Abstract: A self dispensing reagent cartridge includes a vessel with a movable piston at one end and a puncturable self sealing septum at an opposite end. A hollow needle is located in alignment with the septum. The vessel is moved toward the needle to enable the needle to puncture the septum. The piston is then moved toward the septum to enable a predetermined amount of liquid in the vessel to be transferred outwardly of the vessel through the needle in an amount corresponding to the piston stroke.

Abstract: A method of making a fluid sample collection card includes providing a support layer, forming an upper layer with a card stock, the upper layer including a sample window and a viewing window, supporting an absorbent layer with the support layer, and positioning the upper layer on the absorbent layer, wherein the upper layer is configured such that as a fluid is being absorbed by the first absorbent layer portion, presence of a portion of the fluid within the second absorbent layer portion indicates that a first volume of the fluid absorbed by the absorbent layer is a minimum necessary volume of the fluid sufficient to perform at least one test on at least one component in the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing biologic fluid is provided that includes first and second planar members, and at least three separators. At least one of the first planar member and second planar member is transparent. The separators are disposed between the planar members, and each individually has a height. The separators collectively having a mean height, and separate the planar members to form a chamber having a height extending between the planar members. At least one of the first planar member, second planar member, or separators is sufficiently deformable when the first planar member and second planar member are drawn toward each other by capillary force from a biologic fluid quiescently residing within the chamber to cause the mean chamber height to be substantially equal to the mean height of the separators.

Abstract: A resonant nanosensor apparatus associated with a functionalized monolayer for detecting carbon dioxide and a method of forming the same. A wafer including a sensing vibrating beam and a reference vibrating beam may be functionalized with a functional group in order to form a sensing self monolayer. The sensing self assembled monolayer may be configured by bridging oxygen or carbon atoms covalently bonded with respect to the vibrating beams. A liquid solution of hydrochloric acid may then be applied to the sensing self assembled monolayer at the surface of the reference beam by a direct printing process to obtain a reference monolayer. The liquid solution of HCl transforms the functional groups responsible for the carbon dioxide detection into protonated groups, which do not react with carbon dioxide, but possess visco-elastic properties similar to that of the sensing monolayer.

Abstract: There is provided an ignition or plasma generation apparatus that eliminates the need for resonance means in a combustion chamber and simplifies the electrode structure within the combustion chamber in an instance where energy from each of a spark discharge and microwaves is used to ignite an air-fuel mixture gas in an internal combustion engine. The ignition or plasma generation apparatus includes a mixing circuit for mixing a high-voltage pulse from a high-voltage pulse generator and microwave energy from a microwave generator; and an ignition plug into which an output from the mixing circuit is supplied, the plug used for introducing the output into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The output supplied from the mixing circuit to the ignition plug is supplied in a manner in which the microwave energy and the high-voltage pulse are superimposed on each other on a same transmission line.

Abstract: A sample collection device suitable for low-volume extraction includes a substantially tubular collection vessel having a closed end, an open end, and one or more sidewalls defining a vessel chamber having a vessel volume. The device further includes a swab for sample collection. The swab formed with a substantially closed-celled polymer foam head and the swab is configured for insertion into the collection vessel.

Abstract: A filter vial and piston are provided where the vial has a cylindrical wall with a closed bottom and open top and with the hollow, tubular piston therein. The piston has a distal end covered by a cup having a proximal cup seal extending outward to engage the walls of the vial to form a fluid tight seal with the vial during use. The distal end of the piston has a piston flange extending outwardly and located adjacent a recess in the piston so the cup forms a snap fit over the piston flange and extends into the recess. The piston flange causes the cup to bulge sufficiently outward to form a fluid tight seal with the vial during use. A filter is placed in the bottom of the cup and abuts an inwardly extending lip on the cup. The filter is held against the lip by a piston support at the distal end of the piston. A cup support at a distal end of the cup also helps support the filter.

Abstract: A continuous indicator strip having a multiplicity of separate individual sequential test sections along the surface thereof, wherein a plurality of test sections are impregnated with the same indicator enabling the utilization of the strip for sequential repetitive testing of samples, the strip being provided with at least 20 such test sections.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a system for guiding chemiluminescence and a system for preventing a variation in dark currents. The apparatus includes a first light shielding BOX having a sample container holder and a shutter unit therein, the shutter unit including a top plate which is partly formed by a movement of a plate member, and a second light shielding BOX having a photodetector therein. While a measurement is not implemented, the shutter unit is closed to block entrance of stray light to the photodetector, and while a measurement is implemented, the plate member is moved to open the shutter unit, and the tip of the photodetector is inserted into a through hole formed in the top plate, so that the distance between the bottom of the sample container and a sensitive area of the photodetector is reduced to several millimeters or less.

Abstract: A transportation system for transporting a biological material container between a sterile field and a nonsterile field and substantially maintaining sterility of the biological material container includes a housing assembly that removably houses the biological material container. The system also includes a port defined by the housing assembly, and the port provides communication into the biological material container from outside the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a first member that covers a first portion of the biological material container such that a second portion of the biological material container extends from the first member. The housing assembly also includes a second member that covers the second portion of the biological material container. The second member is removably coupled to the first member to expose the second portion of the biological material container. A keying member that keys the transportation system in a centrifuge is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments directed to a device for analyzing samples administered from a sample vessel are disclosed. One embodiment may comprise a central unit having a supply of reaction vessels and a sampling unit by which at least part of a sample is transferred from one of the sample vessels into the reaction vessel; at least one analytical unit having a plurality of reagent vessels; a transport unit which transports at least part of the reaction vessels from the central unit to the analytical unit such that the analytical unit supplies the reagent from the reagent vessels into the reaction vessel for triggering a reaction between the sample and the reagent; and at least one measuring unit provided in the analytical unit which measures the physical property of the sample held in the reaction vessel.

