arrangement to a second arrangement to change the size of the interior hollow. The tubular body includes a radial inner face with at least one radial inward projection for directly engaging the shield. The cap is grippable by a user. The grip component is held by the cap when inserted within a cavity of the cap during manufacturing installation, and when so held at least one radial inward projection of the grip component engages the shield for removal of the shield from around the needle when the cap is moved. A method of mounting a puller assembly to a shield around a needle is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic medication injection device that provides a user with audible notice of injecting progress. The device in one form includes a plurality of sound elements located on drive mechanism portion that inserts within a barrel of a container of medication to advance a sealing plunger of that container. The device also includes at least one actuating element movable axially with the container of medication within the device housing, which at least one actuating is element arranged to engage the plurality of sound elements to generate audible notices as the advancing portion moves past the at least one actuating element when advancing the sealing plunger for an injection.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic test card includes a flat planar member and at least one dilution chamber that is supported by the flat planar member. The at least one dilution chamber can be disposed adjacent chambers used for testing a patient sample that are provided on the immunodiagnostic test card or can be provided separately.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic test card includes a flat planar member and at least one dilution chamber that is supported by the flat planar member. The at least one dilution chamber can be disposed adjacent chambers used for testing a patient sample that are provided on the immunodiagnostic test card or can be provided separately.