Abstract: A dressing device and method are described, for use with a needle that is injected into the skin. The dressing device comprises a cover sheet and a gel medium attached to the cover sheet, the gel medium being transparent and effective to reseal after being punctured by the needle. Most importantly, the gel medium includes a sterilizing agent.Injection of the needle into the skin occurs only after the needle penetrates the gel medium, so that the needle is disinfected or sterilized.

Abstract: A kit of collection vessels is disclosed. Each vessel in the kit has the same overall length and outside diameter to allow interface with a single other device. However, a partition used to close off one part of the tube is positioned in some of the tubes to create volumes less than the total possible volume.

Abstract: Dispensing nozzles suffer from the problem of perfusion and can be relatively inaccurate in the amount of fluid dispensed each time. Described herein is a dispensing device which is provided with an improved nozzle construction. An exterior surface, having an aperture through which fluid is dispensed, has a second surface positioned adjacent to it. Further surfaces are arranged further up the nozzle. The arrangement of the surfaces is such that self-wiping of the device is maximized (if the device is also used for aspiration wherein the device is withdrawn from a supply of the liquid) and that perfusion is minimized during dispensing of the fluid contained therein. This is achieved by having the second surface angled to the first surface, defining an angle .alpha., relative to the first surface.

Abstract: A device for liquid transport, and a method of making it, are described. The device features a capillary transport zone comprising opposing sufaces formed from supporting material having unsatisfactory wettability. The wettability is improved by applying a coating of an adhesive.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal cycling cuvette constructed with an improved sample fluid thermal time constant. The fluid surface-to-volume ratio, and the cuvette thermal path length and thermal resistance of at least one of the walls that provides a major surface of contact, are selected to provide such a thermal time constant that is no greater than about 10 seconds for a cuvette volume no greater than about 200 .mu.l. Also included in the cuvette are means permitting the introduction and removal of liquid into and from the cuvette. A preferred construction permits ready and substantially complete removal of the liquid.

Abstract: There is described a capillary transport device wherein the transport zone includes energy barriers such as ribs extending partway from one opposing surface to the other opposing surface of the zone, and slot means for preventing air entrapment, such means being in each energy barrier, or in every other energy barrier.There is also described a method of providing a non-mixing junction between two miscible liquids.

Abstract: A capillary transport device is disclosed, suitable for use as an ion bridge for potentiometric test elements. Such device has an internal capillary transport passage, and two access apertures for separate access of two different liquids to two spaced-apart regions of the passage. To control the liquid flow rate within the passage, there is disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces of the passage between the two regions, means for (a) increasing the viscosity of the liquid while it is flowing past at least one surface, and (b) at the same time maintaining such flow continuous within the passage.

Abstract: Diverting apertures are operative to divert capillary transport of liquid from one transport zone into a second, unvented zone before the diverting aperture is surrounded by liquid flow in the first zone, by providing structure such that (a) the height of the head of liquid that is above the aperture, is selected to be sufficiently large, compared to the distance that the diverted liquid must flow into the second zone, and (b) the width of the first zone, and the dimension of the diverting aperture parallel thereto, have a predetermined relation.

Abstract: Device and method for transporting liquid within a passage, the device having improved acess means for conveying liquid into the passage. Each access means comprises at least two and preferably more than two, apertures, one larger than the others, the apertures being sized so that only the larger aperture permits independent initiation of flow within the passage.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser is disclosed, comprising a vented pipette and an actuator for the pipette. The actuator includes apparatus for mounting the pipette and a mechanism for automatically lowering a piston into the pipette to a predetermined starting level before the pipette vent is sealed, to insure that a predictable quantity of liquid is dispensed once the vent is sealed.

Abstract: A reaction vessel, test device, and method of detection or measurement are disclosed, featuring the use of at least two operatively connected zones formed by transport surfaces spaced apart throughout most of the zones a capillary distance. The zones are fluidly connected by meniscus control means effective to stop capillary flow of the liquid from one zone to the other, until an externally generated actuation pressure is applied.

Abstract: A device suitable for potentiometric analysis of liquid ions is disclosed, wherein a liquid transport member extending between and adjacent to two electrodes comprises two opposed surfaces spaced apart a distance to induce capillary flow of liquid between the surfaces.

Abstract: A photographic film unit which includes first and second superposed sheets, and is processable by distributing a liquid between the sheets, is provided with liquid directing means that present a greater resistance to liquid flow in a longitudinal direction than in a transverse direction. Transverse barrier ridges, which are small compared to the depth of the liquid, are positioned between the sheets to inhibit the flow in the predetermined direction while flow continues uninhibited or is enhanced in the transverse direction along the ridges. Other embodiments employ stripes having different degrees of hydrophobicity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nozzle for aspirating and precision dispensing liquid, the nozzle being designed to influence liquid remaining on the exterior of the nozzle after aspiration, to move away from the vicinity of the dispensing portion of the nozzle. Optionally the nozzle is part of a disposable container that includes a compartment for storing the liquid that is aspirated and subsequently dispensed.

Abstract: A test device, and a method of testing, that use a plurality of test elements each for a different analyte, all elements being supplied analyte from a single quantity of liquid. The liquid is conveyed to the test elements by a capillary transport zone, and means for venting the zone are provided. To prevent contamination, liquid flow control means are included so that the liquid is confined to a plurality of flow paths each of which extends to only one test element.

Abstract: A liquid transport device is disclosed for providing capillary flow. The device features a capillary transport zone provided by two opposed surfaces and having at least two regions, and means extending between said regions for delaying flow of liquid therebetween.

Abstract: A device suitable for potentiometric analysis of liquid ions is disclosed, wherein a liquid transport member extending between and adjacent to two electrodes comprises two opposed surfaces spaced apart a distance to induce capillary flow of liquid between the surfaces.

Abstract: An opaque casing houses a plurality of instant photographic film units each of which has spaced apart photosensitive and cover sheets and an access hole for introduction of processing fluid into the volume between the sheets. The casing has a container of processing fluid. Fluid passage means from the container terminate at a small cross-sectional area opening positioned to align with the access holes of successively exposed film units so that processing fluid can be introduced into the film units.

Abstract: A device is disclosed comprising first and second capillary liquid transport zones provided by first and second pairs of opposing surfaces, the opposing surfaces of the second zone both extending from the same one of the paired surfaces of the first zone. The inlet to the second zone is a diverting aperture that is formed in such same surface and configured (i) to insure complete wetting of the second pair of surfaces by the liquid and (ii) to provide a cross-sectional flow-through area greater than about 0.2 mm.sup.2.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes an ingress aperture which provides improved transport of a drop of liquid, from an exterior surface of the device to the device interior. Means are provided at the intersection of the aperture sidewall and the exterior surface for urging a drop deposited thereon to move into contact with the aperture sidewall and thus into the aperture.