Abstract: An assembly for a fluid-filled piston-cylinder unit comprises a main body having an assembly longitudinal axis (24), a valve unit integrated in the main body and having an overflow channel, which valve unit seals the overflow channel when the assembly is moved along the assembly longitudinal axis in a first direction and releases the overflow channel, in dependence on the fluid pressure, when the assembly is moved along the assembly longitudinal axis in a second direction. Furthermore, the assembly comprises an outer seal element that is arranged on the main body so as to be moved along the assembly longitudinal axis, for abutting in a sealing manner against an inner surface of the housing, and at least one undercut element formed on the main body for engaging in an interlocking manner behind a mating element of the piston-cylinder unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for identifying an animal comprising an image recording device for recording images of an animal located in proximity to the device, a database, in which database reference images of typical procedures of approach of the first animal are stored, wherein a degree of matching between the images and the reference images and/or between features of the images and features of the reference images is determined and wherein, depending on the degree of matching, a drive for opening a door is actuated and/or a signalling unit for issuing an alert tone or a signalling unit for issuing a luring sound is activated and/or an issuing unit for issuing feed is activated via a control device.

Abstract: It is provided a measuring cartridge (1) for measuring at least one constituent of a liquid sample, in particular blood, and for performing quality control, the cartridge comprising: a casing (3) insertable into a reception opening (51) of a measuring instrument (50), the casing (3) at least partly surrounding an inner space (5); wherein the inner space contains: a measurement cell (7) comprising a reception space (9) for the sample and at least one sensor area (11) with which the sample is in contact when loaded into the reception space (9); plural quality control containers (13a,13b,13c) for respectively holding different quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c); a solution routing system (17) adapted to selectively route one of the quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c) from the respective quality control container (13a,13b,13c) into the reception space (9) of the measurement cell (7).

Abstract: To ventilate a heat management system of an internal combustion engine, in which coolants circulate in several coolant circuits, connected inlets of a rotary valve may be opened and closed in a predetermined sequence, in order to ventilate one or more of the coolant circuits in the direction of the compensation tank, by means of at least one ventilation circuit which is in fluid connection with a coolant compensation tank. The rotary valve may be controlled by means of a control unit, wherein a non-connected inlet of the rotary valve is in fluid connection with the coolant compensation tank.

Abstract: It is provided a measuring cartridge (1) for measuring at least one constituent of a liquid sample, in particular blood, and for performing quality control, the cartridge comprising: a casing (3) insertable into a reception opening (51) of a measuring instrument (50), the casing (3) at least partly surrounding an inner space (5); wherein the inner space contains: a measurement cell (7) comprising a reception space (9) for the sample and at least one sensor area (11) with which the sample is in contact when loaded into the reception space (9); plural quality control containers (13a,13b,13c) for respectively holding different quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c); a solution routing system (17) adapted to selectively route one of the quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c) from the respective quality control container (13a,13b,13c) into the reception space (9) of the measurement cell (7).

Abstract: A heat management system for an internal combustion engine has an engine cooling circuit, a main cooling circuit that has a main cooler, a heating circuit that has a heating heat exchanger, a coolant pump that moves coolant through the circuits and a rotary slide valve that has at least one switched and at least one non-switched inlet, such that the heating return flow leads into a switchable inlet of the rotary slide valve.

Abstract: A method for at least partially applying a hydrophilic polymer to a measurement channel of a sensor cartridge is provided, which sensor cartridge can be replaceably inserted in an analyzer. The measurement channel comprises at least one sensor element. The method comprises inserting the sensor cartridge into the analyzer, introducing an aqueous solution containing chitosan or a chitosan derivative into the measurement channel of the sensor cartridge, and following a residence time replacing the aqueous chitosan solution with a gaseous or liquid medium, wherein residues of the chitosan or chitosan derivatives remain on the inside surface of the measurement channel and hydrophilize the surface.

Abstract: To ventilate a heat management system of an internal combustion engine, in which coolants circulate in several coolant circuits, connected inlets of a rotary valve may be opened and closed in a predetermined sequence, in order to ventilate one or more of the coolant circuits in the direction of the compensation tank, by means of at least one ventilation circuit which is in fluid connection with a coolant compensation tank. The rotary valve may be controlled by means of a control unit, wherein a non-connected inlet of the rotary valve is in fluid connection with the coolant compensation tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insert and a vial for the infusion of a liquid. The vial comprises a hollow body, a grasp portion and a head. The head comprises a delivery opening defining an axis X; a septum for closing the opening; and at least one circumferential push surface next to the head and firmly connected to the grasp portion. The insert is suitable to deliver the liquid and to receive the vial along axis X. The insert comprises a main body with lower ducts, an inner part and a piercing spike. The inner part defines a seat for the vial head, and comprises one slit for engaging the circumferential push surface. The spike is suitable to pierce the vial septum and defines upper ducts. The inner part is able to rotate inside the main body between a fluidly open configuration and a fluidly closed configuration.

