Abstract: The invention herein relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnets positioned in a platform above and below the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes magnetic beads, sample and control solutions in some wells, and assay reagents in others. A microcomputer controls a linear actuator which moves the magnet platform causing the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another and to oscillate within a well. At assay completion, the cartridge will generate a signal representing a test result, which is then sent to a server through a wireless transmission system.

Abstract: In a polymer assay cartridge having wells containing reagents, beads and sample, where the wells are covered (e.g., with Parafilm® or films) and shipped to the point of care, the reagents and well contents can leak out. The reagent solutions are made semi-solid by adding hydrogel reagents and cooling to form a gel.

Abstract: The invention herein relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnet carrier base positioned below a scanning platform holding the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes magnetic beads, sample and control solutions in some wells, and assay reagents in others. A microcomputer controls a stepping motor which controls movement of the magnet carrier base, and causes the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another. An electromagnetic coil-spring assembly induces mixing of well contents with the magnetic beads on actuation. The assay cartridge is authenticated by sending its encoded identifier to a server or website, and assay instructions are provided remotely to the microcomputer. Following assay completion, the cartridge can have color change or other assay indication detected, and the results sent to the server or website or another recipient.

Abstract: The invention relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnet carrier base positioned below a scanning platform holding the assay cartridge. A microcomputer controls a stepping motor which controls movement of the magnet carrier base, and causes the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another, where the wells contain different assay reagents. An electromagnetic coil-spring assembly induces mixing of well contents with the magnetic beads on actuation. The assay cartridge is authenticated by sending its encoded identifier to a server or website, and assay instructions are provided remotely to the microcomputer. Following assay completion, the cartridge can have color change or other assay indication detected, and the results sent to the server or website or another recipient. Concurrently assaying a control allows modification of assay results based on measured field conditions.

Abstract: In a polymer assay cartridge having wells containing reagents, beads and sample, where the wells are covered (e.g., with Parafilm® or films) and shipped to the point of care, the reagents and well contents can leak out. The reagent solutions are made semi-solid by adding hydrogel reagents and cooling to form a gel.

Abstract: The invention herein relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnet carrier base positioned below a scanning platform holding the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes magnetic beads, sample and control solutions in some wells, and assay reagents in others. A microcomputer controls a DC motor which controls movement of the magnet carrier base, and causes the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another. An electromagnetic coil-spring assembly induces mixing of well contents with the magnetic beads on actuation. The assay cartridge is authenticated by sending its encoding to a server or website, and assay instructions are provided remotely to the microcomputer. Following assay completion, the cartridge can have color change or other assay indication detected, and the results sent to the server or website or another recipient.

Abstract: A method of maximizing the benefits from a group of diverse healthcare technologies, by establishing a management entity which in turn establishes a website which sets forth its activities, were the activities involve in-licensing a diverse group of healthcare technologies; obtaining a funding pool to be allocated for development; forming a group of business units which is each responsible for developing at least one of the group of technologies, and where distribution to each business unit from the funding pool is determined by the management entity and each business unit reports its technology development progress, available and projected funding for development, and expenditures to the management entity; pooling the management entity and business unit personnel to manage development of the group of technologies; determining the likelihood of a business unit obtaining outside funding to develop technology; and distributing funding to a unit from the funding pool based on said likelihood.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for using the controlled movement of magnetic particles using controlled magnetic fields in a fluidic device containing separated fluidic regions to detect analytes in solution by immunoassay, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for various medical and scientific applications. In order to achieve sequential exposure to the different chemical environments required in an immunoassay, magnetic particles are driven through fluid-containing chambers separated by air-gaps that may take the form of air bubbles or small open-air separations, for example. Externally controlled magnets coupled to actuators draw the flow of magnetic particles through air-liquid interfaces produced by microfluidic surface tension at the air-gap, washing the particles.