A method for mixing, transporting, storing, and transferring a thixotropic fluid is disclosed. The method includes mixing a thixotropic fluid. The thixotropic fluid may be built within a fluid container that includes an agitation unit. Once it has gelled, the thixotropic fluid can be sheared using the agitation unit, which may be mounted within the fluid container. The thixotropic fluid can then be pumped out of the fluid container.

A sterile surgical tray includes structure for receiving a plurality of surgical instruments. The sterile surgical tray also may include electrical input and output connectors attached to tray.

A fluid flow control valve (101, 601) includes a housing (106) and a spherical obstructer (107) having a through hole (108), wherein the spherical obstructer (107) is inserted in the housing (106) and is adapted to rotate therein (106) about an axis of rotation (110) between a first position, in which the through hole (108) is substantially coaxial to the control valve to allow the passage of a fluid, and a second position, in which the through hole (108) is substantially transversal to the control valve to prevent the passage of a fluid. The control valve further includes a rotor (111) within the through hole (108), wherein the rotor is adapted to rotate in a continuous manner under the action of a fluid flowing through the control valve, rotating about a second axis of rotation (112) substantially coinciding with the axis of rotation of the spherical obstructer.

A shower head is configured to receive a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, where the shower head includes a mixer valve within a portion thereof that is configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid conduit and a second fluid from the second fluid conduit and to output the first fluid or the second fluid or a blend the first and second fluids to a shower head outlet.

A gas-fueled heater can have a housing with pressure regulators, a control valve, a fluid selection valve and a burner positioned therein. The pressure regulators, control valve, fluid selection valve and burner can be configured to combust a fuel to create heat. The housing can include a number of holes passing therethrough to control access to the various components.

Methods and systems are provided for producing hydrocarbons from production fluids that have water as an external phase. A method for transporting a hydrocarbon through a pipeline includes injecting water into a production stream at a production center. The production stream includes a hydrocarbon, and the water injection forms a transportation stream that includes a water external phase. The transportation stream is flowed through a transportation line to a surface facility, wherein the transportation line comprises a plurality of static mixers spaced at intervals along the transportation line.

The invention concerns a purge/sampling system for vessels, particularly for high temperature, high pressure vessels such as hydroconversion reactors used in refinery processes and operated in severe conditions. Such purge/sampling system comprises a purge/sampling line (16) equipped with a connector designed to be connected to the vessel (10), a first (18 and a second (20) flow regulation systems mounted in series on the purge/sampling line, wherein at least one injection line (22) is connected to the purge/sampling line between the first and the second flow regulation systems, said injection line comprising connecting means to a source of cleaning fluid (24) and at least one flow regulation device to control the flow of cleaning fluid through injection line and purge/sampling line The invention also concerns a vessel equipped with such a purge/sampling system, as well as a cleaning method using said purge/sampling system.

A shower head having a stem, a spray head coupled to the stem and including a plurality of outlets for discharging water into at least one spray pattern, and a mixing valve located within the stem. The mixing valve has a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet; a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of a first fluid from the first inlet to the outlet; and a second flow control valve for controlling the flow of a second fluid from the second inlet to the outlet. The shower head also has a touchscreen user interface located on a surface of the shower head, wherein the touchscreen user interface allows a user to control at least one of a temperature or a flow rate of fluid from the outlet to the spray head by controlling the first and second flow control valves.

A sensor apparatus and sensor apparatus system for use in conjunction with a cassette, including a disposable or replaceable cassette. In some embodiments, the cassette includes a thermal well for permitting the sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well includes a hollow housing of a thermally conductive material. In other embodiments, the cassette includes sensor leads for sensing of various properties of a subject media. The thermal well has an inner surface shaped so as to form a mating relationship with a sensing probe. The mating thermally couples the inner surface with a sensing probe. In some embodiments, the thermal well is located on a disposable portion and the sensing probe on a reusable portion.

Vascular treatment devices and methods include a woven structure including a plurality of bulbs that may be self-expanding, a hypotube, for example including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs, and a bonding zone between the woven structure and the hypotube. The woven structure may include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures may be heat treated to include various shapes at different temperatures. The woven structure may be deployable to implant in a vessel. A catheter may include a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs and optionally a balloon. Laser cutting systems may include fluid flow systems.