Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosing an acute cardiovascular event and for differentiating between an acute cardiovascular event and chronic heart failure based on measuring a cardiac troponin and a natriuretic peptide in a sample from a patient and comparing the measured amounts with reference amounts, as well as devices and kits for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: Glucose analysis instrument for diabetics, comprising a measuring device for determining glucose concentration values, a displaying device for displaying glucose concentration values, a signaling device for generating a reminder signal, and a control and evaluation device that comprises a processor and a data memory and is used to determine reminder times at which the signaling device is actuated. Event data are stored in the data memory, the event data containing information on events occurring in the life of a user of the glucose analysis instrument and on the time of occurrence of such events. The reminder times are determined by means of a reminder time determination algorithm taking into consideration event data from at least one previous day.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chemiluminescent compounds, to a method for synthesizing these compounds, to derivatives and conjugates comprising these compounds, to the use of these compounds or conjugates thereof in chemiluminescence based assays, especially in immunoassays.

Abstract: Process and device for generating a current of humid air having a defined relative humidity comprising the steps of generating a current of air in a tubing arrangement, generating hot water vapor, introducing the water vapor into the air current to generate flowing hot humid air, passing the hot humid air through a water separator while lowering the temperature of the humid air below the dew point temperature to generate saturated humid air having a defined temperature, heating the humid air coming from the water separator above the defined temperature to achieve a defined relative humidity, and discharging the humid air from the tubing arrangement as a current of humid air having a relative humidity of not less than 80%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a fluorescent polypeptide complex characterized in that an isolated fluorescent polypeptide is inter-molecularly cross-linked with itself or one or more other polypeptides and wherein said complex is of 40 nm to 500 nm in size, it also relates to a complex obtainable by such method, to conjugates comprising such a fluorescent polypeptide complex and to the use of such complex or conjugate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of differentiating between a singular and a multiple lung embolism in a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism comprising determining the amount of NT-proBNP in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism and comparing the amount to a reference amount. Further, the present invention also relates to a method of differentiating between acute and chronic lung embolism in a subject comprising determining the amount of NT-proANP at a first and a second time point and comparing the determined amounts with each other. The present invention also encompasses devices and kits for carrying out the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: Activated haptens useful for generating immunogens to HIV protease inhibitors, immunogens useful for producing antibodies to HIV protease inhibitors, and antibodies and labeled conjugates useful in immunoassays for the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir. The novel haptens feature an activated functionality at the central, non-terminal hydroxyl group. Also described are monoclonal antibodies specific for saquinavir having less than 10% cross-reactivity with lopinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, and indinavir, and a murine hybridoma producing said antibodies.

Abstract: A separation device and a separation method for biomolecular sample material and in particular protein mixtures. For this purpose a separation element 10 for the two-dimensional and preferable electrophoretic separation of components of the sample material is provided in area 30 of a separation plane. According to the invention it is proposed that the separation element 10 has a channel or transfer structure 14 for the locally resolved discharge of separated sample components in a transport direction that is at right angles to the separation plane onto a support surface 16 that is preferably suitable for mass spectroscopic analyses.

Abstract: A highly specific homogeneous assay method for an immunosuppressive drug using an immunophilin in a single receptor format is provided. In the simplest format, a single receptor is utilized analogous to a competitive immunoassay whereby an immunophilin is substituted for an antibody, and a competition results between a drug conjugate and the drug analyte for a limited number of immunophilin binding sites. In a microparticle agglutination assay format, an immunophilin is either bound to a particle or in solution. In the case where an immunophilin is bound to a particle, a polyvalent conjugate of the drug analyte is present in solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld analysis instrument for assaying a medically significant sample. The instrument comprises a measuring device for measuring the concentration of an analyte in the sample, an output device for outputting measurement results. The output device has both an acoustic signal output device for outputting the measurement results through nonverbal acoustic signals and also a wireless interface for communicating with an external speech output unit.

Abstract: A capillary biosensor analysis system is provided for analyzing a liquid sample, comprising a plurality of longitudinally arranged and consecutively provided and aligned capillary biosensors having a capillary channel enclosed by at least two wall parts and containing one or more reagents, and an evaluation instrument which has a holder to position a forward-most capillary biosensor in a measurement position for performing an analysis. The plurality of capillary biosensors are implemented as a multiple capillary-biosensor strip. A multiple capillary-biosensor strip is guided and held in the holder in such a manner that one capillary biosensor of the strip at a time is located in the measurement position. The multiple capillary-biosensor strip is movable in the evaluation instrument in such a manner that consecutive capillary biosensors of the multiple capillary-biosensor strip are transported one after the other into the measurement position.

