Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic slide staining system that will process stained slides, such as cytology or histology specimens. The invention includes a slide storage device, a slide transport apparatus, and a first platen including a plurality of staining stations. The stained slides are placed in the storage device and then are removed and processed at various stations via the transport apparatus. The invention can be altered so that a cover slip apparatus can be incorporated within the system. This permits a cover slip to be placed on the stained slide after a complete transverse of the slide staining stations.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic slide staining system which will process stained slides, such as cytology or histology specimens. The present invention includes two embodiments for the staining system. The first system includes a slide storage device, a slide transport apparatus, a first platen including a plurality of staining stations, and a heating station. In order to utilize the first embodiment of the system of the present invention, the stained slides are placed in the storage device. The slides are removed from the storage device and are processed on the various stations via the transport apparatus. The first system can be altered slightly so that a cover slip apparatus can be incorporated within the system. In order to do so, the heating station is removed. A cover slip dispensing apparatus replaces the heating station. This will permit for a cover slip to be placed on the stained slide after a complete transverse of the slide staining stations.

Abstract: An electronic sourcing system includes a computer that maintains a catalog database of data including product information (such as product identification and descriptive information) relating to catalog items available from vendor product catalogs, and a means for building (generating) a requisition including at least one requisitioned item. Information at least partially identifying an item desired to be requisitioned is entered by a user, and utilized by a means for searching the database for catalog items matching that information and for selecting at least one catalog item located as a result of the search. Text describing the catalog items, and images of the items, may be viewed. Data identifying selected catalog items are communicated to the requisition building means, which generates a requisition including entries for items corresponding to the selected catalog items.

Abstract: A therapeutic appliance is provided for application to the lumbar spine so as to overly the sacrum and sacroiliac joints. The therapeutic appliance is formed basically by an air bladder having a plurality of air chambers. The air chambers include a central air chamber elongated in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the air bladder, and inclined air chambers provided on opposing sides of the transverse air chamber and elongated in directions inclined relative to the transverse air chamber downwardly and toward the respective longitudinal ends of air bladder. Gap air chambers are also provided in the gaps formed between the transverse air chamber and the innermost inclined air chambers. Longitudinally extending air chambers are provided at opposing longitudinal ends of the air bladder.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a requisition and inventory management system is provided which employs both a host computer and a local computer which can be linked to permit two-way data communications in a real time environment. Each computer has an associated database which can be accessed by that computer. By accessing its respective database, each computer can build and transmit to the other computer communications blocks of data relating to a particular requisition of an item in Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory or to the management of the JIT inventory. The other computer can then use the received data to continue processing of the requisition or to update its JIT inventory records. Thus requisition records are created from a real-time interaction between the host and local computers, with each computer using data from its respective database in conjunction with information entered by a Customer Service Representative (CSR) operating the local computer.

Abstract: A lysing reagent is employed for stromatolysing the red cells in a blood sample and differentiating the leukocytes into subpopulations. The lysing reagent contains a dodecyltrimethylammonium halide and an aromatic second cationic agent which is either a benzyltrialkylammonium halide or an alkylpyridinium halide. In some methods, the lysing reagent is mixed in the reaction chamber with a major proportion of the diluent, and the blood sample with a minor proportion of the diluent is added to the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled pH and ion concentration meter is disclosed with improved testing procedures. The meter can be tested for excessive internal bias current by measuring the potential (V1) when the meter is connected to a circuit a known voltage (E1) of low impedance and the potential (V2) when the meter is connected to a circuit of the same voltage source (E1) but of known high impedance and having the meter compare (V2-V1) to a preset limit value. The meter can be tested for low internal impedance by further measuring the potential (V4) when the meter is connected to a circuit of a second external voltage (E2) and the known high impedance (R1). The meter then calculates:(V4-V2)and compares that value to preset limits based upon E1, E2 and R1. Such limits can be derived as (Z.sub.o) (E2-E1) / (R.sub.1 +Z.sub.o) where Z.sub.o is the minimum acceptable internal impedance.

Abstract: An analysis system of the concurrent type has a multicuvette unit supply station, a loading station, an analysis station, and transport mechanism for transporting cuvette units in correlated orientation between the several stations. Each cuvette unit includes mechanical interlock structure that cooperates with orientation structure at each of the several stations and with orientation structure carried by the transport mechanism so that continuity of cuvette orientation information is maintained throughout loading and concurrent analysis of the several samples in the cuvette unit.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic ferrioxalate compositions are disclosed for use as calibrants of pCO2 and of PO2 after photodecomposition. Compositions with high iron(III) to oxalate molar ratios (e.g., 5:1 to 100:1 with 0.3 to 15 millimolar oxalate) produce carbon dioxide on exposure without oxygen consumption. Compositions with low iron(III) to oxalate ratios (e.g., 1:100 to 1:2000) with 0.1 to 5 millimolar iron(III) produce carbon dioxide on exposure with concurrent oxygen consumption. Use of the two types of compositions enables calibration values to be established with varying pCO2 values and with, respectively, high and low pO2 values.

