Abstract: A device for the sequential fractionation of the contents of a centrifuge tube containing centrifugally separated contents utilizing a syringe-like apparatus. The present invention utilizes removable syringe tips that are mounted on a chamber housing for extraction and retention of a precise volume of centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge tube. The syringe-like apparatus is mounted to a frame in such a manner that the chamber housing is movable relative to the plunger or piston to permit precise movement of the chamber housing with the removable syringe tip into the centrifuge tube for delicate and precise removal of the desired fraction of the fluid. The syringe tips are removed with each fraction that is collected from the contents in the centrifuge tube and can be placed in a storage rack for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: An improved multicompartment rotor liner which essentially eliminates the possibility of contamination of centrifugated clarified serum upon retrieval of the serum from the liner. The liner has an annular chamber surrounding a central chamber in which the chyle material is collected during centrifugation from a chylous serum. The present liner invention incorporates a unique flat cover to prevent the accumulation of chyle in the central chamber above the seal junction between the annular chamber and the central chamber. This unique configuration also allows for greater ease of pipette insertion.

Abstract: A double beam, optical null spectrophotometer including means for automatically determining system loop gain requirements and setting the gain to the correct value for optimum response under all operating conditions. With the system ready for operation and a sample in the sample beam path, a difference signal is generated as a function of the position of a reference beam attenuator with and without a small unbalancing signal applied to the system loop. This difference signal is compared to a desired difference signal and a loop gain adjustment is made so that the difference signal will equal the desired difference signal, thereby establishing instrument gain for optimum response.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to isolate faults in a catalytic converter equipped internal combustion engine.The exhaust is analyzed to determine hydrocarbon content, carbon monoxide content and oxygen content and this data is processed through an electronic circuit which accumulates information to be disclosed at the termination of testing.

Abstract: Apparatus compensating for "aperturing effects" produced when a sample holding aperture is incorporated in the sample beam of a conventional dual beam spectrophotometer to allow examination of very small size samples. Such effects usually take the form of undesired variations in the base line output of the spectrophotometer at wavelengths where the spectrophotometer slits open wider than the sample aperture in an attempt to produce a constant energy scan over a given spectrum. The apparatus comprises a second aperture optically equivalent to the sample aperture and located at a slit image point in a common beam portion of the spectrophotometer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining fuel burning efficiency in articles which require hydrocarbon combustion for operation, such as noncatalytic converter equipped internal combustion engines, hot water heaters, furnaces and the like.The invention includes a three gas analyzer which measures the amount of carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrocarbon in the emissions of the exhaust system.

Abstract: A method of checking the electrical isolation provided by a gas permeable membrane for a carbon dioxide sensor in an analyzer for simultaneously measuring the carbon dioxide and chloride content of a blood sample as it reacts with a reagent in a sample cell. The method involves actuating the carbon dioxide sensor during its normal "off-time" and measuring any signal generated thereby while a coulometric generator in the analyzer is initially activated to titrate to a repeatable initial value any chloride present in the reagent alone. Any signal generated by the sensor above a predetermined value is indicative of a defective membrane and may be utilized to inhibit further operation of the analyzer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for layering a liquid sample onto a support liquid through a narrow filler passage in a neck protruding from the opening in a substantially closed, flexible centrifuge tube by supporting the tube with its liquid support contents in an upright position, attaching a funnel shaped container to the neck of the tube, applying a squeezing force to the flexible tube to reduce its internal volume thereby forcing the liquid contents into the neck thereof to form a meniscus adjacent the opening of the filler passage, adding a sample liquid into the funnel shaped container above the filler opening and in contact with the meniscus of the support liquid, and releasing the squeezing force from the tube allowing it to return to its normal volume thereby drawing the sample into the tube layered on top of the support liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is an accessory useful in servicing capillary tube type ink pens associated with strip chart recorders and the like. The device can be used to insert an air bubble into the metallic capillary tube pen during periods of nonuse, flush the pen with solvent when necessary, and prime the pen with ink from an ink supply. The device comprises a container for holding a quantity of ink solvent and having an air pump means such as a bellows communicating with the area above the liquid in the container whereby pressure or vacuum can be applied to the interior of the container. A base member communicates with the liquid in the interior of the container and has an extended tube contained therein terminating at the opposite end in an opening containing a bushing designed to snugly mate with the tip of the recorder pen to provide an airtight/watertight seal.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a peak value of an analog signal includes a first counter for counting pulses from a digital clock for successive samplings of the analog signal to convert each sample of the analog signal into digital form and a counting register into which the pulse count in the first counter is transferred to be recounted at a later sampling. With a prior digital count in the register, the digital clock simultaneously (1) increments the counter to count the current signal sampling and (2) decrements the register to zero to recount the prior signal sampling. The counter is constrained to count up until both counting and recounting steps are complete before the count in the counter is transferred to the register. In this manner the counter will always attain the greater of the current and the prior sampling pulse count values and this maximum value will always be transferred into the register.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for setting the side to side balance of a multi-barreled carburetor on an automobile engine which is running smoothly with no misfiring cylinders and which is set to factory specifications for curb idle speed and timing.

