Abstract: A method for sterilizing a liquid packaging sleeve-like blank having two open ends and made of a laminated material including a paper layer, includes the steps of sterilizing the blanks by circulating a circulating unit holding a large number of blanks in a sterilizing tank which contains a sterilizing agent, to dip the blanks in the sterilizing agent, and removing the sterilizing agent by circulating another circulating unit holding the large number of blanks in a hot air drying tank in which hot air is blown, to dry the blanks.

Abstract: An apparatus for the direct fluorination of solid particles of polymeric resins capable of being fluorinated in which the solid particles are in contact with the gaseous phase of fluorine/dense carrier fluid in a tubular reactor with an internal mechanical device comprising a rotatable shaft with screw flight, multiblade or wire brush that mechanically fluidizes the solid phase. The design of the internal mechanical device is a function of the diameter and length of the tubular reactor and the reaction time and other physical properties of the solid particles of polymeric resins. The internal mechanical device prevents agglomeration of the solid particles and promotes uniform contact with the gaseous phase by inducing mobility to the solid particles. The enhancement of solid surface contact with the gaseous phase assists the reaction between the solid polymeric resin and the elemental fluorine, as well as the heat dissipation into the dense carrier fluid.

Abstract: A method of producing a gaseous, hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilization fluid displaying good, uniform sterilization properties is disclosed. The method includes vaporizing liquefied hydrogen peroxide by injecting the liquefied hydrogen peroxide intermittently in finely-divided form into an air current which serves as a vaporization agent, wherein the air current is kept at a constant or insignificantly varying elevated vaporization temperature. An even vaporization temperature of the air current is ensured because the air, prior to vaporization, is heated by heat exchange with a heating element having a large mass or thermal capacity and a large heat exchange surface area which is kept at the desired elevated temperature by regulated energy supplied to the heating element. During breaks in vaporization between the intermittent injection of the liquefied hydrogen peroxide, the heat exchange surface area is heated with the aid of heat stored in the heating element.

Abstract: A micromechanical structure with cavities, containers, openings, canals, depressions, humps or the like for examinations of sample substances for possible changes of physical and/or chemical properties with targeted evaluation and documentation for the purposes of biotechnology, gene technology, cell and immune research and other medical, agricultural and environment research, where the structure consists of semiconducting material (of the group III to V of the elements of the periodic system) or contain the latter or glass or ceramic, diamond, or carbon and is made by a masking technique, especially by a chemical etching technique.

Abstract: Amino acid-containing specimens are hydrolyzed with a method and in a hydrolysis unit by which a specimen holder having an upper face side against which a cover can be tightly engaged to seal compartments formed in the holder and define a sample chamber in which the specimens are received and hydrolyzed. The holder and cover are housed in a sealable casing, and a heating device is provided to apply heat to the specimens while same are in contact with a hydrolyzing agent, this being done while the casing is sealed from the ambient atmosphere and the holder compartments in turn sealed from the casing enclosed space. The unit embodies a device to impose vacuum on the casing interior during the hydrolysis cycle, or to fill the casing enclosed space with an inert gas for cooling at the end of hydrolysis.

Abstract: A chemical analyzer includes a transport mechanism having a rotatable turntable adapted to hold a plurality of reagent test slides, a sample metering device, an incubator or temperature controller, a reflectometer and associated electronics and software. The rotatable turntable preferably holds up to twelve slides about its circumference, which slides are loaded onto the turntable by an inserter mechanism. The turntable positions the reagent test slides under the metering device, which device deposits a predetermined amount of sample onto each slide. The turntable also carries the slides above a reflectometer. After testing has been completed, an ejector mechanism automatically removes the reagent slides from the turntable.

Abstract: An appliance for disinfecting contact lenses or the like wherein the lenses are disposed within a disinfecting solution which liberates the gas during the disinfecting action, includes a container body for immersion of the lenses within the disinfecting solution and a removable cap closing the container body. The appliance further includes a normally closed vent conduit for passage of the pressurized affluent gas from the container body through the cap, and within the vent conduit is a check valve including a disc member having a slit therethrough which opens for vent discharge of the gas with sufficient pressure on the disc exerted by the gas during passage through the vent conduit, after which the slit recloses to vent any subsequent leakage of the solution therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique fiber optic sensor which is able to conduct multiple assays and analyses concurrently using a plurality of different dyes immobilized at individual spatial positions on the surface of the sensor. The present invention also provides apparatus for making precise optical determinations and measurements for multiple analytes of interest concurrently and provides methods of detection for multiple analytes of interest which can be correlated with specific parameters or other ligands for specific applications and purposes.

Abstract: This biosensor comprises a membrane (8), in which an enzyme catalyzing the transformation of a substrate used in the cutaneous metabolism is immobilized, means for detecting and measuring a phenomenon caused by said transformation, which is representative of the concentration of the substrate to be measured, with said substrate being brought into contact with the enzymatic membrane (8), and a measuring cell (13), a wall area of which is formed by the membrane (8) and which is capable of being closed, during the measurement, by a cutaneous covering area (15), with the cell (13) being combined with means for making circulate therein a liquid for placing in solution the substrate to be measured. For the measurement, the biosensor is applied to the skin, the buffer is injected into the cell and, once said cell is filled, the detection and the measurement are carried out, then the buffer is again made to circulate in order to remove the solubilized substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides fiber optic sensors, apparatus, methods of optical detection, and methods of sensor manufacture for detection of organic analytes having a fixed polarity. The sensor requires an optical fiber strand; an immobilized polarity-sensitive dye; and an immobilized polymeric material which not only contains the polarity-sensitive dye but also absorbs and partitions the organic analyte of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique fiber optic sensor which is able to conduct multiple assays and analysis concurrently using a plurality of different dyes immobilized at individual spatial positions on the surface of the sensor. The present invention also provides apparatus for making precise optical determinations and measurements for multiple analytes of interest concurrently and provides methods of detection for multiple analytes of interest which can be correlated with specific parameters or other ligands for specific applications and purposes.

