Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing with a bottom surface and a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperative to a position between the cover and interior of the casing, and a carriage. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade extends outwardly of the bottom surface with a fixed depth of cut during a horizontal movement of the blade through the slot.

Abstract: A process for making a support for an electrophoretic medium comprising the steps of: applying an agarose coating to a corona treated polymeric film by transferring a layer of agarose solution onto a surface of the corona treated polymeric film. The pH of the agarose solution can be generally maintained between about 8 and about 11 and the concentration of the agarose solution can be generally maintained between about 0.1 and about 0.4% agarose by weight. The agarose powder used to make the agarose solution can be pre-treated by introducing a fresh reducing atmosphere above the agarose powder and exposing the agarose powder to a reducing atmosphere. The reducing atmosphere treatment may be repeated at least three times.

Abstract: A skin incision device including a housing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a top positioned on said housing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade pivotally positioned in the housing adjacent said slot, and a spring cooperatively positioned between said top and an interior of the housing. The spring is actuatable by the slidable movement of said top toward the bottom surface of the housing. The spring moves the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position.

Abstract: A bleeding time testing system including a bleeding time tester having a cutting blade and a switch actuator, and a tripper affixed onto the body of the tester and cooperative with the switch actuator. The tripper includes a housing, a slide frame slidably interconnected to the housing and having a surface cooperative with the switch actuator, and an actuator button mounted on the housing and cooperative with the slide frame. The actuator button is positioned so as to cause the slide frame to move to the activated position when the actuator is moved downwardly. The actuator button is positioned directly above a centerline of the cutting blade of the tester.

Abstract: A method of in situ electrophoresis of biological samples has the steps of preparing a sample plate and a gel plate, applying reagent onto the gel plate, moving an applicator to the sample plate so as to receive a sample onto the applicator, moving the applicator toward the gel plate such that at least a portion of the sample is loaded onto the gel plate, electrophoresing the gel plate, staining the gel plate and scanning the stained gel plate so as to electronically analyze a band in the gel of the gel plate.

Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing with a bottom surface and a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperative to a position between the cover and interior of the casing, and a carriage. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade extends outwardly of the bottom surface with a fixed depth of cut during a horizontal movement of the blade through the slot.

Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperatively positioned between the cover and an interior of the casing, and a carriage element. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by the slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides the movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade moves outwardly through the slot, cuts with a horizontal movement, and returns inwardly through the slot.

Abstract: Optically scanned data forms an image stored in a computer memory represented as an array having at least two dimensions. The stored image is subjected to virtual scanning. Thus a subset of the array is defined as a portion of the image having first and second dimensions. The value of the subset is derived, the subset is then incremented, and the value of the incremented subset is determined. The steps of incrementing and deriving the value of the incremented subset are repeated. The derived values of the data are compared to a calibrated standard, to create adjusted values of data. The adjusted data values, in the case of electrophoresis, represent the scanned sample which has been subjected to electrophoresis. Thereafter, the adjusted data values can be integrated or otherwise processed.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus to dispense and spread a liquid from a storage container onto a surface. An inventive paddle is attached to an apparatus which is inserted into a storage container, such as a test tube. After dispensing the sample, the storage container is manipulated such that the paddle smears, crushes, or distributes the dispensed sample. Therefore, it is unnecessary to set aside the storage container to perform a smear procedure on a dispensed sample of blood. This increases the safety, speed, and efficiency of the smear procedure, and reduces the risk that the sample will be contaminated. The invention further discloses a method and apparatus for using temperature differential, rather than mechanical force, to safely dispense hazardous biological and chemical samples from a storage container such as a test tube.

Abstract: A skin incision device has a casing having a bottom surface with a slot formed therein, a cover positioned on the casing and slidable in a direction toward the bottom surface, a blade positioned in the casing adjacent the slot, an actuator cooperatively positioned between the cover and an interior of the casing, and a carriage element. The actuator engages the blade by its horizontal displacement triggered by the slidable movement of the cover toward the bottom surface of the casing. The carriage element guides the movement of the blade between a pre-actuated position and a post-actuated position. The blade moves outwardly through the slot, cuts with a horizontal movement, and returns inwardly through the slot.

Abstract: An improved fecal occult blood test having a matrix such as paper that is treated, imprinted or impregnated with a test reagent capable of undergoing a chromogen reaction is disclosed. The improvement relates to a novel developing solution in which the water to alcohol ratio is adjusted to enhance the sensitivity of the test.