Abstract: A washable non-splatter ink for use in oscillographic type pen recorders is disclosed. The ink is characterized by being stable at room temperature for extended periods of time, thus not requiring refrigeration for the maintenance of stability. The ink contains a high molecular weight polyacrylamide rather than polyethylene oxide as a pituity agent to stop splatter of the ink at fast writing speeds. The polyacrylamide allows the use of washable acid dyes. The inclusion of an unsaturated alcohol, such as butyne diol acts to retard the oxidation of the pituity, thus stabilizing the pituity against aging degradation.

Abstract: An electrochemical combination electrode assembly having an inner, tubular glass pH electrode body supported within a tubular outer plastic container, a reference electrolyte reservoir defined in an annular space between the container and the glass electrode, and an annular, pressure contact leakage junction defined between an inclined surface and edge on the glass electrode body and plastic container for establishing electrolytic communication between the reference electrolyte and a test solution. Preferably the leakage junction is established at the junction line of an axially tapering exterior surface of the glass electrode body and a circular edge on the plastic container surrounding the tapered surface. The glass electrode is nested in the plastic container until the tapering surface and circular edge engage. The degree of pressure engagement establishes the flow rate through the junction.

Abstract: A kinetic assay is provided for determining the acid phosphatase in an aqueous solution by measuring the amount of of reduced coenzyme produced. The assay is based on the following coupled reactions:I. organic phosphate .sup.acid phosphatase PO.sub.4.sup.-3 +organic alcoholII. maltose+PO.sub.4.sup.-3 maltose phosphorylase glucose+ .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate;III. .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate .beta.-D-phosphoglucomutase glucose-6-phosphate;IV. glucose-6-phosphate+NAD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase NADH+6-phosphogluconate.

Abstract: A novel enzymatic reagent system is provided for assaying for total cholesterol in a liquid containing cholesterol, cholesterol esters, oxygen and substances which appear to inhibit the reactions between the enzymes and cholesterol and/or cholesterol esters. The novel reagent system comprises an aqueous solution of a buffering agent, cholesterol oxidase, cholesterol esterase, and a cationic surfactant in an amount sufficient to neutralize the effect of the inhibiting agents.

Abstract: A kinetic assay is provided for determining the inorganic phosphate content in an aqueous solution by measuring the amount of reduced coenzyme produced. The assay is based on the following coupled reactions:I. maltose+PO.sub.4.sup.-3 maltose phosphorylase glucose+.beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate;Ii. .beta.-d-glucose-1-phosphate .beta.-D-phosphoglucomutase glucose-6-phosphate;Iii. glucose-6-phosphate+NAD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase NADH+6-phosphogluconate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the magnitude of a varying analog signal and for displaying a close approximation of a final stabilized value before the signal reaches stabilization. An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal to corresponding digital pulse signals and the digital pulse signals are displayed to an operator. Automatic display-hold circuitry determines the pulse count difference between successive pulse count signals separated by a predetermined time interval, compares the difference to predetermined value, and, when the predetermined value is reached, generates a control signal which locks the displayed value and prevents the display from updating as the analog signal continues to vary. The difference between pulse signals is taken by storing the first signal in an up/down counter and decrementing the counter in response to the second signal.

Abstract: An improved T.sub.3 uptake test procedure characterized in that the separating agent employed therein comprises bovine serum albumin covalently coupled to a derivatized polysaccharide matrix by a bifunctional coupling agent selected from a group consisting of ##STR1## WHEREIN N IS AN INTEGER FROM 1 TO 6 AND WHEREIN E IS AN INTEGER FROM 1 TO 2.A separating agent comprising bovine serum albumin covalently coupled to a derivatived polysaccharide matrix by a bifunctional coupling agent selected from a group consisting of ##STR2## WHEREIN N IS AN INTEGER FROM 1 TO 6 AND WHEREIN E IS AN INTEGER FROM 1 TO 2.

Abstract: A process for making a biological composition for use as a blood serum reference composition in diagnostic analysis. The process comprises:(a) adding calcium to citrated plasma and mixing well to form decitrated plasma;(b) adding thrombin to the decitrated plasma and mixing well to form a clot of fibrin;(c) performing at least one freeze-thaw routine on the clot to cause the fibrin to contract;(d) removing the fibrin to thereby obtain serum;(e) molecular washing and ultrafiltering the serum and thereby obtaining concentrated serum; and(f) adding to the concentrated serum at least one alkylene polyol having from 2-5 carbon atoms in an amount such that said composition's non-biological component comprises from about 40 to about 85 weight percent water and from about 15 to about 60 weight percent of said alkylene polyol.

Abstract: A system for the detection of precipitate-forming antigens by means of the reaction with their corresponding antibodies is disclosed. The reaction of precipitate-forming antigens with their respective antibodies produces a precipitate in proportion to either the antibody concentration or the antigen concentration, depending on which is present in excess. The method does not require formation of actual precipitate, but measures the formation of "scattering centers" -- i.e., molecular aggregates of sufficient size to produce measurable scatter of light. The quantity of scattering centers formed is measured by nephelometric means and the measuring system performs an immunonephelometric analysis. In particular, the rate of change of the nephelometric signal with respect to time is measured and the peak rate and time to the peak rate established. From these simultaneous measurements both the antigen/antibody concentration and the condition of antibody or antigen excess are determined.