Devices and methods are provided for continuous measurement of an analyte concentration. The device can include a sensor having a plurality of sensor elements, each having at least one characteristic that is different from other sensor(s) of the device. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensor elements are each tuned to measure a different range of analyte concentration, thereby providing the device with the capability of achieving a substantially consistent level of measurement accuracy across a physiologically relevant range. In other embodiments, the device includes a plurality of sensor elements each tuned to measure during different time periods after insertion or implantation, thereby providing the sensor with the capability to continuously and accurately measure analyte concentrations across a wide range of time periods. For example, a sensor system 180 is provided having a first working electrode 150 comprising a first sensor element 102 and a second working electrode 160 comprising a second sensor element 104, and a reference electrode 108 for providing a reference value for measuring the working electrode potential of the sensor elements 102, 104.

A transfer and coating apparatus transfers a component from a conveyor to a coating station for application of a coating. The transfer apparatus includes a mast that can move about orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane and a mast having a carriage that can move vertically. The carriage includes a hook that swings about a horizontal axis relative to the mast for movement of the component in the horizontal direction. A sway bar extends between the hook and component to inhibit movement about a horizontal axis. The component is delivered to an upper compartment of a coating apparatus where it can be lowered in to a lower compartment containing coating material. Excess coating material is removed by an array of nozzles in the upper compartment as the component is raised from the coating material.

A transfer and coating apparatus transfers a component from a conveyor to a coating station for application of a coating. The transfer apparatus includes a mast that can move about orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane and a mast having a carriage that can move vertically. The carriage includes a hook that swings about a horizontal axis relative to the mast for movement of the component in the horizontal direction. A sway bar extends between the hook and component to inhibit movement about a horizontal axis. The component is delivered to an upper compartment of a coating apparatus where it can be lowered in to a lower compartment containing coating material. Excess coating material is removed by an array of nozzles in the upper compartment as the component is raised from the coating material.

A coating system includes a plurality of liquid immersion workstations positioned along an arcuate path, the plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a single complete coating process for a sequence of objects. A plurality of curing workstations are configured to independently receive objects of the sequence of objects exiting the plurality of liquid immersion workstations. An articulated robotic arm has a base positioned inside the arcuate path in top plan view such that the robotic arm is operable to carry each object of the sequence of objects through each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations and to exactly one of the plurality of curing workstations. An articulated robotic hand is provided at a distal end of the robotic arm and configured to grasp and hold each of the objects and to oscillate the object while submerged in each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.

A coating system includes a plurality of liquid immersion workstations positioned along an arcuate path, the plurality of liquid immersion workstations defining a single complete coating process for a sequence of objects. A plurality of curing workstations are configured to independently receive objects of the sequence of objects exiting the plurality of liquid immersion workstations. An articulated robotic arm has a base positioned inside the arcuate path in top plan view such that the robotic arm is operable to carry each object of the sequence of objects through each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations and to exactly one of the plurality of curing workstations. An articulated robotic hand is provided at a distal end of the robotic arm and configured to grasp and hold each of the objects and to oscillate the object while submerged in each of the plurality of liquid immersion workstations.

A coating tank 1 provided with a net belt passage opening is prepared, a slurry obtained by dispersing a rare-earth-compound powder in a solvent is continuously supplied to the coating tank 1 to cause the coating tank 1 to overflow, and a plurality of sintered magnet bodies 10 are arranged on a net belt conveyor 5, continuously conveyed horizontally thereon, and passed through the slurry in the coating tank 1 via the net belt passage opening, to apply the slurry to the sintered magnet bodies. The slurry is subsequently dried to continuously apply the powder to the plurality of sintered magnet bodies. As a result, the rare-earth-compound powder can be uniformly applied to the surfaces of the sintered magnet bodies, and the application operation can be performed extremely efficiently.

A coating tank 1 provided with a net belt passage opening is prepared, a slurry obtained by dispersing a rare-earth-compound powder in a solvent is continuously supplied to the coating tank 1 to cause the coating tank 1 to overflow, and a plurality of sintered magnet bodies 10 are arranged on a net belt conveyor 5, continuously conveyed horizontally thereon, and passed through the slurry in the coating tank 1 via the net belt passage opening, to apply the slurry to the sintered magnet bodies. The slurry is subsequently dried to continuously apply the powder to the plurality of sintered magnet bodies. As a result, the rare-earth-compound powder can be uniformly applied to the surfaces of the sintered magnet bodies, and the application operation can be performed extremely efficiently.

A centrifuge basket includes a support basket with a support base and a support wall circumferentially extending around a basket axis of the centrifuge basket. The support base and the support wall have a plurality of through openings with passage areas of at most 500 square millimeters, and a filter fabric which is arranged in the support basket and covers the support base and the support wall on the inside. The filter fabric includes, viewed in a cross-section through the centrifuge basket, a plurality of regions distributed over a circumference which are formed radially inwards with respect to a circular basic shape of the filter fabric.

This application relates to a dip coating apparatus for coating a medical assist device such as a catheter or guidewire to a uniform thickness. The apparatus includes a casing and a coating booth disposed in the casing and containing a coating fluid. The apparatus also includes an elevating member vertically movable in the casing and configured to hold an upper end of each of medical assist devices so that the medical assist devices can be hung. The apparatus further includes a position adjusting member for adjusting the height of the elevating member, and a controller for controlling operation of the position adjusting member. The coating booth includes a coating unit having the same length as each medical assist device and a hopper-shaped guide unit that guides a bundle of the medical assist devices to be inserted into the coating unit when the guide unit contacts the medical assist devices.

This application relates to a dip coating apparatus for coating a medical assist device such as a catheter or guidewire to a uniform thickness. The apparatus includes a casing and a coating booth disposed in the casing and containing a coating fluid. The apparatus also includes an elevating member vertically movable in the casing and configured to hold an upper end of each of medical assist devices so that the medical assist devices can be hung. The apparatus further includes a position adjusting member for adjusting the height of the elevating member, and a controller for controlling operation of the position adjusting member. The coating booth includes a coating unit having the same length as each medical assist device and a hopper-shaped guide unit that guides a bundle of the medical assist devices to be inserted into the coating unit when the guide unit contacts the medical assist devices.