Abstract: This invention describes a method and apparatus for a liquid dispensing cartridge pump suitable for dispensing reagent in an automatic system. In embodiments, the present invention may include a liquid metering chamber that accurately controls the amount of fluid dispensed. In other embodiments, the amount of fluid may be controlled by the action of a diaphragm, which may be assembled into a cavity of a dispenser housing creating a metering chamber. In another embodiment, the volume created by the metering chamber determines the volume of dispensed fluid. When the diaphragm is compressed from its free or extended state to its inverted state, it may substantially conform to the inner surface of the metering chamber. The fluid enters the metering chamber through an upper unidirectional valve and exits the dispenser housing through a lower unidirectional valve.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for automatic staining or other processing of a biological sample on a slide, perhaps robotically, by applying predetermined amounts of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol, the processing including pre-treatment steps, under the control of an adaptive processing control system. Further provided is a method of antigen retrieval, the method comprising contacting, within a heated processing tank of an automated staining apparatus, at least one biological sample with at least one composition for antigen retrieval comprising at least one chelating agent, at least one detergent and at least 50% by volume of at least one liquid that facilitates antigen retrieval.

Abstract: An automated monitoring and alignment system to position the mechanical and optical components of a flow cytometer to enhance the consistency, performance, and efficiency of particle sorting and analysis applications.

Abstract: A sample processing system 101 that may be automated and methods are disclosed where sample(s) 198 are arranged on a carrier element 197 and a process operation control system 171 automatically processes the sample(s) perhaps robotically according to an desired aggregation of event dictated by an input 173. Alteration of an initial aggregated event topology may be accepted while the system is processing an initial aggregation and varied-parameter robotic control simulation functionalities 606 may be accomplished to determine an enhanced sequence for processing. Suggested operator actions may be displayed that might further enhance the scheduling of the altered aggregated event topology together with an automatic operator need prompt 608 that may inform an operator of a need for a particular action in order to accomplish the desired tasks.

Abstract: A method of controlling the temperature of a biological specimen by using induction heating. The specimen is either fixed to a carrier or is in liquid form in contact with a carrier with fixed capture probes. The carrier is removably placed in proximity to a solid support member with a conducting material, and the solid support is subjected to an oscillating magnetic field. The carrier and support member are preferably a microscope slide and a cartridge, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for automatic staining of at least one tissue sample accommodated on a slide by applying reagents. The system may include at least one slide provided in a slide rack, a fluid containment element, a slide holder, a vertical slide positioner to pivot the slides to a vertical position, and a slide immerser element to immerse the vertical slide into a fluid containment element or even a dip tank. By pivoting the slides from a horizontal to a vertical position, an automated method and apparatus for carrying out a pretreatment in an automated staining apparatus may be provided. The pivoting of slides may ensure an appropriate orientation of the slides for both the pretreatment and the staining processes.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA, or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA. The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: A kit containing the reagents necessary for the qualitative or quantitative demonstration of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. A immunohistochemical staining procedure is employed which utilizes a primary monoclonal mouse antibody that selectively binds to EGFR. The primary antibodies bound to tissue antigens are detected using a peroxidase labeled polymer that is conjugated with secondary anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibodies. The enzymatic conversion of the subsequently applied chromogen results in formation of a visible reaction product at the site of the EGFR antigen. Following development of the chromogen, specimens may then be counterstained and coverslipped. Results are interpreted using a light microscope or other optical imaging device. The detection system is adapted for both manual and automated staining.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which utilizes short C-terminal fragments of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato derived protein OspC. The 4 amino-terminal acids Pro-Lys-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 22) are shown to be essential in immune reactivity between sera from patients suffering from early borreliosis and various OspC derivatives and it is shown that in order to be effective as a diagnostic agent, 5 consecutive amino acid residues long homologue of a fragment identical to the 10 C-terminal amino acids of OspC (SEQ DI NO: 1). Also disclosed are vaccines utilizing the short peptides as well as methods for their preparation.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA, or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA. The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting chromosome aberrations is disclosed. More specifically, chromosome aberrations are detected by in situ hybridisation using at least two sets of hybridisation probes, at least one set comprising one or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to a potential aberration in a chromosome, and at least one set comprising two or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to another potential aberration in a chromosome. In particular, the method may be used for detecting chromosome aberrations in the form of breakpoints.

Abstract: Novel dendrimers as well as novel dendrimer complexes are disclosed. Such dendrimers and/or dendrimer complexes may be used for the detection of various components of a sample and as detection systems and signal enhancement/amplification systems. The dendrimers and dendrimer complexes may also be used for labelling various entities/compounds. Furthermore, labelling kits and detection kits comprising one or more labelled dendrimers or one or more dendrimer complexes are also one of the possible uses.

Abstract: A method for preserving cytological specimens for histological or histopathological use. A cytological sample from a biological tissue such as a tumor or a tumor cell line is dehydrated, disbursed and evenly distributed throughout a volume of molten material. The molten material is then drawn into a tubular member such as a pipette and allowed to solidify. Upon solidification, the cylindrical specimen is partially or completely extruded from the tube for further processing, including fixation, dehydration and molten paraffin infiltration and embedding as required for presentation to a sectioning device such as a microtome. Thin circular slices of the cylindrical specimen are removed from the cylindrical specimen and transferred to a slide, fixed and stained as desired. The device and method enable the production of a slide bearing a spatially homogeneous distribution of cytological material for microscopic examination.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel monomeric building blocks for labeling peptide nucleic acids and similarly constructed nucleic acid-binding oligomers possessing groups which are coupled to a nitrogen base and/or to the peptide backbone of the peptide nucleic acid. The invention furthermore relates to peptide nucleic acids which contain at least one labelled monomeric building block.

Abstract: Nucleic acid analogues provide a particularly useful tool for the preparation of complex polymeric structures of defined geometry because they are relatively stable to reaction conditions for the preparation of such structures and provide the opportunity to introduce reactive groups which would not be possible with usual nucleic acids. These supramolecular structures can be used to form fine networks in nanometer size, for the preparation of e.g., computer chips, new materials/polymers with conductivity and/or insulator properties, and robot arms in nanometer scale.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions suitable for the improved detection, quantitation and analysis of nucleic acid target sequences using probe-based hybridization assays.

Abstract: A method for detecting nucleic acids by binding a probe P to a partial sequence S contained in the nucleic acid to produce a binding product B1, degrading the nucleic acid to produce a binding product B2 containing a partial nucleic acid F of a defined length and detecting the binding product B2 or the partial nucleic acid F a part based on its mass is particularly suitable for the parallel detection of nucleic acid of different sequences.

Abstract: Specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for detecting a sexual transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis comprising N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units in amide linkage with the glycine nitrogen connected to naturally occurring nucleobases or non-naturally occurring nucleobases by a methylene carbonyl linker and said probes capable of hybridizing to 16S or 23S rRNA or rDNA of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis are described. PNA is a very stable molecule with very high affinity for nucleic acid allowing a PNA probe to be shorter than conventional nucleic acid probes.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods, kits and compositions suitable for the improved detection, analysis and quantitation of nucleic acid target sequences using probe based hybridization assays. The invention is more specifically directed to methods, kits and compositions suitable for suppressing the binding of detectable nucleic acid probes or detectable PNA probes to non-target nucleic acid sequences in an assay for a target nucleic acid sequence to thereby improve the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the assay. The methods, kits and compositions of this invention are particularly well suited to the detection and analysis of nucleic acid point mutations.