Abstract: A method of securing a balcony to a façade of a building, an activatable balcony fixing, a balcony, and a kit. The method comprising the steps of: aligning the balcony with a projection of the façade, such that an activatable balcony fixing including a shaft, attached to the balcony, is aligned with a socket in the projection; driving the shaft through the socket in the projection, thereby securing the balcony to the façade; and locking the balcony to the façade through one or more further fixings, wherein the shaft and/or the socket in the projection are configured so as to provide tapering engagement between the shaft and the socket.

Abstract: A device may include an input component and a focus control component. The focus control component may receive, from the input component, an input associated with adjusting a focus of a field of view of the device. The focus control component may determine whether an area of interest is present in the field of view. The focus control component may adjust, based on determining that the area of interest is not present in the field of view, the focus of the field of view at a focus speed associated with the input, or, based on determining that the area of interest is present in the field of view, may determine one or more parameters for modifying the focus speed, modify the focus speed based on the one or more parameters, and adjust the focus of the field of view at the modified focus speed.

Abstract: An assay device is disclosed comprising a housing and a test portion, electronic circuitry and an optical assembly each a least partially located in the housing. The test portion comprises one or more test zones adapted to receive an analyte and a fluorescent label associated with the analyte, the fluorescent label being excitable by excitation light and adapted to emit emission light upon excitation by excitation light. The electronic circuitry comprises one or more light sources and one or more light detectors. The optical assembly comprises one or more excitation light guides adapted to guide excitation light from the one or more light sources to the one or more test zones, and/or one or more emission light guides adapted to guide emission light from the one or more test zone to the one or more light detectors.

Abstract: A device may include an input component and a focus control component. The focus control component may receive, from the input component, an input associated with adjusting a focus of a field of view of the device. The focus control component may determine whether an area of interest is present in the field of view. The focus control component may adjust, based on determining that the area of interest is not present in the field of view, the focus of the field of view at a focus speed associated with the input, or, based on determining that the area of interest is present in the field of view, may determine one or more parameters for modifying the focus speed, modify the focus speed based on the one or more parameters, and adjust the focus of the field of view at the modified focus speed.

Abstract: A device may include an input component and a focus control component. The focus control component may receive, from the input component, an input associated with adjusting a focus of a field of view of the device. The focus control component may determine whether an area of interest is present in the field of view. The focus control component may adjust, based on determining that the area of interest is not present in the field of view, the focus of the field of view at a focus speed associated with the input, or, based on determining that the area of interest is present in the field of view, may determine one or more parameters for modifying the focus speed, modify the focus speed based on the one or more parameters, and adjust the focus of the field of view at the modified focus speed.

Abstract: A device may capture, using a camera associated with the device, a first image of a first set of optical fibers associated with an optical connector within a field of view of the camera. The device may determine that an actual distance of a relative movement of the camera and the optical connector and an expected distance of the relative movement of the camera and the optical connector fail to match. The device may perform one or more actions after determining that the actual distance and the expected distance fail to match.

Abstract: Methods and assays for performing a lateral flow test are disclosed. A sample is applied to a receiving portion of a lateral flow device such that the sample flows to at least a first test zone and a second test zone. First and second signals levels at the first and second test zones over an assay period are monitored. If a first analyte of interest is present in the sample, the first analyte is labelled and the presence of labelled first analyte in the sample causes one of the first and second signals levels to increase during the assay period. A change between the first and second signal levels over a period of time during the assay period is monitored. The sample can be incubated prior to application to the receiving portion to provide homogeneity to labelling and therefore a substantially linear increase of the signal level at one of the test zones and a substantially constant signal level at the other one of the test zones.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for identifying at least a first target condition in a human or animal body. The apparatus comprises one or more test portions for identifying a first analyte in a biological sample from the body, the first analyte providing a marker of the first target condition, and a second analyte in the biological sample, the second analyte being different from the first analyte. The apparatus is configured to identify the first target condition in the body based on the identification of both the first and second analytes. In one embodiment, the first target condition is pregnancy, the first analyte is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and the second analyte is luteinizing hormone (LH).

