Abstract: According to a second aspect, the present invention also provides an apparatus for the evaluation of a flat test carrier for the analytical determination of components of a body fluid, said apparatus having a measurement unit and a positioning means, by means of which the test carrier is positioned and firmly held in a measurement position in such a manner that its test field is present in a definite position with regard to the measurement unit, wherein, for the evaluation of test carriers with a covering layer fixed in the manner of a flap on one edge of the test carrier, there is present a shutter element with a contact surface for pressing on the covering layer, the aperture element and/or the positioning means being mounted and operable in such a manner that the contact surface in the last phase of approaching the covering layer makes, relative to the test carrier, a tilting movement about a tilting axis which lies in close proximity to a fixing edge of the covering layer.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for the evaluation of a longitudinally extending, flexible test carrier for the analytical determination of components of a body fluid. The test carrier has an insertion end to be inserted into the apparatus and a handling end. The test carrier is positioned and securely held in a measurement position in such a manner that its test field is present in a definite position with regard to the measurement unit. The positioning element includes at least two holding elements, one of which firmly holds the test carrier close to its insertion end and the other of which firmly holds the test carrier close to its handling end. A supporting surface being provided on which the test carrier lies at least partly in its measurement position.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for making a test strip and a test strip made by such method having a longitudinally extending carrier and a test field thereon. The carrier has a layer of magnetizable material thereon in which an amount of data for the storage of information has been applied in the longitudinal direction of the magnetizable material. The carrier has a recess near each end thereof adapted to provide a required alignment and positioning of the strip.

Abstract: A blood lancet device for taking blood for diagnostic purposes, having a housing with an exit opening for the lancet, a lancet guide for guiding the puncturing and return movement of the lancet, a spring drive for movement of the lancet and a stop by means of which the lancet is held in a position remote from the part of the body from which blood is to be taken. In the region of the exit opening for the lancet, a release element is present in the housing, the release element being in operative connection with the stop.

Abstract: A device for positioning and firmly holding a test strip for optical-medical measurements, comprising a housing with a reception opening having a stop at the inner end for the test strip and a window which is positioned opposite the test zone of the test strip when it is inserted into the reception opening and it lies against the stop. The device also comprises a pressing mechanism acting substantially at right-angles on the rear side of the test strip, which pressing mechanism, when inserting a test strip, is in a rest position remote from the test strip and, when the test strip is lying against the stop, is adapted to move into a pressing position in which it presses the test strip against the window, the pressing force of said pressing mechanism being substantially uniform in the positions corresponding to various thicknesses of the test strips.

Abstract: Minicomputer including a computing unit, numeral, function and clearing inputs, a fixed-program memory and selectively freely-programmable memories, and a readout or display unit including a selector switch for calculating and converting in two systems of units selectively connectible to the fixed-program memory and the computing unit, the fixed-program memory having means for storing and reading out conversion factors and, selectively inverse values thereof as well as a corresponding dimension, the fixed-program memory having a respective input connected to a factor selection unit and to a call-up unit for the dimension of the respective selected factor and inverse value, and having a respective output connected to the computing unit and to the readout or display unit.