Abstract: A wicking material is disclosed that exhibits a horizontal wicking velocity of at least about 1.0 millimeter per second when contacted with a physiological fluid such as blood, lymph or cellular interstitial fluid. This high wicking rate is achieved by means of treatment of a fibrous wicking material candidate with a low temperature gas plasma, particularly a glow discharge gas plasma formed in a gaseous blend made up predominantly of a mixture of oxygen with a saturated alkane chosen from the group consisting of methane, ethane and propane. Diagnostic test strips made with the surface-modified wicking material, and containing an immobilized reagent means for analysis of an analyte in a physiological fluid, show improved performance in terms of increased accuracy, finer precision of analyses, reduced time of analysis, a smaller fluid sample size requirement, and improved compliance with manufacturing standards resulting in lower manufacturing costs blood sugar determinations.

Abstract: An exercise device has an outer tank containing a supply of liquid and an inner container with mechanism for receiving a portion of the liquid from the tank when the container is in a first position and mechanism for discharging the liquid from the container at a controlled rate when in a second position. The inner container is connected to an elongated member that extends out of the tank and may be pulled upon by the user. A conduit may supply liquid under pressure selectively to the liquid container, in response to user demand as indicated by activation of a switch, and the liquid may then drain from the container through the same or a different conduit, to the original reservoir or a drain; and in this embodiment the container need not enter the tank or reservoir.