Abstract: A planar, solid-state electrochemical oxygen sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a dielectric layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. The working electrode may be defined by an open printed region of the dielectric, or by a needle-punched or laser-burned hole or opening in the dielectric which exposes a small region of one of the conductive strips. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 .mu.m. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system for aspirating liquid from a bottle and conveying the liquid to an analytical instrument while allowing ambient air or gas to enter the bottle to replace the aspirated liquid. The bottle opening is sealed by a valve. A tube extends from the valve to the liquid within the bottle. A coupling component is removably connected to the analytical instrument anti to the valve for operatively connecting the instrument to the tube.

Abstract: A cap assembly for receiving a stopper and for application to the threaded neck of a bottle. The cap assembly includes a cap and a thrust washer. The cap has an end wall which has a central aperture and a circular side wall which has internal threads. The thrust washer has a base wall with a central aperture and a side wall which has a ridge at its outer end. The thrust washer lies within the side wall of the cap so that the base wall engages the end wall and the side wall extends through the aperture in the end wall and the ridge engages the outer surface of the end wall to retain tile thrust washer on the cap. Tile side wall of the thrust washer is resiliently yieldable to enable the ridge to disengage from the end wall to release the thrust washer from the cap.

Abstract: A solid state, multi-use electrochemical sensor having an electrically nonconductive substrate, a working electrode, and a semi-permeable membrane covering the working electrode. The working electrode includes an electrically conductive material adhered to a portion of the substrate. A first portion of the conductive material is covered with an electrically insulating dielectric coating, and a second portion of the conductive material is covered with an active layer. The active layer includes a catalytically active quantity of an enzyme carried by platinized carbon powder particles, which are distributed throughout the active layer. A sensor package for incorporating a sensor is provided.

Abstract: An analyzer for performing automated assay testing. The analyzer includes a storage and conveyor system for conveying cuvettes to an incubation or processing conveyor, a storage and selection system for test sample containers, a storage and selection system for reagent containers, sample and reagent aspirating and dispensing probes, a separation system for separating bound from unbound tracer or labeled reagent, a detection system and date collection/processing system. All of the subunits of the machine are controlled by a central processing unit to coordinate the activity of all of the subunits of the analyzer. The analyzer is specifically suited for performing heterogeneous binding assay protocols, particularly immunoassays.

Abstract: A solid state, multi-use electrochemical sensor having an electrically nonconductive substrate, a working electrode, and a semi-permeable membrane covering the working electrode. The working electrode includes an electrically conductive material adhered to a portion of the substrate. A first portion of the conductive material is covered with an electrically insulating dielectric coating, and a second portion of the conductive material is covered with an active layer. The active layer includes a catalytically active quantity of an enzyme carried by platinized carbon powder particles, which are distributed throughout the active layer. A sensor package for incorporating a sensor is provided.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid delivery system for aspirating liquid from a bottle. The valve assembly includes a valve housing for insertion into the neck of the bottle, an elastomeric valve and an elongated tube. The valve housing has a primary bore and a secondary bore which extends at an angle to the primary bore. The elastomeric valve has a head portion which lies in the primary bore and a flexible neck portion which lies in the secondary bore and which contains a socket. One end of the elongated tube is located in the socket of the flexible neck portion so that the tube extends through the secondary bore and into the interior of the bottle.

Abstract: A planar bicarbonate sensor has been discovered that has a dried residue internal electrolyte layer comprising a bicarbonate source and a halide salt of potassium, lithium, or sodium. The flow-through sensor is capable of providing bicarbonate level of a liquid sample, and when coupled with a pH sensor, may be used to determine the partial carbon dioxide level in the sample. The sensor provides many commercially desirable characteristics including an adequate lifetime, good response time, and good stability upon first usage.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the novel assay methods utilizing nucleophilic polysubstituted aryl acridinium ester conjugates as the tracers. Conjugates prepared by covalent coupling of novel nucleophilic polysubstituted aryl acridinium esters with biological compounds including small organic molecules such as Vitamin B12, folate, cortisol, estradiol, and thromboxane B2, were found useful in the development of highly sensitive assays for the analytes of diagnostic interest.

Abstract: A solid state, multi-use electrochemical sensor having an electrically nonconductive substrate, a working electrode, and a semi-permeable membrane covering the working electrode. The working electrode includes an electrically conductive material adhered to a portion of the substrate. A first portion of the conductive material is covered with an electrically insulating dielectric coating, and a second portion of the conductive material is covered with an active layer. The active layer includes a catalytically active quantity of an enzyme carried by platinized carbon powder particles, which are distributed throughout the active layer. A sensor package for incorporating a sensor is provided.

Abstract: An evanescent wave system and method including an optical sensor for use in assaying a reference material and at least one molecular species or analyte in a test medium or test sample for diagnostic and other applicable purposes. The sensor includes a waveguide for propagating a radiation input along its length. The radiation input causes evanescent electromagnetic waves that are capable of stimulating output emissions that are indicative of a reference material and of one or more molecular species or analytes. By comparing the emission(s) indicative of the reference material to the emission indicative of the presence of the molecular species or analyte, the presence and concentration of the molecule in the sample can be determined. The reference material provides for normalization and/or calibration of the system.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for generating the fluorescence of polyanionic fluorophores in low dielectric media with fluorescence activation produced by specific quaternary onium compounds. The method may be used for measuring an analyte and may be useful in sensor devices.

Abstract: A planar, solid-state electrochemical oxygen sensor having a substrate, conductive strips deposited on the substrate, and a dielectric layer insulating portions of the conductive strips except those portions which define a working electrode and at least one second electrode. The working electrode may be defined by an open printed region of the dielectric, or by a needle-punched or laser-burned hole or opening in the dielectric which exposes a small region of one of the conductive strips. A solid electrolyte contacting the electrodes is covered by a semipermeable membrane which may comprise an acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer or an acrylate-based copolymer. A sample chamber is defined by the membrane, a cover member, and a gasket therebetween, and has a volume of from about 1 to about 2 .mu.l. The gasket is formulated from the highly cross-linked polymerization product of epichlorohydrin. All sensor components are selected such that a sensor operable for at least 2 days under normal conditions is produced.