Abstract: A filtration assembly is provided that includes a tubular container shaped so as to define a proximal container opening for receiving a liquid specimen sample. A plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod, and is insertable into the tubular container via the proximal container opening. A filter support is shaped so as to define a support surface on which a filter is removably disposed, and a plurality of filtrate-passage openings through the filter support into a waste liquid receptacle. The filtration assembly is configured such that provision of gas from a source of gas, when the liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and the filter is disposed on the support surface, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter and the filtrate-passage openings and into the waste liquid receptacle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A kit is provided that includes an extraction tube or a transport tube; a filter, a liquid for bathing the filter within the tube; and a filter shaft. The filter shaft includes a distal portion that is coupled to a central portion of the filter. The filter shaft is configured to insert the filter into the tube for bathing the filter in the liquid. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for testing a liquid specimen sample is provided, the method including placing the liquid specimen sample in a tubular container of a filtration assembly of a sampling device. Thereafter, the liquid specimen sample is brought into contact with a filter removably disposed on a support surface defined by a filter support of the filtration assembly, while a filter-withdrawal shaft of the sampling device is coupled to the filter. Thereafter, at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample is driven through the filter and a plurality of filtrate-passage openings defined by the filter support. The filter-withdrawal shaft is withdrawn from the filtration assembly, thereby removing the filter from the support surface and from the filtration assembly, while leaving the filter support within the filtration assembly. Thereafter, the filter is tested for the presence of biological particulate trapped by the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A filter unit (20, 320, 420, 820, 1020) is provided that includes a filtration chamber (30, 330, 430, 830, 1030) and a filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032). A filter cartridge (28, 128, 328, 428, 528, 728, 828, 1028) of the filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032) includes a support shell (44, 144, 344, 444, 744, 844) and a filter (60, 860) coupled to a support-shell side wall (50, 350, 850) so as to cover support-shell side openings (52, 352, 852). A handle (62, 162, 262, 362, 662, 762, 862, 1062) of the filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032) is coupled to a proximal end of the support shell (44, 144, 344, 444, 744, 844).

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a filter-collection receptacle disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the filter-collection receptacle while the filter-collection receptacle is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a collection vial disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the collection vial while the collection vial is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes introducing a fluid sample (19) into a fluid container (2, 502, 702) of a filtration assembly (20, 500, 720) and passing the fluid sample (19) through a porous filter (5, 705) by distally advancing a plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), thereby capturing, on or within the porous filter (5, 705) at least a portion of any particulate present in the fluid sample (19). Thereafter, a cavity (28, 628, 728) is created within the fluid container (2, 502, 702) between a distal end of the plunger and a distal end (49, 549, 749) of the fluid container (2, 502, 702) by proximally partially withdrawing the plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), while one or more vacuum-prevention openings (11, 711) are open. An extraction liquid (30) is prepared by introducing one or more extraction reagents (29) into the cavity (28, 628, 728) and bathing the porous filter (5, 705).

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes collecting, from a patient, gargled fluid that potentially contains a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a bacterium and a virus; passing the gargled fluid through a filter; and subsequently, testing for the presence of the particulate trapped by the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for providing data regarding a given primary eyewear to a remote data processing center where the data is processed to yield production instructions for producing a clip-on for the primary eyewear. The production instructions are provided to one or more remote production units. Preferably, the site providing data regarding the primary eyewear and the site for producing the secondary eyewear object are the same site.

Abstract: A method for providing data regarding a given primary eyewear to a remote data processing center where the data is processed to yield production instructions for producing a clip-on for the primary eyewear. The production instructions are provided to one or more remote production units. Preferably, the site providing data regarding the primary eyewear and the site for producing the secondary eyewear object are the same site.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement for use with a curved lens having a first face, a second face and a bore passing between them and having a longitudinal axis slanted to the lens's faces, for attaching to the lens a component at the first face of the lens. The fastening arrangement comprises a fastener having a lens-face engaging portion adapted to engage the second face of the lens and a component engaging portion entering the bore at the second face, and further comprises a fastener engaging portion in the component adapted to engage the component engaging portion of the fastener. All the engaging portions are designed so that when the component and curved lens are assembled, the lens-face engaging portion is oriented along the second face. The invention further relates an eyeglass assembly comprising such a fastening arrangement and associated components and fasteners.

Abstract: A milling machine for shaping blanks to create filter lenses for a clip-on accessory whose pair of filter lenses register with a pair of optical lenses in prescription eyeglasses when the accessory is hitched onto the frame of the eyeglasses. The frame of the eyeglasses is composed of two like half sections having a predetermined geometry, an optical lens being mounted in each half-section. The filter lenses in the accessory which are joined by a bridge piece have a geometry matching that of the half-sections of the frame whereby the appearance of the clip-on accessory is compatible with that of the eyeglasses.

Abstract: A machine for shaping blanks to create a lens, the machine comprising a pair of worktables each to support one of the blanks to be shaped, and each to be driven by a first motor, a drill bit unit provided with a rotatable drill bit, an elevator supporting the drill bit unit and shiftable along a vertical axis to raise or lower the drill bit with respect to the blank on each worktable, and a second motor for driving the elevator, a carriage carrying said elevator and shiftable along a horizontal axis to move the drill bit back and forth with respect to said blanks, said carriage being driven by a third motor, and a processor adapted to coordinate the operation of the first, second and third motors to cause the drill bit to shape the blanks to form the lenses of a desired geometry.

Abstract: A system for imaging eyeglasses having lenses, and obtaining data indicative of the outline of the eyeglasses and designated locations associated with the outline. The system includes a positioning device for placing the eyeglasses. The system further includes a short focal length imaging device for acquiring an image of the eyeglasses. The system further includes a processor and a display configured to calculate an editable outline for each eyepiece of the eyeglasses and display the outline and the image, such that the editable outline can be compared to a respective eyepiece of the image. The processor is further configured to calculate supplemental locations linked to the outline for manufacturing holes and/or slots that anchor clip-on parts that include bridge and legs, and for providing data indicative of the specified outline and supplemental locations.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting a pair of framed eyeglasses relative to an electronic scanner whereby the scanner then generated digital data defining the geometry of the frame. This data is entered into a computer to cause it to control a milling machine which shapes a blank to form a filter lens for an accessory that clips onto the frame and has a matching geometry.