Abstract: A sensing surface suitable for use in a biosensor, comprising:a film of a free electron metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, aluminum and gold; anda densely packed monolayer of an organic molecule X-R-Y coated on one of the faces of said film where X is a group selected from the group consisting ofasymmetrical or symmetrical disulfide (--SSR'Y', -SSRY, sulfide (-SR'Y', -SRY), diselenide (-SeSeR'Y', -SeSeRY), selenide (SeR'Y', -SeRY),thiol (-SH), isonitrile, nitro (-NO.sub.2), selenol (-SeH), trivalent phosphorus compounds, isothiocyanate, xanthate, thiocarbamate, phosphine,thio acid and dithio acid (-COSH, -CSSH)where R and R' are hydrocarbon chains optionally interrupted by hetero atoms, of a length exceeding 10 atoms, wherein in the case of an asymmetrical molecule, R' or R may be H, and Y and Y' are active groups for covalently binding ligands or a biocompatible porous matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic, continuous cleaning of the pipe of a solar receptor of a photobioreactor also having a carbonator associated with the solar receptor. The solar receptor and the carbonator both being traversed in series in a closed loop by a nutrient medium solution. A branch duct being provided between an outlet and an inlet of the solar receptor to permit a circulation of cleaning balls therebetween. The apparatus including a motorized valve on a vertical portion of the branch duct for bringing about the automatic passage of the balls with the exclusion of the solution, as well as a pivoting sleeve placed in the inlet of the solar receptor, downstream of the junction with the branch duct. The sleeve serving as a support for a controllable manual valve and permitting the introduction or removal of cleaning balls with respect to the pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-gradient incubator for studying temperature dependent phenomena, such as temperature ranges for the growth of microbes, comprising a temperature-gradient plate (10) serving as a reaction substrate and heat transfer elements (17 and 18) extending along the opposite edges of the temperature-gradient plate (10) for the heating and cooling of the edges of the temperature-gradient plate (10). Each heat transfer element (17 or 18) is provided with two passages for the circulation of a heating and/or cooling medium. Gable elements (9, 16) connect the passages to each other. The gable elements (9, 16) and pipe joint elements (6, 13) are separated from the ends of heat transfer elements (17, 18) by rubber sheets (1) which serve to provide heat insulation and sealing and are provided with holes (2, 3) for the circulation of a medium.

Abstract: An electroporation apparatus provides for the electroporation of cells attached to an electrode. The electrode may be transparent to allow cell viewing. If the electrode exhibits a voltage drop a constant electrical field may be obtained over the cell layer by controlling the position or character of the opposed electrode. Alternately, cells may be electroporated under an electrical field which varies in a continuous, geometrically uniform manner over the cell layer.

Abstract: In such a method and apparatus for detecting microbiological growth in a sealed sample container, pressure within the headspace of the container is monitored for detecting rate of change of such headspace pressure. Presence of microbiological growth within the container is indicated as a function of rate of change of headspace pressure. The rate of pressure change is compared with a standard rate for a family of microorganisms., and growth is indicated when the absolute value of the rate of pressure change (which may be positive or negative) exceeds the absolute value of the standard rate (which also may be positive or negative). For detecting microbiological growths which may have differing growth rates, absolute value of rate of pressure change is compared to a plurality of standard rates for differing families of microorganisms.

Abstract: The apparatus processes immunoassays of samples using a solid support. It provides a compact system using rectilinear motion to process carriers holding samples on a real time basis while permitting the input and output of the system to operate on a random basis.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for conducting enzymatic and chromogenic assays, the device having a plurality of test conduits therein, individual assay means disposed in each of the conduits, barrier walls extending between adjoining conduits to proximate a bottom wall of the device, to discourage liquid passing through one of the conduits to enter an adjoining conduit, and methods for assembling and using the device.

Abstract: A plant tissue cutting and transplanting apparatus is provided with a supply system for plant receptacles which are covered by lids after plants that have been propagated and grown in a culture medium, a . supply system for lidded empty receptacles that contain the culture medium, a lid opening and closing head to open and close the lids of the receptacles that are supplied by these supply systems, a square cutter to cut a predetermined number of plants in the receptacles that contain plants, and a transplanting head that is provided with a transplanting device to transplant these plant fragments that have been cut by the cutter from the square portions of the cutter to the culture medium in the empty receptacles.

Abstract: A waste collection container fitted with an inlet point and an outlet point is used for receiving contaminated carrier air from a medical suction procedure. Heavier solids and liquids are collected within the waste collection container by gravitational precipitation. The carrier air now containing only aerosol contaminants is then bubbled through a disinfecting bath to sterilize the carrier air before it is exhausted into the immediate indoor environment or the outdoor atmosphere. An activated charcoal filter is then used to remove odors from the sterilized carrier air. An input and exit port of the waste collection container are initially sealed and are punctured by manually operated actuator apparatus to permit carrier air to flow through the container and the disinfecting bath. When the waste collection container is full, before removal another actuator is manually operated to discharge the disinfecting bath into the precipitated fluids and solids in the container to thereby sterilize them.