Abstract: A heat management system for an internal combustion engine has an engine cooling circuit, a main cooling circuit that has a main cooler, a heating circuit that has a heating heat exchanger, a coolant pump that moves coolant through the circuits and a rotary slide valve that has at least one switched and at least one non-switched inlet, such that the heating return flow leads into a switchable inlet of the rotary slide valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magnesium-liposome complexes with a delayed release of magnesium, coated at least partially with a polyalkylene glycol compound. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for synthesis of the magnesium-liposome complexes as well as use thereof in the treatment of diseases associated with a magnesium deficiency.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for accelerating the equilibration of a fluid, typically the reference fluid of an analyzer, are provided, the surface of the fluid being in contact with a gas phase. The device can include a cassette, which can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer and which holds at least one flexible, gas-tight bag, in which the fluid and the gas phase are accommodated. The cassette or the analyzer can include at least one transmitting element, which can be caused to vibrate and which mechanically contacts the flexible bag in order to input mechanical energy into the liquid in at least one wall region.

Abstract: A reagent cartridge which can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer and having a plurality of reagent bags furnished with connecting lines, each of which may optionally be connected to an input device of the analyzer, and method for operating the analyzer are disclosed. Each reagent bag has an analyzer-controlled multi-way valve with at least two valve positions at the point where the respective connecting line departs, such that the first valve position opens a fluid path between the connecting line and the reagent bag, while the second valve position closes off the reagent bag and opens a fluid path between a ventilation source, e.g. ambient air, and the connecting line. The connecting lines of the reagent bags departing from the multi-way valve open directly into a common rail or a collector valve.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for accelerating the equilibration of a fluid, typically the reference fluid of an analyzer, are provided, the surface of the fluid being in contact with a gas phase. The device can comprise a cassette, which can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer and which holds at least one flexible, gas-tight bag, in which the fluid and the gas phase are accommodated. The cassette or the analyzer can include at least one transmitting element, which can be caused to vibrate and which mechanically contacts the flexible bag in order to input mechanical energy into the liquid in at least one wall region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for depletion of hepcidin from blood for treatment of iron deficiency, in particular in anemic patients suffering from chronic renal failure, with the goal of increasing the availability of iron in the body and thus improving the treatment of the anemia. The hepcidin adsorbent comprises a matrix and a hepcidin-binding ligand covalently bonded to the matrix with an affinity having a dissociation constant KD of less than 200 nM.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insert and a vial for the infusion of a liquid. The vial comprises a hollow body, a grasp portion and a head. The head comprises a delivery opening defining an axis X; a septum for closing the opening; and at least one circumferential push surface next to the head and firmly connected to the grasp portion. The insert is suitable to deliver the liquid and to receive the vial along axis X. The insert comprises a main body with lower ducts, an inner part and a piercing spike. The inner part defines a seat for the vial head, and comprises one slit for engaging the circumferential push surface. The spike is suitable to pierce the vial septum and defines upper ducts. The inner part is able to rotate inside the main body between a fluidly open configuration and a fluidly closed configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for depletion of hepcidin from blood for treatment of iron deficiency, in particular in anemic patients suffering from chronic renal failure, with the goal of increasing the availability of iron in the body and thus improving the treatment of the anemia. The hepcidin adsorbent comprises a matrix and a hepcidin-binding ligand covalently bonded to the matrix with an affinity having a dissociation constant KD of less than 200 nM.

Abstract: A reagent cartridge which can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer and having a plurality of reagent bags furnished with connecting lines, each of which may optionally be connected to an input device of the analyzer, and method for operating the analyzer are disclosed. Each reagent bag has an analyzer-controlled multi-way valve with at least two valve positions at the point where the respective connecting line departs, such that the first valve position opens a fluid path between the connecting line and the reagent bag, while the second valve position closes off the reagent bag and opens a fluid path between a ventilation source, e.g. ambient air, and the connecting line. The connecting lines of the reagent bags departing from the multi-way valve open directly into a common rail or a collector valve.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for measuring the blood glucose level from an ocular fluid comprises a hand-held fluorescence photometer (D1) for determining the glucose level of the ocular fluid and a device (D2) for the amperometric or photometric determination of the blood glucose level. The fluorescence photometer (D1) comprises: first irradiating means (7,8,10) for providing a pilot beam (1) for irradiation of the eye (3) in order to excite a first fluorescence comprising a first wavelength band; first detecting means (8,9,12,13) for measuring the intensity of the of the pupil fluorescence within the first wavelength band; second irradiating means (17,18,21) for providing a measurement beam (5) for irradiation of the eye in order to excite an ocular sensor (4) to emit a second fluorescence comprising a second wavelength band; second detecting means (18,19,20,22,23,24,25) for measuring the intensity of the second fluorescence within the second wavelength band.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a lentiviral vector system that can be used for episomal replication of a desired gene. The vector system contains a first vector containing a lentiviral gag gene encoding a lentiviral gag protein, a second vector containing an env gene encoding a functional envelope protein, and a lentiviral pol gene encoding a lentiviral pol protein. The pol protein is at least integrase, but that the integrase has been modified so that it is not capable of integration. This pol gene can be on the first or second vectors or on a third vector. The lentiviral gag and pol and the envelope protein are not on a single vector, and these vectors do not contain nucleotides to effectively package lentiviral RNA. The system also contains another vector having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a target molecule operably linked to a component of an episomal replicon and a lentiviral packaging sequence.