Abstract: In a current collector laminating step, a current-collector laminate unit 30 composed of current-collector materials 31 and 32 and a film material 33 is formed. Resist layers 34 having a predetermined pattern are formed on both surfaces of the current-collector laminate unit 30. An etching process is performed with the resist layers 34 used as a mask, whereby through-holes 20a and 23a are formed on the respective current-collector materials 31 and 32. The resist layers 34 are removed from the current-collector laminate unit 30. Since the etching process is performed on the plural current-collector materials 31 and 32, productivity of an electrode can be enhanced. During the application of the slurry, the film material 33 prevents the leakage of the electrode slurry. Therefore, the current-collector laminate unit 30 can be conveyed in the horizontal direction, whereby the productivity of the electrode can be enhanced.

Abstract: An isothermal reaction and analysis system may include a receiver to receive sample holders, a thermal control subsystem to control a temperature of the receiver, an excitation subsystem, a detection subsystem and an analysis subsystem. Excitation sources and/or detectors are positioned to enhance data collection. Sample holders may include filters, selectively blocking and passing wavelengths or bands of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A plasma reactor has high durability with performance to generate stable and uniform plasma. The reactor has a variety of advantages such as increasing the range of commercial applications since the reactor has a structure that allows simple and efficient installation and operation in a system at a position required by the system. The reactor includes a stack constructed by sequentially stacking plus and minus electrodes and spacers and a reactor body provided at one side of the stack to hold the stack. The plus and minus electrodes are arranged alternately with spacers to define passages through which gas is allowed to pass. Each of the plus and minus electrodes has deformation preventing means to disperse stress of the electrodes and to prevent a local thermal stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction, thereby increasing thermal shock-resistant performance. External terminals for connection to the plus and minus electrodes are provided on the reactor body.

Abstract: Systems for controlling hydrogen purity in a power plant system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hydrogen control system for a generator housing includes: a mass flow control system fluidly connected to the generator housing, the mass flow control system being configured to measure a flow rate of a gas mixture extracted from the generator housing and modify the flow rate of the gas mixture across a range of flow rates; and a vent conduit fluidly connected to the mass flow control system, the vent conduit for receiving a portion of the gas mixture from the mass flow control system and feeding the portion of the gas mixture to an outlet.

Abstract: A thermoelectric reformer unit-for dissociating fossil-based hydrocarbons, renewable hydrocarbons or hydrogen-containing inorganic compounds to produce hydrogen in a reactor using thermoelectric technology with thermoelectric materials to achieve very high conversion efficiencies. Thermoelectric reforming occurs in a reactor core containing a number of energy sources. These energy sources generate extremely high temperature heat that reacts with the fuels in its local surrounding areas. Since the heat is locally generated, it will not penetrate far within the reactor core that is surrounded by walls that act as a casing for the reformer. Synthetic gas produced in the reformer can be fed into internal combustion engines certain, types of fuel cells, or other energy conversion equipment without or with only limited levels of purification. Ancillary components are needed to produce high-purity hydrogen fuel for other types of fuel cells.

Abstract: A hand-held, multi-channel pipettor has an electronically controlled motor to reposition pipette tips for different center to center spacing. Each repositionable tip fitting assembly has a cam following pin that is driven by cam tracks in a motor driven roller drum. Stationary ports for the multiple aspiration cylinders are strategically placed to simplify management of flexible tubes leading to the repositionable pipette tip fitting assemblies. The pipettor has a user interface that can be operated conveniently by one hand to reposition pipette tips. It has a pipette tip ejection mechanism with a sinusoidal stripper bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to continuous flow systems, in particular thermocyclers for the automated and continuous cycling of fluid between a plurality of temperature zones in the amplification of nucleic acids. The invention also relates to an improved sample port for introducing a volume of a liquid sample into a continuous flow system.

Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample processing system that is capable of reducing the tasks involved in the connection of the transporting apparatus. The sample processing system comprises: the transporting apparatus 11 for transporting the sample container 32 to a predetermined position; and the analyzer 10 for analyzing the sample contained in the sample container 32 transported to the predetermined position, the analyzer 10 comprising: the connection part 15 for connecting the transporting apparatus 11; the aspirating part 10a for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container 32; the apparatus body 12 for measuring the sample aspirated by the aspirating part 10a; the input part 29 for inputting identification information for identifying a type of the transporting apparatus 11; and the control unit 16 for controlling an operation of the transporting apparatus 11 based on the identification information input by the input part 29.

Abstract: An electrode cap having a horseshoe-shaped conductor clip that has an opening at a closed end for receiving an electrode, the conductor clip fitted over a tube crimp; a cylindrical base cap having an elongated bump at one end of the base cap parallel to the axis of the base cap; and a cylindrical top cap closed on one end, having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the base cap; and a spring for pressing a plate against the base cap.