Abstract: There is disclosed an optical sensor including a matrix containing a luminescence indicator whose luminescence may be quenched by oxygen. The optical sensor contains at least one agent capable of deactivating singlet oxygen and has an enhanced stability relative to oxygen.

Abstract: Starting from two non-miscible phases, i.e., a lipophilic and a hydrophilic phase, a surface-active substance and a recognition component, a micellar recognition system is built in a suitable manner and is incorporated into a layer structure. The micellar recognition system is provided in a single thin layer in which the recognition component is distributed homogeneously. Additional layers which may be provided about this layer, have an influence on the properties of the entire layer structure. On contact between the layer structure and the substance to be measured a recognition step takes place in the layer which is followed by a transducing step. In this way a measurement variable is produced by means of which information is obtained on the substance. The layer structures exhibit higher sensitivity, a lower detection threshold, short response time and special robustness with regard to sample interference.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a sensor for the determination of the concentration and the detection of an enzyme substrate in a liquid sample, the sensor comprising an enzyme capable of reacting with the enzyme substrate while producing a substance directly or indirectly detectable, a detection device for this substance and a cover membrane from a polymer permeable to the enzyme substrate, characterized in that the polymer is a polyvinyl chloride copolymer, i.e. a copolymer from vinyl chloride and a further monomer, the copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups. The sensor according to the invention may be provided as an optical sensor or as an amperometric sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triaza-cryptand of the general Formula I wherein a is selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1, b and c independently are selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1, with the proviso that not both of b and c are 0, d is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2 and 3, e and f independently are selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1, with the proviso that not both of e and f are 0, R1 and R2 are either hydrogen or form an alkyl(C1-C4) benzene ring or an alkoxy(C1C4) benzene ring together with C1 and C2, wherein C2 is the para position, R3 and R2 are either hydrogen or form an alkyl(C1-C4) benzene ring or an alkoxy(C1-C4) benzene ring together with C3 and C4, wherein C3 is the para position, R5 and R6 are either hydrogen or form a benzene ring or a naphtalene ring together with C5 and C6, R7 and R8 are either hydrogen or form an alkyl(C1-C4) benzene ring or an alkoxy(C1-C4) benzene ring together with C7 and C8, wherein C8 is the para position,

Abstract: A control or calibration standard for use with instruments for the optical measurement of the hemoglobin content in blood samples, features scattering particles or beads dispersed in aqueous electrolyte solution. To prevent sedimentation of the beads during storage, they have a mean diameter of <0.6 &mgr;m, preferably about 0.3 &mgr;m, and a volume concentration of <1%, preferably <0.3%. To prevent long term agglomeration, a non-ionic surfactant with an added antioxidant can be included in the formulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound having the general Formula I: including its salts, where Z is either the group having the general Formula II: where R1 is alkyl having 1-4 C atoms, alkoxyalkyl having 2-5 C atoms or aryloxyalkyl whose alkyl group has 1-4 C atoms, R2 is alkyl having 1-4 C atoms or alkoxyalkyl having 2-5 C atoms, R3 is H, alkoxy having 1-4 C atoms, halogen, NO or NO2, Y is H2 or O and L is a luminophoric moiety in a position para or meta to the nitrogen, or is the group having the general Formula III: where n is 2 or 3, R4 is alkyl having 1-4 C atoms or alkoxyalkyl having 2-5 C atoms, R5 is H, alkoxy having 1-4 C atoms, halogen, NO or NO2 and L is a luminophoric moiety in a position para or meta to the nitrogen, or is the group having the general Formula IV: where R6 is alkyl having 1-3 C atoms or phenyl, R7 is H, alkoxy having 1-4 C atoms, halogen, NO or NO2 and L is a luminophoric moiety in a position para

Abstract: The sensor membrane of an optical sensor for detection of O.sub.2, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, SO.sub.2 or halogenated hydrocarbons in a sample contains an indicator substance that is homogeneously immobilized in the polymer matrix of the sensor membrane and is, at least indirectly, in contact with the sample, changing at least one of its optical properties upon a change of the parameter to be measured. The indicator substance contains an inorganic salt of a transition metal complex with .alpha.-diimine ligands. The indicator substance is homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix, which essentially consists of at least one substance belonging to the group of cellulose derivatives, polystyrenes, polytetrahydrofuranes, or their respective derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining an alkali ion in a sample, wherein the alkali ion is contacted with a compound having a luminophoric moiety and an ionophoric moiety, which ionophoric moiety reacts with the alkali ion present in the sample, wherein the luminophoric moiety changes its luminescence properties, after which the luminescence is measured and the alkali ion determined utilizing the test reading, which method is characterized in that the compound utilized is a diaza-cryptand of the general Formula I: ##STR1## in which X is the luminophoric moiety, m is the number 0, 1 or 2, and o and p independently mean the numbers 0, 1 or 2.

