Abstract: A test strip having a small sample-receiving chamber on the order of less than 1 microliter. The inventive test strip includes a reagent layer that extends across the width of the test strip and also extends to the sample-receiving end, such that the edges of the reagent layer are aligned with the side and dose receiving edges of the test strip. The hydrophilic reagent extending to the dosing edge of the strip promotes wicking of the sample into the test strip. The end and side edges of the reagent layer are preferably formed as part of a cutting process that forms individual test strips from a larger web, which results in a smooth and thin reagent layer with a uniform thickness, substantially covering the entire floor of the sample-receiving chamber. The inventive mass production process helps improve the reproducibility of the quantity, location, thickness and other properties of the reagent layer, which in turn improves the accuracy of the test result.

Abstract: A process and closure arrangement is provided for isolating purified biological material. The process includes placing biological materials in separate lysis vessels, adding lysis liquids to the biological materials in the lysis vessels, and transferring the liquids in the lysis vessels into a matrix unit. The liquids in the matrix vessels of the matrix unit are extracted through outlet openings during which the liquids flow through matrices and the matrix unit is placed on a collecting unit with collecting vessels which are arranged such that at least the outlet openings of the matrix vessels extend into the collecting vessels. The matrix vessels are with elution fluid and elution fluids from the matrix vessels are extracted through their outlet openings during which the elution fluids flow through the matrices and the elution fluids which are enriched with biological material are collected in the collecting vessels.

Abstract: A vibration damper for the wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes a damping tube, a working piston which splits the interior of the damping tube into two working chambers and is attached to a piston rod, a closure assembly which closes an open end of the damping tube and through which the piston rod is guided, and a rebound buffer spring which is disposed between two spring plates. The rebound buffer spring is formed as a helical spring, wherein the ends of the rebound buffer spring are supported on support surfaces of the spring plates. The spring plates comprise support sleeves extending in the longitudinal direction of the vibration damper, and the outer peripheral surfaces of the support sleeves support the rebound buffer spring from the inside in the radial direction when the rebound buffer spring has reached its hard stop. The support sleeves do not touch when the compression coil spring is at its hard stop.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synchronization system comprising a base unit and at least one video camera. The base unit includes a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data, a memory, and a base unit communications transceiver. The base unit communications transceiver is adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver. The video camera includes an image sensor adapted to store the video data, an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor, and a camera time-base adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal from the video camera communications transceiver. The camera time-base is further adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal, reset its time and initiates its internal timing sequence, transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure, and transmit timing signals to the image sensor to read the video data.

Abstract: This invention relates to test element analysis system for the analytical investigation of body liquids. An evaluation instrument, pertaining to the system, comprises a storage container, where a plurality of test elements is held ready for use, a sample application position, where one test element at a time is brought into contact with the sample, a measuring device for the determination of a measurable variable characteristic for the analysis, and a transport device, by which one test element at a time is taken out of the test element storage container at the take out position and transported to the sample application position.

Abstract: The invention concerns lancets with a lancet needle, the tip of the lancet needle being embedded in an elastic material. Furthermore the invention concerns lancets where the tip of the lancet needle is surrounded by a hollow body which partially consists of an elastic material that can be pierced by the tip of the lancet needle during the lancing process and which reseals the tip of the lancet needle in the hollow body when it is retracted. In addition the invention concerns a lancet magazine in which the lancets are accommodated in individual chambers, each chamber having an opening through which the tip of the lancet needle can pass, which is sealed by an elastic material. Finally the invention concerns the use of an elastic material as a component of a lancet or a lancet magazine to maintain the sterility of at least the tip of a lancet needle in the unused state and to hygienically protect at least the tip of a lancet needle in the used state.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shock absorber for motor vehicles having a vibration absorber tube (1), in which a working piston (3) is arranged which is fixed to a piston rod (2), a closure pack (16) which closes the vibration absorber tube (1), and guides the piston rod (2), along with an outer tube (4) which surrounds at least partly the vibration absorber tube (1), wherein the outer tube (4) is connected rigidly to the piston rod (2) outside the vibration absorber tube (1).

Abstract: The invention relates a method for incorporating a functional additive within a porous material, which method comprises impregnating the porous material with a slurry of a nano-sized material that carries the functional additive, wherein in the slurry the weight ratio of the additive (A) and the nano-sized material (B) is in the range of from 0.01 to 1.0 (A/B). The invention further relates to a porous material obtainable by said method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pipette comprising mounting surfaces of different diameters for the use of disposable tips of different size, which permits easy discarding of the tips after use. Such pipettes can be used in manual and automatic pipetting systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ecological protected material, comprising a base material (4) provided with a water-insoluble substance, a growth substrate and a microorganism layer. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a material according to the invention, comprising providing a base material with a water-insoluble substance, a growth substrate and a microorganism.

