Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (10) that scans a subject with beams of high frequency sound. The probe (10) includes a transducer (26) to produce high frequency sound waves, a means to steer the sound waves in the proper direction, a printed circuit board (22) with a non-volatile memory (38), a micro electrico-mechanical accelerometer integrated circuit (32) and an outlet connector (19). The accelerometer (32) is configured to detect the movement of the probe (10) in from two to three axes when the probe (10) is rotated or moved in a linear direction to allow the probe (10) to detect images from more than one plane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (10) that scans a subject with beams of high frequency sound. The probe (10) includes a transducer (26) to produce high frequency sound waves, a means to steer the sound waves in the proper direction, a printed circuit board (22) with a non-volatile memory (38), a micro electrico-mechanical accelerometer integrated circuit (32) and an outlet connector (19). The accelerometer (32) is configured to detect the movement of the probe (10) in from two to three axes when the probe (10) is rotated or moved in a linear direction to allow the probe (10) to detect images from more than one plane.

Abstract: This invention provides a reader device (10) for a test strip (14) (in particular an immunoassay test strip). The reader device has a channel (12) for receiving the test strip, and a movable sensor (26, 28, 30) located adjacent to said channel. The sensor comprises a source of radiation (26) and a detector (28, 30) for detecting the intensity of emitted radiation. The reader device also has a calibrating attenuator (50) allowing variations in the intensity of radiation emitted by the source to be detected and thereby eliminated or compensated. The invention also provides a method of using the reader device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nebulizer comprising an electrically energizable ultrasonic transducer having an oscillation frequency dependent current and voltage characteristic exhibiting the occurrence of a minimum magnitude of current through the transducer at an anti-resonance frequency of the transducer, the voltage across the transducer increasing with an increase in frequency within a range of frequencies including said anti-resonance frequency. The nebulizer further comprises a transducer drive system for generating a drive signal for energising the transducer, the drive system comprising oscillation frequency control means operable to maintain the frequency of the drive signal at a specific frequency within said range of frequencies by reference to the variation of both current through the transducer and voltage across the transducer with a change of frequency within the said frequency range.