Abstract: A test vial for the detection of gas components in air, containing a packing changing along the longitudinal axis of the test vial is improved in such a manner that, at a constant flow resistance, a sensitivity for the hazardous substance to be detected is obtained, which varies along the test vial. The provision is made that the packing consists of a combination of applied indicator and carrier substance at ratios varying along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (38) is provided which may be used in a mass transfer device (20), such asn an oxygenator or a dialyzer. The heat exchanger comprises a core (40) formed of a corrugated metal having a high thermal conductivity. Each of the corrugations of the core comprises substantially parallel side walls (70, 72). A first fluid, such as blood, is introduced onto the outside of the core. A second fluid, such as water, is introduced into the inside of the core. The first and second fluids will be in heat exchange relationship with each other and the flow of the fluids is substantially uniform resulting from the substantially parallel side walls of the corrugations. The core is formed by providing a flexible metalhose, annealing the flexible metal hose, compressing the annealed hose and expanding the compressed hose to a length that is substantially less than its original length but greater than its length during compression.

Abstract: Apparatus for withdrawing liquid samples from liquid/solids media, e.g., phosphoric acid slurries, for the downstream analysis thereof, is comprised of (i) means adapted for insertion into a liquid/solids medium to selectively separate and receive a liquid fraction therefrom, (ii) a liquid storage first chamber in communicating relationship with said separating and receiving means (i), (iii) a liquid sample receiving second chamber in independent, parallel communicating relationship with said separating and receiving means (i) and which comprises means for exteriorly discharging sample contained therein, and (iv) means permitting the filling or emptying of said second chamber (iii) independently of said first chamber (ii).

Abstract: A process for the purpose of the thermostatic control of a sample fluid to be analyzed, as well as reagents and optionally the solvents necessary for performing analyses in an automatically functioning analyzer, wherein the sample container containing the sample fluid as well as the cells containing the reagents are placed in a rack made from good thermally conducting material. The rack is fixed in the analyzer at the individual processing stations between two side walls. At least one of the side walls is heated, so that the rack is thermostatically controlled and, consequently, so is the sample fluid and the reagents.

Abstract: A test pad having a water activated reagent and a water activated peroxygen compound which undergo a chromogen reaction in an aqueous solution including hemoglobin. The reagent is potassium guaiacolsulfonate, a guaiac substitute material. The peroxygen compound is a monopersulfonate compound comprised of two moles of potassium monopersulfonate, one mole of potassium hydrogen sulfate and one mole of potassium sulfate. The test pad features a test area containing the above materials in powdered form and may also include controls for checking the results of the test. A method for using the test pad is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for the evaluation of a flat test carrier for the analytical determination of components of body fluids, said device having a tempering device and a regulating unit, the tempering device including a heating and measurement unit which can be pressed flatly against the test carrier in the region of its reference surface utilized for the evaluation and having a heating surface, wherein the heating and measurement unit has a heating surface which can be homogeneously heated with at least one resistance heating element, at least one resistance heating element is associated at least partly in close proximity to the heating surface, at least one part, serving as temperature measurement section, of the part of the resistance heating element arranged in the neighborhood of the heating surface consisting of a material with a temperature-dependent electrical resistance and the electrical resistance of the temperature measurement section is used for the regulation of the temperatur

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically performing a blood glucose test includes a cylindrical carrier with a holder for receiving a reagent pad. Upon receiving the pad, the carrier holds the pad for a predetermined reaction time and then rotates the pad successively to washing and de-watering stations. After de-watering, the pad is presented to a measuring station at which a reflectometer evaluates the color characteristics of the pad. A display of glucose level as a function of the color change of the pad is presented.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing water from blood, advantageously by the single-needle method, in which by means of an air-operated bellows pump blood is sucked into an expandable pump chamber and thereafter water is forced into a hemofilter and collected in an ultrafiltrate measuring chamber to which a collecting bag is connected. The inlet and the outlet of the ultrafiltrate measuring chamber to which a collecting bag is connected. The inlet and the outlet of the ultrafiltrate measuring chamber can be opened and closed by clamps controlled in opposite phase and the amount of ultrafiltrate collected in the ultrafiltrate measuring chamber can be controlled and determined. The ultrafiltrate measuring chamber is divided by a hose-like wall into two chamber portions, one chamber portion receiving filtrate and the other chamber portion being adapted in a preferred embodiment to receive infusion solution. Thus, the infusion solution can be proportioned and supplied to the patient in volume equivalent manner.

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for removing a single flexible member from a storage spool capable of holding multiple flexible members. This storage spool is designed to contain multiple elongated flexible members in an accurate position on the spool by means of radial channels or slots where the flexible members are held in place by interwinding material. By removing the interwinding material on a take up spool the individual flexible member can be positioned for removal from the storage spool by a pick up head or vacuum transport member. The invention has particular applicability to the handling of test devices, such as reagent strips, used in the determination of a biological constituent in a body fluid.

Abstract: A solution for blood cell storage having sugar-containing blood cell nutrients therein and additionally containing a magnesium or calcium L-ascorbate-2-phosphate salt is taught. The magnesium and calcium L-ascorbate-2-phosphate salts remain stable below pH 7 and thus permit sterilization of the solution at a pH at which degradation of both the L-ascorbate-2-phosphate salt and the nutrient sugar present in the solution is substantially avoided.