Abstract: In a method of optically determining the total hemoglobin concentration (tHb) in non-hemolyzed whole blood, using at least two wavelengths for measuring, a first wavelength of .lambda.<805 nm and a second wavelength of .lambda.>805 nm is employed, such that the following is valid for the absorption coefficients of the hemoglobin derivatives O.sub.2 Hb and RHb at the two measurement wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 : .sigma.O(.lambda..sub.1).about..sigma.R(.lambda..sub.2) and .sigma.R(.lambda..sub.1).about..sigma.O(.lambda..sub.2). The sum of absorption values A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 measured at wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 will be a quantity which is proportional to the total hemoglobin concentration tHb and independent of the oxygen saturation O.sub.2sat.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing a liquid from a sealed glass ampoule includes a frame holding the sealed glass ampoule in upright or slightly inclined position, such that a tip of the ampoule points upwardly. An element is provided which will press or knock against the side of the tip or neck of the ampoule in order to break the tip of the ampoule in the region of the neck. The device further includes a withdrawing element which can be introduced into the glass ampoule in an area between the bottom of the ampoule and the surface of the liquid therein, and which includes a cannula for withdrawing the liquid.

Abstract: In a gas mixing system for producing high-precision, continuous streams of mixed gas consisting of a plurality of individually metered gas components, with an individual gas line including a pressure reducing element and, if desired, a precision pressure regulator for each gas component, precision is further improved by providing that each gas line lead to a separate valve which is timed by electronic control means, the valves being connected at the input side via a jointly vented system of lines for pressure equalization, and communicating at the output side via a mixed gas line with a mixing chamber downstream thereof.

Abstract: In a sensor layer for quantitative determination of at least one chemical component in a gaseous or liquid sample medium containing a chromophore which is directly or indirectly responsive to the component being determined by changing its absorption spectrum, and a luminophore which is not responsive to the component being determined, where there is an at least partial overlap between the emission spectrum of the luminophore and the absorption spectrum of the chromophore, and where the energy transfer between luminophore and chromophore produces a measurable change in at least one luminescence characteristic of the luminophore, the luminophore L and the chromophore .GAMMA. are ionic substances with differing electrical charges, which are incorporated in a matrix material that is permeable to the chemical component being determined.

Abstract: For the purpose of determining the concentration c of an absorbing medium distributed homogeneously in a carrier, even if the film thickness d of the carrier is unknown, an absorbing medium is used whose measured absorption a(.lambda.) deviates from Lambert-Beer's law, in particular in the region of higher concentration, and n.gtoreq.2 model components of the absorbing medium are assumed, so thata(.lambda.)=(.epsilon..sub.1 (.lambda.).c.sub.1 +.epsilon..sub.2 (.lambda.).c.sub.2 + . . . .epsilon..sub.n (.lambda.).c.sub.n).d.The absorption a(.lambda..sub.i) is measured for at least n wavelengths, and the spectral absorption values .epsilon..sub.i (.lambda..sub.i) and concentrations c.sub.i of the model components are computed and the concentration c is determined from the functional relationship between the concentration c and concentrations c.sub.i of the model components c=f(c.sub.i), which relationship is obtained by calibrating measurements.

Abstract: Quality control of an analyzing system that includes a portable analyzer with insertable single-use cartridges whose sample chamber contains optical and/or electrochemical sensors is accomplished by bringing the sensors in the single-use cartridge into contact, or are in contact with, a calibrating and/or conditioning medium, the calibrating and/or conditioning medium exhibiting chemical and/or physical parameters which influence the characteristic of at least one of the sensors. Just before a sample is measured, the sensors are contacted with a quality control liquid which is identical with the calibrating and/or conditioning medium within a predetermined desired range of accuracy for the sample components to be measured, as regards the chemical and/or physical parameters influencing the characteristic of at least one sensor during calibration and/or conditioning. The instantaneous control values obtained on the basis of the calibration values are subsequently compared to known target control values.

Abstract: A device for performing electrochemical and/or optical measurements in fluids, includes a sensor part of substantially planar configuration carrying a plurality of sensors that are connected to conductive paths; a cover part, which includes a groove-shaped measuring channel through which the fluid will flow; and a sealing element positioned between the sensor part and the cover part for sealing the measuring channel. The cover part includes grooves which extend in parallel with the measuring channel and which define respective ridges between the grooves and the measuring channel, and the sealing element substantially includes guiding bodies which are retained in the grooves of the cover part and are provided with integrally molded narrow sealing lips protruding in the area of the ridge. The sensor part and the cover part are joined by a plurality of locking elements which are distributed along the measuring channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound having the general Formula I in which one of the groups R.sub.1,R.sub.2,R.sub.3,R.sub.4,R.sub.5,R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 represents an ionophoric moiety and the remaining groups each independently are hydrogen, a lipophilic or hydrophilic group or a reactive group for coupling to a polymer or a biomolecule, or R.sub.2 forms an aromatic ring system together with R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 forms an aromatic ring system together with R.sub.6.the compound of the invention is useful as a luminescence indicator for cations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound having the general Formula I ##STR1## in which one of the groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 represents an ionophoric moiety and the remaining groups each independently are hydrogen, a lipophilic or hydrophilic group or a reactive group for coupling to a polymer or a biomolecule, or R.sub.2 forms an aromatic ring system together with R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 forms an aromatic ring system together with R.sub.6.The compound of the invention is useful as a luminescence indicator for alkali ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining an alkali ion in a sample, wherein the alkali ion is contacted with a compound having a luminophoric moiety and an ionophoric moiety, which ionophoric moiety reacts with the alkali ion present in the sample, wherein the luminophoric moiety changes its luminescence properties, after which the luminescence is measured and the alkali ion determined utilizing the test reading,which method is characterized in that the compound utilized is a monoaza-crown ether of the general Formula I ##STR1## in which X is the luminophoric moiety, m is the number 0, 1 or 2, and r and s independently mean the numbers 0, 1 or 2.