A plate-less inlet valve assembly having a support frame, flexible conduit, and control assembly. Opposing ends of the flexible conduit are coupled to the relatively rigid support frame. The flexible conduit can include an inner wall that generally defines at least a pathway that accommodates a flow of working fluid through the flexible conduit. A size of a restriction within a portion of the pathway can be selectively adjusted so as to control the flow of working fluid through the pathway. The restriction can generally assist with providing the pathway with an adjustable venturi shape. The control assembly can be coupled to the flexible conduit and configured to provide a force to selectively adjust the size of the restriction. Additionally, the control assembly can be positioned outside of the direct path of working fluid in the pathway such that working fluid in the pathway does not flow around the control assembly.

An ER fluid valve includes a housing and a plurality of parallel flow passages through the housing each defined by spaced electrodes at least one of which is controllable independently of other flow passages electrodes. A controller is configured to selectively establish electrical fields for all of the independently controllable electrodes to close all of the flow passages to ER fluid flowing through the housing. By removing the fields from all of the independently controllable electrodes, all the flow passages are open to the ER fluid flowing through the housing. By establishing fields for select independently controllable electrodes to close their associated flow passages and by leaving other flow passages open, restricted flow of the ER fluid through the housing is accomplished to vary the flow rate through the housing.

An ER fluid valve includes a housing and a plurality of parallel flow passages through the housing each defined by spaced electrodes at least one of which is controllable independently of other flow passages electrodes. A controller is configured to selectively establish electrical fields for all of the independently controllable electrodes to close all of the flow passages to ER fluid flowing through the housing. By removing the fields from all of the independently controllable electrodes, all the flow passages are open to the ER fluid flowing through the housing. By establishing fields for select independently controllable electrodes to close their associated flow passages and by leaving other flow passages open, restricted flow of the ER fluid through the housing is accomplished to vary the flow rate through the housing.

A valve sealing device for a tilting-armature valve, including: a sealing body having a first surface configured to close in a fluid-tight fashion a valve seat and/or an opening in a valve; and a retaining body which is arranged on a surface of the sealing body which is opposite the first surface, and is configured to secure the valve sealing device in and/or on a cutout in a valve, in particular in a cutout in a tilting armature of a tilting-armature valve, in particular in which the sealing body and/or the retaining body is essentially cylindrical in shape. A related method to make the valve sealing device and a tilting-armature valve that includes the valve sealing device are also described.

A valve sealing device for a tilting-armature valve, including: a sealing body having a first surface configured to close in a fluid-tight fashion a valve seat and/or an opening in a valve; and a retaining body which is arranged on a surface of the sealing body which is opposite the first surface, and is configured to secure the valve sealing device in and/or on a cutout in a valve, in particular in a cutout in a tilting armature of a tilting-armature valve, in particular in which the sealing body and/or the retaining body is essentially cylindrical in shape. A related method to make the valve sealing device and a tilting-armature valve that includes the valve sealing device are also described.

A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mesh which heats the ferromagnetic mesh and melts the hydrophobic meltable material, thereby closing the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and blocking drug delivery to the patient.

A system and method for the use of magneto-rheological fluids (MRF) and magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) for use in fluid control and distribution apparatus which are responsive to control by a magnetic field are disclosed.

A system and method for the use of magneto-rheological fluids (MRF) and magnetically controlled elastomers (MCE) for use in fluid control and distribution apparatus which are responsive to control by a magnetic field are disclosed.

An ER fluid valve includes a housing and a plurality of parallel flow passages through the housing each defined by spaced electrodes at least one of which is controllable independently of other flow passages electrodes. A controller is configured to selectively establish electrical fields for all of the independently controllable electrodes to close all of the flow passages to ER fluid flowing through the housing. By removing the fields from all of the independently controllable electrodes, all the flow passages are open to the ER fluid flowing through the housing. By establishing fields for select independently controllable electrodes to close their associated flow passages and by leaving other flow passages open, restricted flow of the ER fluid through the housing is accomplished to vary the flow rate through the housing.

Disclosed are a linkage control device and a blood gas analyzer adopting the linkage control device. The linkage control device comprises a power unit and a rotating component (4) provided with bosses (41, 42). The power unit generates power to drive the rotating component (4) to rotate. The linkage control device further comprises valve components (5, 6, 7, 8), a signal control unit, sensing switches, and sensing pins (43, 44, 45, 46). The valve components (5, 6, 7, 8) are matched with the bosses (41, 42) of the rotating component (4) in a pushing manner. The signal control unit controls the start or stop of the power unit. The sensing switches are connected to the signal control unit via signals. The sensing pins (43, 44, 45, 46) are arranged in pair with the sensing switches and are arranged on the rotating component (4).