Abstract: A system for simple nucleic acid analysis is described in which the amplification space contains at least a part of the binding space. An additional improvement is achieved by the design of the binding or/and amplification space which is optionally surrounded by a heatable metal layer.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body, the lancet needle being movable relative to the lancet body and the lancet body being composed, at least in the area of the tip of the lancet needle, of an elastic material in which the tip of the lancet needle is embedded, and an analytical test element which is permanently connected to the lancet body. In addition the invention concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body which is in the form of a hollow body in the area of the tip of the lancet needle and surrounds the tip of the lancet needle, the lancet needle being movable relative to the lancet body and the hollow body being composed at least partially of an elastic material, and an analytical test element which is permanently connected to the lancet body. Finally the invention concerns a process for manufacturing such an analytical device.

Abstract: A reduced water consumption flush toilet for a motor vehicle includes a bowl assembly, a waste ball valve assembly and a water valve assembly. The bowl assembly defines a bowl and a discharge opening at a lower end of the bowl. The waste ball valve assembly is mounted to the flush toilet for selectively opening and closing the discharge opening of the bowl assembly. The water valve assembly delivers a source of flush water to the bowl. The water valve assembly includes a water valve operable in a water valve open condition and a water valve closed condition. The flush toilet further includes a common actuator for controlling both the waste ball valve assembly and the water valve assembly.

Abstract: A digital observation system and method for processing and transmitting video data between a video camera, or video cameras, and a base unit. The video data is transmitted, for example, by a communication protocol that is compliant with Ethernet physical drivers for transmitting and receiving data at around 100 Mbps. Video is captured at a sensor in the video camera, digitally processed and transmitted, thus overcoming limitations associated with analog processing and allowing unique features to be added. Images and other data may be transmitted efficiently in their native format, with reduced overhead, and in a non-compressed format due to the data transmission rate at or below 100 Mbps.

Abstract: The present invention provides a video transmission system that comprises a camera and a base unit. The camera includes a sensor memory adapted to store video data until each line of the video data is sequentially transmitted, a data buffer adapted to receive and store the sequentially transmitted video data until it is completely received at a base unit memory without errors, a data port adapted to receive from the data buffer and transmit to a camera physical transceiver the data buffered video data, a controller adapted to control data flow between the camera and the base unit, and the camera physical transceiver adapted to transfer the data buffered video data to a physical transceiver of the base unit.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes a damper tube filled with a damping medium; a piston rod which can move in an oscillating and reciprocal manner in the damper tube and one end of which protrudes into the damper tube and which comprises at this end a piston rod extension and a shoulder. A piston divides the interior of the damper tube into a working chamber remote from the piston rod and a piston rod-side working chamber and which is disposed coaxially with respect to the piston rod extension and comprises restrictor openings and at least one spring washer covering these restrictor openings in each working chamber. A buffer spring is disposed in the piston rod-side working chamber. Also a spring collar which is disposed in the piston rod-side working chamber and has a first support surface supporting the buffer spring and a second support surface for the at least one spring washer disposed in the piston rod-side working chamber.

Abstract: The production of pouch-shaped or pot-shaped parts is undertaken in two steps. In the first step, a film located above a die is pressed by a stamp into a cavity that reproduces the part and is subsequently pressed apart in the lower region of the cavity by deformation of the stamp in this region. The device has a rubber-like stamp that expands out on all sides once it has reached the bottom wall of the cavity and causes the film to conform to the shape of the cavity. The stamp is preferably designed in two parts, wherein a stamp insert is guided within a stamp guide and the stamp insert then has at least one deformable region. For removal of the formed film, provision is made that the die can be swung open.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vibration damper with a cylindrical pipe (1), which is closed off by a sealing and guiding unit (6) and into which a piston rod (3), carrying a damper piston (2), which is passed through the sealing and guiding unit, can dip in an oscillating manner, the damper piston (2) dividing the interior space of the cylindrical pipe into an annular space (4) on the piston rod side and a working space (5) remote from the piston rod and a rebound buffer spring (7), constructed as a helical spring, which has a first end region (7a), facing the damper piston and a second end region (7b), facing the sealing and guiding unit (6), as well as a transition region (7c) connecting these to end regions, being disposed in the annular space (4) between the damper piston (2) and the sealing and guiding unit (6), characterized in that, within the transition region, the rebound buffer spring (7) has a section (7d), which extends in the axial direction over at least one helical spring coil and in whi

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pipette comprising mounting surfaces of different diameters for the use of disposable tips of different size, which permits easy discarding of the tips after use. Such pipettes can be used in manual and automatic pipetting systems.

Abstract: Annular bearing member for supporting a support element that comprises elastic material and that when installed is under pressure and that is in the area of a suspension strut, whereby the bearing member comprises a material that has a greater hardness than the material of the support element and whereby the bearing member includes a bearing surface upon which the support element with a counter-surface is supported, whereby elevations are arranged encirclingly on the surface of the bearing surface and concentric to one another and form an integral component of the bearing member, whereby every two adjacent elevations limit an encircling receiving space for elastic material of the support element.