Abstract: A microreactor for use in coal-liquifaction process monitoring and process development is disclosed. The microreactor is a batch-type reactor and is moved by means of a pneumatic lift into and out of a bath to control the temperature of the microreactor. A shaft having generally vertical vanes is provided for stirring reactants in the microreactor.

Abstract: A method, and air sampler concentrator, for sampling and detecting trace quantities of amine vapors in ambient atmospheres, are described. Atmospheres containing vapors of amines, particularly aralkyl amines such as amphetamines, are sampled and vapors collected in a concentrator having two adsorber components, one a polymeric adsorbent for amines and the other a selected alkaline adsorbent. Collected vapors are thermally desorbed in stages and the amine vapors analyzed by gas chromatography. The concentrator and method are very suitable for detecting trace amount of amine drugs and alkyl or arylalkyl amine vapors found in some industrial work environments.

Abstract: The amount of lipid bound sialic acid in a whole blood sample may be determined by a method, which may be automated, involving the following steps: adding to the sample a lower alkyl alcohol and deionized distilled water; mixing the resulting admixture; adding to it a mixture of lower alkyl chlorinated hydrocarbon and a lower alkyl alcohol; treating by mixing and centrifuging the mixture until a recoverable, substantially clear upper phase forms; recovering the upper phase and adding to it a protein-precipitating agent, preferably in admixture with an adsorbing material; mixing the resulting admixture; recovering the resulting precipitate, suspending the precipitate in distilled water and determining the amount of lipid bound sialic acid present. The presently preferred mixture for addition to the upper phase is a mixture of 75% by weight phosphotungstic acid and 25% by weight silica gel on a dry weight basis.

Abstract: A liquid transfer apparatus for use in an automatic analyzer successively transfers a number of liquid vessels in a continuous manner to a liquid pick up station where a probe of a liquid distributor is used to perform a liquid analysis and inserts by interruption a specified liquid vessel holding specified liquid such as an emergent test sample into the liquid pick up station when necessary to perform an analysis in an emergency by interruption during a normal operation.

Abstract: A device for testing the efficiency of autoclaves of the type used in hospitals for steam sterilizing porous loads such as surgical dressings, and particularly for detecting the presence of air in such a system, comprising first and second porous masses (10, 11) of a substantially man-made material such as spun bonded polypropylene, superimposed so as to sandwich therebetween an indicator sheet (12) and a pair of porous and absorbent sheets (12a). This assembly is held firmly together within a perforated stainless steel box (13) having a closable lid (14). For the test the whole device is placed in a steam sterilizer under normal working conditions. Subsequently, the test device is removed and the indicator sheet (12) inspected, any color variation across the sheet providing an indication of incomplete sterilizing conditions.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of cancer utilizing an ESR spectrometer comprised a first step for mixing cells from a patient with a solution of hematoporphyrin or hematoporphyrin derivative, a second step for isolating said cells from unreacted reagent and obtaining ESR spectral signal on said cells, a third step for finding quantity S.sub.x of the radicals contained in said cells on the basis of the ESR signal, and a fourth step for comparing value S.sub.x at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A cuvette set for blood analysis, comprising a carrier and guide band (2) for fixing the bottom parts of cuvettes (1) so as to build a row of cuvettes parallel to the band, said carrier and guide band (2) being provided with fastening means, such as holes (5) for a control device which carries the row of cuvettes through an analyzer. In order to produce a dimensionally accurate structure, said carrier and guide band (2) is made of a metal and it is provided with fastening means, such as holes (4) for engaging parts (3) protruding from the bottom of plastic cuvettes (1).

Abstract: An adjustable test pack for determining the efficiency of a vacuum in an autoclave comprises a porous bundle partially including open cell foam and having non-porous layers placed on its surface to leave a portion thereof exposed. A sheet with a steam sensitive indicator ink printed thereon is selectively embedded in the bundle for placement in an autoclave where a vacuum is drawn to evacuate air from the bundle through its exposed surface portions. Steam is then introduced to replace the evacuated air and react with the indicator ink wherever there is contact. The amount of indicator ink contacted by the steam may be varied according to the selected placement of the indicator sheet in the bundle and provides a measure of the efficiency of the vacuum.

Abstract: In the thermal cracking of or heating of hydrocarbons, for example naphtha, a carbonization reaction incidentally takes place due to the fact that Ni, Fe and Co contained in, for example, the conduits of the thermal cracking apparatus have a catalytically carbonizing action. The aim of the present invention is to effectively suppress carbon deposition promoted by these elements, to provide for the incorporation of an inhibitor element, e.g. Li, Na, Ba, Be, Ca, Mg or their oxides, into the heat-resistant alloy, and to form on the surface of this alloy a carbon deposition suppressing layer which comprises an inhibitor element.

Abstract: In a process for carrying out an analytical determination by mixing and incubating a sample liquid with at least one dry reagent which is soluble therein to form a reaction mixture liquid and measuring a parameter in the reaction mixture liquid, the sample liquid is first transported along a transport path to the soluble dry reagent and the resulting reaction mixture liquid then further transported along the transport path. The further transporting of the reaction mixture liquid along the transport path is under the influence of a force-change cycle in which centrifugal force and a further force alternately predominate to determine the direction of the further transporting along the transport path. At least one further liquid is transported on another path, part of which is separate from and part of which is common with the transport path, by the force-change cycle in such a manner that at least two of the liquids pass through the common part of the transport path chronologically separated.