Abstract: An air sampling device (1) for collecting airborne microorganisms comprising an air inlet piece (2), an air outlet piece (3) and a filter chamber (4) for receiving a filter (5) between the air inlet piece (2) and the air outlet piece (3) wherein the sampling device (1) comprises an openable fastener (6) to provide ease of access to the filter chamber (4).

Abstract: The method and system for monitoring cough comprises receiving audio signals or audio recordings, where said signals or audio recordings comprises one or more of silent segments, cough sound segments, speech segments and extraneous noise. The processing of said received sound signals or sound recordings comprise one or more of removing one or more speech components from speech segments to render the speech unintelligible and clipping said silent segments, wherein one or more speech components include vowel sounds. Further processing of said received audio signals or audio recordings further comprises compressing said audio signals or audio recordings. In the alternative, processing of audio signals or audio recordings comprises compressing a resultant signal after said removal of one or more speech components and/or clipping of silent segments from said audio signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to an exercise device (1) comprising a framework (3) having a base (5) and a plurality of up-rights (7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, 11a, 11b) protruding upwardly therefrom, the framework (3) further comprising a plurality of horizontal-in-use exercise bars (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 17, 19a, 19b), each of the upright supports (7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, 11a, 11b) being connected to at least one other upright support by way of an exercise bar (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 17, 19a, 19b). There are provided a plurality of exercise stations on the exercise device (1), each exercise station being capable of allowing a plurality of users perform an exercise simultaneously on that exercise station. A number of different exercises may be performed by a number of individuals at each of the exercise stations thereby allowing team training exercises and comparative analysis of team members exercises to be carried out.

Abstract: A portable hand-held spirometer apparatus is described. A main casing has a pair of opposed arms extending to one side thereof. A flow head component unit has a channel through which air may be blown, with formations in the channel imparting a rotary movement to air blown through the channel. A free-spinning vaned member is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coaxial with that of the channel. The flow head component unit has two open-ended recesses extending to either side of the vaned member and dimensioned to receive the opposed arms when the flow head component unit is fitted on to the main casing. This construction enables the successive use of detachable flow head components, each may be used once and then a batch of which may be sterilized before re-use.

Abstract: A converter comprises a first switch (102) for connecting an input DC voltage to a primary winding (103) of a transformer (104), a second switch (105) for connecting a reset voltage to the transformer, and first and second synchronous rectifiers (109, 110) within a filter circuit (108) for receiving an output voltage waveform from a secondary winding (107) of the transformer and generating therefrom a DC output voltage. The synchronous rectifiers are controlled by the secondary winding. A first one of the synchronous rectifiers (109) couples the secondary winding to an output terminal of the power supply to provide output power during part of the switching cycle. The second synchronous rectifier (110) serves as a “flywheel” for providing load current during a second part of the switching cycle when the first synchronous rectifier is off. The timing of the first and second switches is arranged to prevent simultaneous conduction of the synchronous rectifiers.

Abstract: A transformer (1) for a printed circuit board (2) is provided with physically separate flat metal windings (6) which are chosen to take the highest or the two highest currents handled by the transformer (1). The lower currents which will often include the power input to the primary are printed on the surfaces (3,4) of the printed circuit board (2). The flat metal windings (5) may be pre-assembled with the core halves (6,7).

Abstract: A converter comprises a first switch (102) for connecting an input DC voltage to a primary winding (103) of a transformer (104), a second switch (105) for connecting a reset voltage to the transformer, and first and second synchronous rectifiers (109, 110) within a filter circuit (108) for receiving an output voltage waveform from a secondary winding (107) of the transformer and generating therefrom a DC output voltage. The synchronous rectifiers are controlled by the secondary winding. A first one of the synchronous rectifiers (109) couples the secondary winding to an output terminal of the power supply to provide output power during part of the switching cycle. The second synchronous rectifier (110) serves as a "flywheel" for providing load current during a second part of the switching cycle when the first synchronous rectifier is off. The timing of the first and second switches is arranged to prevent simultaneous conduction of the synchronous rectifiers.