Abstract: Biosensor system and method for the electrochemical determination of an concentration of an analyte in a sample. An analyte reactant is at least partially hydrated by the sample to form a reaction layer in contact with electrodes for measurement of an analyte detection current. The analyte detection current is characteristic of the analyte concentration in the sample by virtue of a reaction sequence comprising an analyte-specific reaction taking place in the reaction layer and an electrode reaction including transfer of electrons through an electrode surface. A plurality of values of a curve of the analyte detection current versus time are measured and the analyte concentration is derived therefrom by means of an evaluation algorithm.

Abstract: Systems and method for optically imaging objects and in particular optical patterns or codes onto a detection device by a pinhole aperture are described. According to an embodiment of the invention these systems have optical attenuation elements between the illumination devices and the object which substantially compensate the system-inherent imaging detects caused by the pinhole aperture and in particular the system-inherent peripheral decrease in brightness of an image of the object formed by a pinhole aperture on the detection device. According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical attenuation elements change the illumination intensity of the object in such a manner that the central areas of the object are illuminated at a lower light intensity than its peripheral areas. As a result of the subsequent imaging of the object by a pinhole aperture, the central areas of the object are imaged onto the detection device at a higher light intensity than the peripheral areas of the object.

Abstract: Described are methods for diagnosing a cardiac disease, particularly an acute cardiac event, in a patient presenting with symptoms of acute cardiac decompensation, comprising the steps of (a) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NT-proBNP (N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (b) measuring, typically in vitro, the level of NIT-proANP (N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide) or a variant thereof in a sample from the patient, (c) combining the information of the measured levels of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP, wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a non-increased or weakly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of an acute cardiac event, or wherein an increased level of NT-proANP in presence of a highly increased level of NT-proBNP indicates the presence of a chronic cardiac disease. The methods also allow distinguishing an acute cardiac event from decompensation of a chronic cardiac disease.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing reagent carriers having a binding capability that are suitable for determining analytes in liquids, wherein the process comprises at least one step of treating a respective reagent carrier body in particular by transferring material between a treatment device and the reagent carrier body in a preparation device and wherein this treatment step takes place on the moving reagent carrier body during its transport in the preparation device or during a movement of the treatment device relative to the reagent carrier body in the preparation device.

Abstract: A method for determining a reference position for a pipetting needle which is part of an automatic analytical apparatus that includes a rotatable conveyor, conveyor driving means, an automatic pipetting unit having a needle transport device, excenter mechanism, a level detection means, and a reference member for determining a reference position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the diagnosis of breast cancer. It discloses the use of protein cellular retinoic acid binding protein II in the diagnosis of breast cancer. It relates to a method for diagnosis of breast cancer from a liquid sample, derived from an individual by measuring cellular retinoic acid binding protein II in said sample. Measurement of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II can, e.g., be used in the early detection or diagnosis of breast cancer.

Abstract: Activated haptens useful for generating immunogens to HIV protease inhibitors, immunogens useful for producing antibodies to HIV protease inhibitors, and antibodies and labeled conjugates useful in immunoassays for the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir. The novel haptens feature an activated functionality at the central, non-terminal hydroxyl group. Also described are monoclonal antibodies specific for saquinavir having less than 10% cross-reactivity with lopinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, and indinavir, and a murine hybridoma producing said antibodies.

Abstract: A method and a device for removing an analytic consumable product, in particular a test element, from a storage container having chambers which are sealed by foils from which the consumable product is pushed out by means of a plunger (7) can be optimized in that the magnitude of the thrusting force exercised by the plunger (7) during its forward motion can be controlled in dependence on the plunger (7) position.

Abstract: The present invention comprises novel analogs of ecstasy-class compounds and novel ecstasy-class immunogens leashed out of, i.e., derived from, the methylenedioxy position. The invention also comprises unique monoclonal antibodies generated using MDO-leashed MDMA immunogens as well as unique conjugates and tracers. These antibodies, conjugates, and tracers are useful in immunoassays for the detection of ecstasy-class compounds in biological fluids.