Abstract: Electrodes for the measurement of pCO2 and/or pO2 are calibrated with an exposed aliquot of a calibration liquid. A constituent such as a ferrioxalate salt in the calibration liquid is converted to the gas in a reproducible concentration by exposure of the aliquot to light. In some instances, the calibration liquid is equilibrated with air prior to exposure. Some mechanisms of light generation of carbon dioxide also consume oxygen, so as to depress the pO2 value by a reproducible amount. The use of two different calibration liquids enables both one-point and two-point calibration of the Clark oxygen electrode and the Severinghaus pCO2 electrode of a blood gas instrument.

Abstract: A histological tissue specimen treatment process includes the steps of placing a plurality of histological tissue specimens to be processed in chamber structure, closing the chamber structure, monitoring the level of a first tissue processing material flowed into the chamber structure with a sensor system that responds to a characteristic of the first tissue processing material, terminating the flow of the first tissue processing material when the histological tissue specimens are immersed in the first tissue processing material, flowing the first tissue processing material from the chamber structure after the histological tissue specimens have been immersed in the first tissue processing material for a predetermined time interval, monitoring the level of a second tissue processing material flowed into the chamber structure with the sensor system in a changed sensitivity condition, terminating the flow of the second tissue processing material when the plurality of histological tissue specimens are immersed in

Abstract: A thin sample on a surface such as a tissue specimen on a microscope slide is exposed to treatment liquid such as a stain, antibody of nucleic acid probe. The treatment is accelerated by exposing the treatment liquid on the surface to infrared radiation. A device is disclosed for placing such slides into a treatment chamber, for example as a plurality of slide pairs held vertically, with treatment liquid held in capillary gaps between each slide pair. An infrared radiation source provides radiation into the treatment chamber to accelerate the treatment of samples on such slide (on one or both surfaces facing each capillary gap) by the treatment liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for organizing and hanging a plurality of I.V. bags on an I.V. pole includes a solid back and a plurality of spaced apart resilient loops, which apparatus fits over a horizontal support bar on the I.V. pole. The resilient loops are movable between an open position and a closed position. The loops are biased to be in the closed position normally, with a free end of the loop overlapping the top edge of the back. The loop is moved to the open position to place I.V. bags onto the loops, and suspend the I.V. bags at spaced apart intervals in organized fashion. The apparatus includes an unobstructed span having a restraining member to secure the apparatus to the I.V. pole. Some or all loops may include locking members to lock the loops in the closed position.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a biological fluid or the like for a constituent of interest comprises structure defining a sample inlet port, structure defining an analysis region, a measuring system connected in sensing relation to the analysis region, and structure defining a reaction chamber that has an immobilized enzyme capable of modifying the constituent of interest. Control means operates liquid flow means in a unidirectional sample flow mode to initially flow a sample of material to be analyzed from the sample inlet port to the reaction chamber and to the analysis region for a measurement of unmodified sample material, and then operates the liquid flow means in a bidirectional sample flow mode to oscillate the sample material in the reaction chamber and facilitate modification by the immobilized enzyme of the constituent of material in the sample.

Abstract: A reagent container for use in a sample and reagent transfer system is of sector shaped configuration and has a generally vertical curved outer wall, generally vertical side walls that are disposed and angled to one another, a generally horizontal top wall with two ports through which two probes may concurrently be inserted, a generally horizontal bottom wall that has a well portion below and aligned with one port in the top wall, and a dry well channel that is open at its bottom and aligned with the other port in the top wall.

Abstract: An assay method and kit in which particles bearing a first reagent binding pair member (e.g., anti-digoxin antibody) react with a sample such that analyte binding pair member (e.g., digoxin) binds to the first reagent binding pair member. The reaction mixture is then passed through a filter or membrane or pore size sufficient to allow particles to pass through. A second reagent binding pair member (e.g., digoxin-albumin conjugate) is immobilized on the filter or membrane to trap preferentially either particles which have bound analyte binding pair members or particles which have not, leaving the other class of particles to pass through the filter for detection by resistive pulse techniques, by light absorbence or scattering, by enzymatic read-out (when the particles are enzyme-labeled) or otherwise.

Abstract: A metering valve assembly for use in an analytical system includes fixed and movable valve members that have slidably engaged faces. One valve member includes a first metering chamber in the form of a through passage having an axis perpendicular to the direction of relative valve motion and a second metering chamber of elongated shape that has a length at least three times its width and that extends along the direction of relative valve motion. In a first position, the metering chambers are connected in series with a source of the sample liquid to be analyzed; and in a second valve assembly position, the first metering chamber is connected in series between a source of auxiliary fluid and a first analysis unit and the second metering chamber is concurrently connected in series between a source of auxiliary fluid and a second analysis unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring the contents of a container in order to detect when the contents are below a predetermined level. An optical metering signal from a light source driven by a multivibrator is projected at a predetermined level across the space within the container. A light sensor on the opposite side of the space within the container detects incident illumination there. The metering signal is incident there only when the contents of the container are below the predetermined level. Otherwise, the contents either block or refract the metering signal from its normal path, and the metering signal goes undetected. A unity gain amplifier of variable sign coupled to the light sensor and to the multivibrator determines when signal from the light sensor are synchronized with the output of the multivibrator, so as to be deemed to correspond to pulses of the metering signal.