A method of preparing reagents includes inserting a cartridge into an instrument. The cartridge includes a plurality of reagent enclosures disposed in a cavity of the cartridge and exposing a port to an exterior of the cartridge. Each reagent enclosure includes a reagent container including a reagent and an internal cavity defining a compressible volume, an opening defined through the reagent container to the internal cavity. The method further includes connecting a plurality of fluid ports to the openings of the plurality of reagent enclosures; applying a solution through the fluid ports to at least partially fill the plurality of reagent enclosures; and cycling a pressure of the cavity, whereby for each of the reagent enclosures, during increasing pressure, the solution enters the internal cavity of the reagent container, combines with the reagent, and compresses the compressible volume, and during decreasing pressure, the compressible volume decreases and the reagent is ejected through the opening.

The invention provides a system for the preshearing based control of the flow and deformation behavior, i.e., the setting kinetics, and the time dependent shear viscosity, elasticity of aqueous cementitious suspensions that can be used for bone repair and regeneration. The dynamic cement microstructure is tailored to the demands of the surgical tasks (faster/slower setting) or additive manufacturing tasks (lower/higher viscosity) by application of various preshearing conditions. The relationships between the preshearing and pressurization conditions and the setting kinetics and the time dependent changes in elasticity and viscosity are complex and characterization of viscoelastic properties using advanced rheological characterization techniques including small-amplitude oscillatory and steady torsional rheometry is needed a priori to enable such tailoring. The preshearing system is intended to give control on the injectability and setting time of any calcium phosphate cement formulation to the surgeon during an orthopedic surgery where a batch of bone cement is processed. Other possible utilizations of the system include controlling the setting kinetics, shear viscosity and facilitating the resultant flow stability of cementitious ceramic suspensions processed in direct ink writing assemblies for additive manufacturing of cement constructs, in injection systems for restoration and fracking.

The invention provides a system for the preshearing based control of the flow and deformation behavior, i.e., the setting kinetics, and the time dependent shear viscosity, elasticity of aqueous cementitious suspensions that can be used for bone repair and regeneration. The dynamic cement microstructure is tailored to the demands of the surgical tasks (faster/slower setting) or additive manufacturing tasks (lower/higher viscosity) by application of various preshearing conditions. Since the relationships between the preshearing and pressurization conditions and the setting kinetics and the time dependent changes in elasticity and viscosity are complex, a priori characterization of viscoelastic properties using the advanced rheological characterization technique of small-amplitude oscillatory rheometry is needed to enable such tailoring. The preshearing system is intended to give control on the injectability and setting time of any calcium phosphate cement formulation to the surgeon during an orthopedic surgery where a batch of bone cement is processed. Other possible utilizations of the system include controlling the setting kinetics, shear viscosity and facilitating the resultant flow stability of cementitious ceramic suspensions processed in direct ink writing assemblies for additive manufacturing of cement constructs, in injection systems for oil wells, restoration and fracking.

Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.

The invention relates to a piston system (1) for use in a homogenizer, comprising a piston (2) that is configured and arranged to make a reciprocating movement in use of the piston system, a cylinder (3) that is configured and arranged to receive and guide at least a first part of the piston, a first supply channel (8) that is configured and arranged to supply a lubricating medium (9) to a portion (10) of the first part of the piston that in use is arranged inside the cylinder, and a second supply channel (13) that is configured and arranged to, in use, supply a cooling medium (14) to a second part of the piston outside the cylinder. Also disclosed is a process for the production of an elastomer agglomerate composition forcing a slurry comprising elastomeric particles through an aperture to obtain the elastomer agglomerate composition using the piston system.

A method of preparing reagents includes inserting a cartridge into an instrument. The cartridge includes a plurality of reagent enclosures disposed in a cavity of the cartridge and exposing a port to an exterior of the cartridge. Each reagent enclosure includes a reagent container including a reagent and an internal cavity defining a compressible volume, an opening defined through the reagent container to the internal cavity. The method further includes connecting a plurality of fluid ports to the openings of the plurality of reagent enclosures; applying a solution through the fluid ports to at least partially fill the plurality of reagent enclosures; and cycling a pressure of the cavity, whereby for each of the reagent enclosures, during increasing pressure, the solution enters the internal cavity of the reagent container, combines with the reagent, and compresses the compressible volume, and during decreasing pressure, the compressible volume decreases and the reagent is ejected through the opening.

A method of preparing reagents includes inserting a cartridge into an instrument. The cartridge includes a plurality of reagent enclosures disposed in a cavity of the cartridge and exposing a port to an exterior of the cartridge. Each reagent enclosure includes a reagent container including a reagent and an internal cavity defining a compressible volume, an opening defined through the reagent container to the internal cavity. The method further includes connecting a plurality of fluid ports to the openings of the plurality of reagent enclosures; applying a solution through the fluid ports to at least partially fill the plurality of reagent enclosures; and cycling a pressure of the cavity, whereby for each of the reagent enclosures, during increasing pressure, the solution enters the internal cavity of the reagent container, combines with the reagent, and compresses the compressible volume, and during decreasing pressure, the compressible volume decreases and the reagent is ejected through the opening.

Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.

Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.

The invention relates to foam production equipment comprising:a first module (A) comprising a principal outlet and delivering at said principal outlet a mixture comprising a principal liquid and at least one surfactant,a second module (B) coupled to the principal outlet of the first module (A) and producing a foam which comprises at least the principal liquid, the at least one surfactant and at least one principal active product, from the mixture delivered by the principal outlet of the first module (A), the mixture comprising the at least one principal active product or the second module (B) comprising, in addition, means configured such that the foam produced by the second module (B) comprises the at least one principal active product, characterized in that said at least one principal active product is chosen from dyes, fluorescent products, chemical and/or biological labels, irritant products, gases, products which destroy the muscle and/or thinking capacities of a living being and radar reflectors. The invention also relates to a foam which can be produced by such equipment and which advantageously has an expansion coefficient greater than 10.