Abstract: Cell useful for equilibrating a hydrophilic liquid such as an aqueous solution held therewithin with a gas composition. The cell comprises a tube having an open end and a closed end, the closed end comprising a porous member having a hydrophobic surface, the member being impervious to flow of a hydrophilic liquid therethrough when the tube is filled therewith and positioned vertically with a closed end thereof downwardly and being permeable to pressurized flow of the gas composition upwardly therethrough. The invention is also concerned with such a cell in an apparatus for equilibrating a hydrophilic liquid such as an aqueous solution with a gas composition, which apparatus comprises a gas vessel having therewithin a gas of a selectable composition at a pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure, flow control means for receiving flow from said vessel and controlling a flow rate therefrom and conduit means leading from the flow control means to a solution cell having therewithin a hydrophilic liquid.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with apparatus for equilibrating an aqueous solution with gas. The apparatus includes a gas vessel having therewithin a gas of a selectable composition at a pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure. Flow control means receive flow from the vessel and control a flow rate therefrom. A solution tube is provided having an aqueous solution therewithin. Conduit means lead from the flow control means to the tube below a liquid level of the aqueous solution. Means are also provided for causing the gas to be delivered within the aqueous solution below the liquid level as a plurality of bubbles. The process of the present invention is directed at simultaneously equilibrating a plurality of aqueous solutions each with one of a plurality of gas compositions.

Abstract: Standards solutions and test samples are necessary for blood gas analyzers. Production of such standards and test samples has only been possible with relatively expensive apparatus. Such standards and test samples are provided herein by apparatus 10 which equilibrates a liquid 12 with a gas 14. The apparatus 10 includes a barrel 16 open at a first end 18 and at a second end 20. A piston 22 fits matingly reciprocally within the barrel 16. A flow control 26 allows the gas 14 to flow into the second end 20 of the barrel 16 and prevents the liquid 12 from flowing out of the second end 20 of the barrel 16. The gas 14 is allowed to flow out of the barrel 16 above a liquid level 44 therein. A method utilizing the apparatus 10 to prepare standard and test sample solutions is also set out.

Abstract: Standards solutions and test samples are necessary for blood gas analyzers. Production of such standards and test samples has only been possible with relatively expensive apparatus. Such standards and test samples are provided herein by apparatus 10 which equilibrates a liquid 12 with a gas 14. The apparatus 10 includes a barrel 16 open at a first end 18 and at a second end 20. A piston 22 fits matingly reciprocally within the barrel 16. A flow control 26 allows the gas 14 to flow into the second end 20 of the barrel 16 and prevents the liquid 12 from flowing out of the second end 20 of the barrel 16. The gas 14 is allowed to flow out of the barrel 16 above a liquid level 44 therein. A method utilizing the apparatus 10 to prepare standard and test sample solutions is also set out.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fractionating a liquid sample is disclosed. The liquid sample is generally blood plasma or blood serum from which it is desired to selectively remove low density lipoproteins while leaving behind high density lipoproteins. The apparatus comprises a chamber having a plurality of inert beads or particles in an upper portion thereof. The chamber is preferably defined by a disposable column. A dry reagent aliquot suitable for reacting with the liquid sample is coated upon the beads or particles. An upper filter is disposed in the chamber below the beads to retain the liquid sample during reaction. After reaction, the liquid sample is expressed through the upper filter and flows into a lower portion of the chamber. The lower portion includes a lower filter which separates low density lipoprotein containing flocculent from high density lipoprotein containing supernatant.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a micro-organism growth cell comprising a sterilized container having therewithin an agar-based nutrient gel. The gel has intimately intermixed therethroughout a specific amount of a dialkylpolysiloxane which causes a top surface of the gel to be smooth insuring a uniform growth rate for a micro-organism placed upon said top surface. The invention is also concerned with a process for growing a micro-organism upon the surface of an agar-based nutrient shell at a reproducibly constant growth rate. The process comprises intermixing with agar, essential nutrients and water, sufficient of said agar being used to insure formation of a gel, prior to the gelling thereof, a specific amount of a dialkylpolysiloxane. The resulting intermixture is gelled in a sterile micro-organism growth container to form a micro-organism growth cell as described above and the top surface of the gel is innoculated with a micro-organism.