Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression state of prostate cancer wherein said method determines the state of the prostate cancer, based on the expression level of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants. The invention further relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for prostate cancer therapy. The invention also relates to products for the analysis of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants as well as pharmaceutical compositions modulating the activity and/or expression of PDE4D variants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus and method for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach to the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a particle release curve being indicative of a release of bound particles from the binding surface (30) is determined, and a part of the particle release curve caused by particles bound to the binding surface via a predefined kind of binding is determined based on the temporal behaviour of the particle release curve. The substance within the fluid is determined based on the part of the particle release curve. The substance can therefore be determined based on particles which are bound to the binding surface via a certain kind of binding, i.e. other kinds of binding substantially do not affect the determination of the substance, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for evaluating an assay with a sample. During the assay, optical measurements are made at a sensing surface (112), and at least one “homogeneity-image” of the sensing surface (112) is generated. From this image, an “homogeneity-indicator” is determined for at least one region of interest, and the optical measurements are then evaluated in dependence on said indicator. The homogeneity-indicator may for example be a binary value which indicates if an inhomogeneity was detected or not. If an inhomogeneity was detected, all optical measurements may be rejected, only measurements for the involved region of interest may be rejected, or measurements for a selected sub-area of the involved region of interest (ROI) may be rejected.

Abstract: During an assay, optical measurements are made at a sensing surface (112), and at least one “homogeneity-image” of the sensing surface (112) is generated. From this image, an “homogeneity-indicator” is determined for at least one region of interest, and the optical measurements are then evaluated in dependence on said indicator. The homogeneity-indicator may for example be a binary value which indicates if an inhomogeneity was detected or not. If an inhomogeneity was detected, all optical measurements may be rejected, only measurements for the involved region of interest may be rejected, or measurements for a selected sub-area of the involved region of interest (ROI) may be rejected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a processing device for the processing of a fluid containing interfering particles (C). Magnetic particles (MP) are added to the fluid in a processing chamber and distributed, in part, using a magnetic field to provide a blocking zone (BZ) within the processing chamber to impede or prevent such migration of the interfering particles (C) through the processing chamber. The blocking zone (BZ) hence acts as a filter element by which interfering particles (C) can for example be kept away from a detection region at the surface of the processing chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a method for the processing of magnetic particles (MP) provided in a processing chamber (114) with a binding region (116) to which said magnetic particles (MP) can (specifically) bind. Removal of unbound magnetic particles (MP) from the binding region (116) is achieved by first separating them from the binding region (116) by gravitational forces and then moving them further away by magnetic forces. Gravitational forces can for example be generated by tilting the binding region with a tilting unit (156). The prior separation by gravitational forces prevents that unbound magnetic particles (MP) are captured in a cluster with bound magnetic particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression state of prostate cancer wherein said method determines the state of the prostate cancer, based on the expression level of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants. The invention further relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for prostate cancer therapy. The invention also relates to products for the analysis of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) variants as well as pharmaceutical compositions modulating the activity and/or expression of PDE4D variants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR).

Abstract: A substance determining apparatus determines a substance within a fluid where particles, which have attached the substance, are bound to a binding surface. A sensing unit is configured to generate a sensing signal being indicative of at least one of i) a distance between the particles bound on the binding surface and the binding surface, and ii) an in-plane position of the particles bound on the binding surface. A binding discrimination unit is configured to discriminate between different kinds of binding of the particles bound on the binding surface depending on the generated sensing signal. The binding discrimination unit may be a unit for determining the part of the sensing signal being caused by specifically bound particles and for determining the substance based on this determined part of the sensing signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus (19) for determining a substance within a fluid. A location event determination unit (34) determines location events indicating that a particle, which may have attached the substance, is located in a sensing region and a property of the location events from the sensing signal generated by sensing the sensing region. A location events selection unit (70) selects a part of the location events having a property in a predefined property range, and a substance determination unit (40) determines the substance within the fluid (3) based on the selected part of the location events. This allows tuning the determination of the substance within the fluid to a desired property range, which can relate to a desired kind of bound particles, thereby reducing the influence of unwanted effects on the determination of the substance and, thus, improving the determination accuracy.

