Abstract: Devices for sampling gastro-intestinal material are disclosed. In one arrangement a device comprises a capsule body that has a sample input valve. A suction mechanism is provided that is capable of generating a partial vacuum within the capsule body and thereby drawing gastro-intestinal material into the capsule body through the sample input valve. An actuator actuates the suction mechanism. The actuator comprises a dissolvable element and is configured so that the dissolvable element dissolves in a predetermined region of the gastro-intestinal tract and the dissolving of the dissolvable element causes actuation of the suction mechanism. The suction mechanism comprises a biasing member restrained by the dissolvable element prior to actuation of the suction mechanism. The dissolving of the dissolvable element releases the biasing member. The biasing member expands a sample chamber within the capsule body on release of the biasing member, and generates the partial vacuum within the capsule body.

Abstract: A Savonius vertical axis wind turbine rotor has first and second curved vanes having remote substantially vertical edges widely spaced form each other, and proximate substantially vertical edges more closely horizontally spaced from each other and horizontally overlapping are associated with a substantially vertical central shaft construction. The shaft construction is operatively connected to the vanes and mounts the vanes and adjacent the proximate edges. The central shaft construction may comprise a perforated shaft (e.g. a single perforated shaft), or multiple shafts. In any event, the shaft construction, and mounting of the rotor vanes, allow, during use, spillover of wind from the proximate edge of one vane to another vane during powered rotation of the vanes in response to wind. The rotor is preferably omni-directional. The rotor may have a third set of vanes, and different vertically spaced sets of vanes circumferentially offset with respect to each other.