Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for automating the performance of a conjugate or sandwich assay, and a cassette for use with the system. The cassette comprises a fluid conduit and one or more chambers in the fluid conduit, from which a measurement may be acquired from a sample using a cassette reader device. Sample and reagent fluids may be caused to flow along the fluid conduit to perform the assay and control over the progress of the assay may be exerted at least in part by the arrangement of chambers in the fluid conduit. Also disclosed is a tablet or bead for use with the assay system, which may be incorporated in the cassette. The tablet or bead may comprise one or more reagents to be used in the assay, in a soluble matrix. Use of an acridan or acridinium ester label may enable a sensitive measurement to be rapidly acquired. The assay may be configured to be performed by a clinician at the point of use or care.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for the exercise of a user's gluteus muscles through a supported seated squat downward from an upper starting position and a upward return movement has a base, a pair of user foot support ramps mounted to the base for supporting the toe portions of the feet with the heels on the floor, a pair of spaced fixed uprights mounted to the base and located forward of the foot supports terminating in a pair of hand grips. A buttocks support assembly with an angled buttocks support pad is pivotally mounted to the uprights, and a compressible linkage connects the pad assembly to the base. The linkage provides an opposing force to the downward travel of the support assembly and a boost restoring force to the support assembly for returning the support pad to an upper starting position. The user provides a controlled descent from an initial upper position to a squat and a controlled return from the squat to the upper position.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for the exercise of a user's gluteus muscles through a supported seated squat downward from an upper starting position and a upward return movement has a base, a pair of user foot support ramps mounted to the base for supporting the toe portions of the feet with the heels on the floor, a pair of spaced fixed uprights mounted to the base and located forward of the foot supports terminating in a pair of hand grips. A buttocks support assembly with an angled buttocks support pad is pivotally mounted to the uprights, and a compressible linkage connects the pad assembly to the base. The linkage provides an opposing force to the downward travel of the support assembly and a boost restoring force to the support assembly for returning the support pad to an upper starting position. The user provides a controlled descent from an initial upper position to a squat and a controlled return from the squat to the upper position.

Abstract: The specification describes a cartridge for insertion into a meter, the interior of the meter comprising a boss having a main body and a protrusion extending from the main body. The cartridge comprises an orientation member provided at one end of the cartridge, the orientation member comprising a recess having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the boss and configured to receive the boss therein, the orientation member further comprising a ramp surrounding at least part of the portion of the recess corresponding to the main body, the portion of the recess which corresponds to the protrusion adjoining the lower end of the ramp via a step.

Abstract: A cartridge for insertion into a meter comprises: a plurality of cartridge brackets disposed on an inner wall of the cartridge; a spindle mounted so as to be rotatable within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in first and second directions within the cartridge; and a plurality of testing members each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets, each of the testing members including a hole through which the spindle is located, the spindle having a plurality of spindle brackets disposed on an outer surface thereof, each spindle bracket being movable between first and second positions wherein in the first position the spindle bracket's distal end is at a first distance radially from the longitudinal axis of the spindle and wherein in the second position the spindle bracket's distal end is at a greater distance radially from the longitudinal axis of the spindle, and wherein when a given one of the spindle brackets is in the second position its distal end is l

Abstract: A cartridge (700) for insertion into a meter comprises: a plurality of cartridge brackets (704) disposed on an inner wall (703) of the cartridge; a spindle (702) mounted so as to be rotatable within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in first and second directions within the cartridge; and a plurality of testing members (708) each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets, each of the testing members including) a hole (306) through which the spindle is located, the spindle having a plurality of spindle brackets (706) disposed on an outer surface thereof, each spindle bracket being movable between first and second positions.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing and a testing member is mounted on the shaft which rotates with the shaft. A lancing member is pivotably mounted to the testing member and a lancet protrudes from the lancing member. The lancing member is arranged to pivot relative to the testing member from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet extends into or through the aperture when the testing member is rotated so that the lancing member is coincident with the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented having a housing, the housing has an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user. A light emitting part is supported by the housing and at least one proximity sensor is disposed within the housing. A controller is configured to receive signals from the at least one proximity sensor and to determine from the signals whether a body part protrudes by a required amount within the aperture. The control of the appearance of the light emitting part according to the determination.