Abstract: A method detects magnetic particles (1) bound to a binding surface (111) of a sample chamber (112). The detection is made during and/or immediately after the action of an attractive magnetic field. The attractive magnetic field (B) is preceded by a repulsive magnetic field (B) which removes unbound magnetic particles away from the binding surface (111). Due to the attractive magnetic field (B), bound magnetic particles (1) come closer to the binding surface (111), which increases the signal of surface specific detection techniques like frustrated total internal reflection. The signal can be achieved by an attractive magnetic field that is parallel to the binding surface (111) thus inducing the generation of chains between unbound and bound magnetic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a sensing signal is generated depending on the bound particles. Binding events indicating a binding of a particle on the binding surface (30) are determined from the generated sensing signal, and the substance within the fluid is determined based on the determined binding events. During a procedure of determining a substance within a fluid, particles may bind to the binding surface and may leave the binding surface. Therefore, during this procedure a number of binding events can be determined being much larger than the number of bound particles. The determination of the substance within the fluid can therefore be based on a very large amount of data, thereby increasing the accuracy of determining the substance within the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for detecting particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) of a carrier (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a microscope (50) for imaging bound particles (MP) onto an image sensor (53). In order to increase the spatial resolution of the microscope (50), a displacement unit (60,70,80) is provided that can displace the carrier (11) relative to the image sensor (53). The distance of a bound particle (MP) from the binding surface (12) and/or its lateral displacement in reaction to forces can thus be determine with high accuracy. This allows to discriminate specific bindings of large magnetic particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) via smaller target particles from nonspecific direct bindings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a processing device for the processing of a fluid containing interfering particles, for example for the processing of blood comprising red blood cells (C). Magnetic particles (MP) are added to the fluid and distributed with the help of a magnetic field in a blocking zone (BZ) such that migration of the interfering particles (C) through the blocking zone (BZ) is impeded, preferably completely prevented. The blocking zone (BZ) hence acts as a filter element by which interfering particles (C) can for example be kept away from a detection region (117) at the surface of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of particles includes a biosensor cartridge having a sensor surface. A biosensor magnet assembly is disposed on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface. The biosensor magnet assembly includes at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap. A first optical detection system detects the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly and the first optical sensor are disposed such that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a method for the processing of magnetic particles (MP) provided in a processing chamber (114) with a binding region (116) to which said magnetic particles (MP) can (specifically) bind. Removal of unbound magnetic particles (MP) from the binding region (116) is achieved by first separating them from the binding region (116) by gravitational forces and then moving them further away by magnetic forces. Gravitational forces can for example be generated by tilting the binding region with a tilting unit (156). The prior separation by gravitational forces prevents that unbound magnetic particles (MP) are captured in a cluster with bound magnetic particles.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of particles includes a biosensor cartridge having a sensor surface. A biosensor magnet assembly is disposed on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface. The biosensor magnet assembly includes at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap. A first optical detection system detects the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly and the first optical sensor are disposed such that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for the detection of magnetic particles (1) bound to the binding surface (111) of a sample chamber (112), wherein said detection is made during and/or immediately after the action of an attractive magnetic field. Preferably, the attractive magnetic field (B) is preceded by a repulsive magnetic field (B) which removes unbound magnetic particles away from the binding surface (111). Due to the attractive magnetic field (B), bound magnetic particles (1) come closer to the binding surface (111), which increases the signal of surface specific detection techniques like frustrated total internal reflection. A further enhancement of the signal can be achieved by an attractive magnetic field that is parallel to the binding surface (111), thus inducing the generation of chains between unbound and bound magnetic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and associated apparatuses (100) for the detection of magnetic particles (MP) in a sample chamber (111). The method comprises the determination of a “particle-parameter” that is related to the amount of magnetic particles (MP) in a first detection region (P, C), the determination of a “cluster-parameter” that is related to the degree of clustering of magnetic particles (MP) in a second detection region (P, C), and the evaluation of the particle-parameter based on the cluster-parameter. Various apparatuses are disclosed that can be applied in said method. In one apparatus (100), a magnetic field (B) is generated in the sample chamber (111) in such a way that it has different inclinations in a first and second field region (P, C) and/or that it is oblique to the binding surface (112) in at least one field region.