Abstract: A vacuum pump lubricant supply system has a lubricant reservoir and a wicking element. The body portion has opposed major surfaces and a finger. The lubricant reservoir has a major surface engaging one of the opposed major surfaces of the body portion so that lubricant can migrate through the engaging major surfaces into the body portion. The finger projects from the body portion to engage a lubricant transfer device provided on a rotor shaft so that lubricant can wick from the body portion to the lubricant transfer device via the finger. The body portion has an edge provided with a cut-out so that the major surface of the body portion that engages the major surface of the lubricant container has a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the major surface of the lubricant container.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided having holder with a manipulating end and an absorbent probe on the opposing end. The probe is of hydrophilic polymer sized to directly absorb a predetermined volume of up to about 30 microliters of blood. Ribs on the holder position the probe within a compartment of a container to prevent contact with the container. The ribs also position the probe within extraction wells.

Abstract: A pump lubricant supply system has a lubricant reservoir and at least one contactor to engage a lubricant transfer device provided on a rotor shaft of a pump to transfer lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the lubricant transfer device via the at least one contactor. The lubricant reservoir includes at least a first reservoir portion formed of a first elongate strip of porous material wound to define a first lubricant container body having a longitudinal axis that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate strip.

Abstract: A pump lubricant supply system has a lubricant reservoir and at least one contactor to engage a lubricant transfer device provided on a rotor shaft of a pump to transfer lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the lubricant transfer device via the at least one contactor. The lubricant reservoir includes at least a first reservoir portion formed of a first elongate strip of porous material wound to define a first lubricant container body having a longitudinal axis that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate strip.

Abstract: A vacuum pump lubricant supply system has a lubricant reservoir and a wicking element. The body portion has opposed major surfaces and a finger. The lubricant reservoir has a major surface engaging one of the opposed major surfaces of the body portion so that lubricant can migrate through the engaging major surfaces into the body portion. The finger projects from the body portion to engage a lubricant transfer device provided on a rotor shaft so that lubricant can wick from the body portion to the lubricant transfer device via the finger. The body portion has an edge provided with a cut-out so that the major surface of the body portion that engages the major surface of the lubricant container has a total surface area that is less than the total surface area of the major surface of the lubricant container.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided having holder with a manipulating end and an absorbent probe on the opposing end. The probe is of hydrophilic polymer sized to directly absorb a predetermined volume of up to about 30 microliters of blood. Ribs on the holder position the probe within a compartment of a container to prevent contact with the container. The ribs also position the probe within extraction wells.

Abstract: An electrically operated tuning fork apparatus includes a tuning fork having a base and a pair of tines. The tines have tips remote from the base, and are formed of or include material in which a magnetic field can be induced. The tuning fork apparatus also includes an electrical coil configured to receive at least a portion of both tines of the tuning fork. At least one of the tines can be vibrated relative to the other of the tines by passing a varying current through the coil to induce mutually repulsive magnetic fields in the tines.

Abstract: This invention is a bridge- or structure- bearing enabling an upper member to be supported from a base by a sliding bearing permitting universal freedom of angular movement of the upper member. A low-friction bearing surface is provided by a P.T.F.E. layer located in relation to the base by having its edges engaged in a groove machined in the base around the bearing surface.