Abstract: A cartridge (700) for insertion into a meter comprises: a plurality of cartridge brackets (704) disposed on an inner wall (703) of the cartridge; a spindle (702) mounted so as to be rotatable within the cartridge and movable longitudinally in first and second directions within the cartridge; and a plurality of testing members (708) each arranged to be supported temporarily by at least one of the plurality of cartridge brackets, each of the testing members including) a hole (306) through which the spindle is located, the spindle having a plurality of spindle brackets (706) disposed on an outer surface thereof, each spindle bracket being movable between first and second positions.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing and a testing member is mounted on the shaft which rotates with the shaft. A lancing member is pivotably mounted to the testing member and a lancet protrudes from the lancing member. The lancing member is arranged to pivot relative to the testing member from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet extends into or through the aperture when the testing member is rotated so that the lancing member is coincident with the aperture.

Abstract: The specification describes a cartridge for insertion into a meter, the interior of the meter comprising a boss having a main body and a protrusion extending from the main body. The cartridge comprises an orientation member provided at one end of the cartridge, the orientation member comprising a recess having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the boss and configured to receive the boss therein, the orientation member further comprising a ramp surrounding at least part of the portion of the recess corresponding to the main body, the portion of the recess which corresponds to the protrusion adjoining the lower end of the ramp via a step.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing. A first part of a testing member is mounted on the shaft and a second part of a testing member is configured to co-rotate with the first part. A lancet protrudes radially from the second part. The second part is configured, in the presence of a force exerted against the testing member by an actuator, to translate relative to the first part from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet is displaced towards the aperture.

Abstract: A meter configured to perform a blood analysis is presented where the meter has a housing, the housing having an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user. The meter also having a plurality of light sources supported by the housing and a controller configured to control the plurality of light sources to indicate an operational status of the apparatus.

Abstract: A cartridge configured to be inserted into a meter, the cartridge comprising: a housing having at least two electrical contacts disposed on an inner surface of a wall of the housing and at least two electrical contacts disposed on an outer surface of the wall of the housing, wherein a conductive path is provided between corresponding ones of the at least two electrical contacts on the inner and outer surfaces; and at least one testing member supported within the housing, each testing member having at least two contact pads configured to engage with the at least two electrical contacts disposed on the inner surface of the housing wall when that testing member is moved into a measurement position, wherein the at least two electrical contacts disposed on the outer surface of the housing wall are configured to provide a conductive connection between the testing member and the meter.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises plural blood testing discs, each blood testing disc including a lancet and a blood collection and testing part. Each of the discs has a generally circular shape with a cutout at one side thereof. The lancet of each disc is supported at the periphery of the disc at a location that does not coincide with the cutout. The cartridge includes a side face having an aperture formed therein. The discs are supported in a rotatable manner on a common longitudinal axis. In a non-operational condition, the cutouts of the discs are located in a close proximity to and facing the side face of the cartridge and in an operational condition a disc that is coincident with the aperture is permitted to rotate on the longitudinal axis such that the part of the disc on which the lancet is supported passes through the aperture to allow lancing.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliciting a blood sample comprises a housing, an aperture in a wall of the housing, an aperture cover moveable between a first position in which the aperture is covered and a second position in which the aperture is uncovered, the aperture cover comprising a sealing member configured to seal the aperture on a first side of the wall when the aperture cover is in the first position and a user-contactable part extending from the sealing member through the aperture to the second side of the wall and configured to allow a user to move the aperture cover between the first and second positions.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a housing having an aperture configured to receive a body part of a user, a capacitive sensor supported on the housing and a controller configured to use the capacitive sensor to determine whether a body part of a user is present within the aperture and to permit lancing of the body part only when it is determined that the body part of the user is present in the aperture.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for eliciting a blood sample. The apparatus has a housing having an aperture. A shaft extends in the housing and is received through a hole in a test member. A lancet protrudes radially from the test member. The hole is configured to allow the test member to translate relative to the shaft, in the presence of a force exerted on the test member by an actuator, from a retracted position to a skin penetrating position in which the lancet is displaced towards the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treatment of oil with a lipolytic enzyme which comprises contacting of the oil with particles of base-containing porous amorphous silica.