Merck + Co., Inc.

The Automation Partnership (Cambridge) Limited

Ucl Business Plc

Rheometron Ag

The Automation Partnership Ltd.

Stephen Owen

Adrian Neil Bargh

Justin Michael Owen

John R Archer

Richard H Gray

Nicholas J Sleep

Michael Kennedy

Andrew H Proudfoot

David E Cumpstey

Robert Albert Brown

Neil Emerton

Wolfgang Stumm

Timothy Andrew Large

Tijna Alekseeva

Michael Headlam Purser

Francis Michael Neves Zuzarte Tully

Graham S Gutsell

Manfred Hohloch

Walter Steffen

Tijna Aleekseeeeva

Robert Brown

This invention relates to apparatus, kits and methods for the production of biomimetic constructs by plastically compressing a gel, such as a collagen gel, in a well using a plunger, which may be porous. The apparatus, kits and methods allow biomimetic constructs to be produced in a controlled and reproducible manner and are suitable for the production of multilayered constructs.

Apparatus, kits and methods for the production of biomimetic constructs

A systemfor storing and processing a plurality of biological or chemical samples at ultra-low temperatures is provided. The systemcomprises a plurality of ultra-low temperature storage locationsan enclosed pathwayadjacent the storage locationsand a manipulator moduledisposed within the pathwayfor conveying vesselsalong the pathwaybetween the storage locationsin the systemEach of the storage locations being accessed through an insulated access panelon the side of the storage locationthe panelbeing configured to close the storage locationfrom the pathway

Ultra-low temperature storage system

A capper/de-capper systemhas a rack supportfor supporting a rackcontaining a plurality of capped tubesin a given position. A head unitsupports a two-dimensional array of capping/de-capping spindles, each of which includes a clutchand a capping/de-capping spigotor socket, the spindles being aligned with the tube positions defined in the rack. A drive mechanismmoves the tubes and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another in use, when a rack containing capped tubes is disposed in the rack support, causing engagement and disengagement of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets with and from the tube caps. A spindle drive system-provides simultaneous rotation of the capping/de-capping spigots or sockets together after engagement with the caps, either to detach caps from the tubes or attach caps to the tubes.

Tube capper/decapper

A systemfor storing and processing a plurality of biological or chemical samples at ultra-low temperatures is provided. The systemcomprises a plurality of ultra-low temperature storage locations; an enclosed pathwayadjacent the storage locations; and a manipulator moduledisposed within the pathwayfor conveying vesselsalong the pathwaybetween the storage locationsin the system. Each of the storage locations being accessed through an insulated access panelon the side of the storage location, the panelbeing configured to close the storage locationfrom the pathway

An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS. The PHS units are substantially identical, with DIP switch modifying operation of the controlling software thereof to implement different features at different points on the line. The pucks are recycled after each pass along the line. An initializing PHS wipes clean the puck data storage and, in a fail safe operation, marks it as a reject. The flexible filler station must mark the puck acceptable. Each subsequent PHS, following the flexible filler station, following a capper and following a label printer, may reject the puck if marked as a reject or if failing to meet various criteria

Customer specific packaging line

An automated packaging line for filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS. The PHS units are substantially identical, with DIP switch modifying operation of the controlling software thereof to implement different features at different points on the line.

Customer specific packaging line having containers with tag means containing medication order information

A laser drilling process capable of producing a plurality of holes in a pharmaceutical dosage form, at high speed, is presented. The process utilizes a high power CO.sub.2 laser steered by an acousto-optic deflector together with various mirrors and optical components to achieve the correct beam path geometry, in order to produce an unlimited number of holes through the surface or coating of a dosage form, at rates up to 100,000 units or more per hour.

Process for producing a plurality of holes in dosage forms using a laser

A system and method for automatically feeding, inspecting and diverting tablets for continuous filling of tablet containers includes a tablet conveyor system which divides the tablets in a plurality of tablet streams for inspection by color, size and shape. Following the tablet inspection, each tablet passes through a tablet diverter which diverts the tablets to a recycle stream, reject stream or one of two bottle filling positions based upon instruction from the inspection. A bottle conveyor system is provided which feeds empty bottles into a bottle escapement mechanism which positions the empty bottles for filling. Filled bottles are moved from the bottle escapement mechanism to an exit conveyor. The entire system is computer controlled by various control mechanisms to enable the system to be fully operational without operator assistance.

System and method for automatically feeding, inspecting and diverting

A mass flow meter for flowing media with equipment for determining the coriolis force consists of a helicoidally bent measuring tube provided with two tube loops whose inflow and outflow ends are fastened to a massive cast block and between whose oppositely pivotable tube loops are arranged an oscillator and two sensors measuring the torsional oscillations. For a more compact stiffening and an improved clamping of the measuring tube at the cast block, the two tube loops are in each case ovally bent in one plane, extend approximately parallel to one another and are provided on one longitudinal side in each case with two tube sections lying opposite to one another in an alignment line (x.sub.1 --x.sub.1 or x.sub.2 --x.sub.2). Of these sections, two are crosswise connected through a central tube part extending between the two loops and the two other tube sections are joined to the tube inflow and outflow ends which extend in opposite directions in a curved shape between the two tube loops and which run coaxially to the longitudinal sides to the outside. The tube loops are clamped and welded to the cast block in the area of these four tube sections.

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Royston, United Kingdom

Stephen Owen