Abstract: In some embodiments a diagnostic system is disclosed including a test device for performing diagnostic analysis of a biological sample from a human or animal body, the test device having an assay and a reader to analyse the sample and determine one or more biological conditions and to generate a result data signal containing information on the determination of the one or more biological conditions. The system also comprises a base device to releasably receive the test device, receive the result data signal from the test device, and display results of testing based on the received result data signal. In some embodiments a fluid receptacle is configured to be releasably retained to a test device, the test device comprising a housing, the housing having an engagement element for releasably retaining the fluid receptacle on an outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to nanoparticle aggregates and to methods for preparing nanoparticle aggregates in a controlled manner The nanoparticle aggregates are useful in a variety of applications including detection and quantitation assays. In one illustrative example, the nanoparticle aggregates are particularly useful in medical diagnostic applications.

Abstract: An assay device is disclosed comprising a housing and a test portion, electronic circuitry and an optical assembly each a least partially located in the housing. The test portion comprises one or more test zones adapted to receive an analyte and a fluorescent label associated with the analyte, the fluorescent label being excitable by excitation light and adapted to emit emission light upon excitation by excitation light. The electronic circuitry comprises one or more light sources and one or more light detectors. The optical assembly comprises one or more excitation light guides adapted to guide excitation light from the one or more light sources to the one or more test zones, and/or one or more emission light guides adapted to guide emission light from the one or more test zone to the one or more light detectors.

Abstract: A sampling device for collecting and dispensing a sample is disclosed, the sampling device including a sample collector having an absorbent portion configured to collect a sample and a receiving section configured to receive the sample collector after the collection of the sample. In one embodiment, the receiving section includes a dropper, the sample collector configured to be secured to the dropper, the dropper defining an internal chamber in which the absorbent portion of the sample collector is received when the sample collector is secured to the dropper; and a base releasably engaged with the dropper and at least partially housing the dropper, wherein the dropper is configured to be released from the base to allow dispensing of the sample from the dropper. In one embodiment, the absorbent portion interferes with a surface of an internal chamber of the receiving section. In one embodiment, a length adapter for the sample collector is employed and, in another embodiment, a desiccant housing is employed.

Abstract: An assay device is disclosed comprising a housing (10) and a test portion (2), electronic circuitry (30) and an optical assembly (41), each at least partially located in the housing (10). The test portion (2) comprises one or more test zones (2E, 2F) adapted to receive an analyte (22) and a fluorescent label associated with the analyte, the fluorescent label being excitable by excitation light and adapted to emit emission light upon excitation by excitation light. The electronic circuitry (30) comprises one or more light sources (31, 32) and one or more light detectors (33). The optical assembly (41-44) comprises one or more excitation light guides (41, 44) adapted to guide excitation light from the one or more light sources (31, 32) to the one or more test zones (2e, 2f), and/or one or more emission light guides (43, 44) adapted to guide emission light from the one or more test zones (2e, 2f) to the one or more light detectors (33).

Abstract: A device may capture, using a camera associated with the device, a first image of a first set of optical fibers associated with an optical connector within a field of view of the camera. The device may determine that an actual distance of a relative movement of the camera and the optical connector and an expected distance of the relative movement of the camera and the optical connector fail to match. The device may perform one or more actions after determining that the actual distance and the expected distance fail to match.

Abstract: An end cap mounted on the stator element is provided with the same cut-out as arranged on the stator segment so that both parts can be secured on a retainer system for winding processing. The end cap are arranged to retain insulating materials.

Abstract: A device (1) is provided that is configured to indicate the presence or absence of one or more biological entities in a biological sample. The device comprises a sampling portion (11), the sampling portion comprising flexible material adjustably conformable to a part of a human or animal body, at least a portion of the sampling portion being absorbent and configured to receive a biological sample directly from the body; and a test portion (12) in fluid engagement with the sampling portion, the test portion comprising one or more test zones (14). The sampling portion and test portion are configured such that at least a portion of the sample received by the sampling portion is transferable to the test portion such as to contact one or more of the test zones, and wherein each test zone is configured to indicate the presence or absence of one or more biological entities in the sample.