Abstract: A method for determining platelet activation by utilizing numeric counts of platelets before a sample of platelets has been activated and after the activatable platelets are activated with a platelet activation agonist and using the difference between such counts as an indication of the platelet activity of the sample. There is also disclosed a method for using the electronic impedance cell counting technique for determining platelet activation wherein EDTA is used as a preservative by counting the platelets in an EDTA preserved sample using an electronic impedance cell counting technique and subtracting from that number the number of platelets remaining after the activatable platelets in a second sample have been activated with a platelet agonist in the absence of EDTA and using that difference as a measure of platelet activity.

Abstract: A method for separating and assaying lipoprotain to determine a degree of modification of a predetermined component in a specimen of lipoprotein, comprising the step of: determining a distance “a” from an application point of the standard sample to a fraction corresponding to the predetermined lipoprotein using an electrophoretic pattern obtained by electrophoresis of a standard sample; determining a distance “b” from the application point of the specimen to a fraction corresponding to the predetermined lipoprotein using electrophoretic pattern obtained by electrophoresis of a specimen; comparing the distance “a” and the distance “b” to determine a relative mobility “z(=b/a)” of the specimen to the standard sample, wherein the degree of modification of the predetermined component in the specimen being judged on the basis of the relative mobility “z”.

Abstract: An improvement in the immunofixation electrophoresis procedure for detecting proteins in serum, urine or cerebral spinal fluids. Multiple samples from a single patient are placed on a gel and subjected to electrophoresis for resolving or separating proteins. A container has multiple receptacles which store, separately, various antisera. The separate antisera are withdrawn from the receptacles and simultaneously applied to the sample areas for subsequent incubation. The receptacles are preferably arranged in multiple series in the container, each series offset from, and partially overlapping, the receptacles of the next series.

Abstract: Novel apparatuses and methods for depositing or placing substances on substrates or plates are described. The invention relates to automated and semiautomated apparatuses and methods for controlled volume and precise placement of substances on substrates. Combinations of applicator tips, applicator tip assemblies, applicator reservoirs, applicator holders and movable racks precisely and accurately place samples and testing chemicals on substrates. Applicator tips particularly useful for dunk transfer and deposit processes and for carrying substances are disclosed. Apparatuses for precisely moving applicator holders, applicator reservoirs and tips are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses also have features for pre-loading substances on applicators and applicator reservoirs and precisely delivering the preloaded substances to substrates.

Abstract: A multichannel pipette has downwardly depending tip cones to receive disposable tips which have free ends. Adjacent tip cones, and thus the disposable tips, are spaced apart a first distance, which is referred to as the intra-channel spacing. An adapter changes the intra-channel spacing of the free ends of the pipette tips. The adapter has a series of apertures therethrough, and the distance (center-to-center) between adjacent apertures differs from the first distance. The disposable tips are inserted through the adapter to change the intra-channel spacing between the free ends of the tips, either by spreading out or contracting the spacing between the free ends of the tips.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for detection of a diagnostically significant amount of clot in an aliquot of blood. In a preferred embodiment, the method uses a cocktail of activators to facilitate and proctor absolute activation of Factor XII (the contact factor for the intrinsic pathway of coagulation). Possible activators include Celite®, kaolin, glass beads, colloidal silica, and diatomaceous material. This cocktail formulation is important because some individuals respond differently to different activators and hence, the cocktail formulation facilitates standardization of the patient population by reducing the patient-activator sensitivity artifacts.

Abstract: A method for determining platelet activation by utilizing numeric counts of platelets before a sample of platelets has been activated and after the activatable platelets are activated with a platelet activation agonist and using the difference between such counts as an indication of the platelet activity of the sample. There is also disclosed a method for using the electronic impedance cell counting technique for determining platelet activation wherein EDTA is used as a preservative by counting the platelets in an EDTA preserved sample using an electronic impedance cell counting technique and subtracting from that number the number of platelets remaining after the activatable platelets in a second sample have been activated with a platelet agonist in the absence of EDTA and using that difference as a measure of platelet activity.

Abstract: An improvement in the immunofixation electrophoresis procedure for detecting proteins in serum, urine or cerebral spinal fluids. Samples are placed on a gel and subjected to electrophoresis for resolving or separating proteins. Thereafter, antisera are applied to the sample areas through openings located on a template. The template includes projections and, the template substantially precludes cross-contamination and the adverse effects of ambient conditions on the integrity of the fluid, such as by the projections contacting, depressing or cutting into the gel to form closed cavities.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrophoresing a sample and for thereafter either scanning in the visible mode or the fluorescent mode, under control of a central processor, to provide scanning densitometry of the electrophoresed sample, and with the fluorescent mode scanning being performed in situ. The apparatus includes a gantry which moves from left to right in the XY plane. The gantry draws, delivers and deposits the samples and reagents, and includes safety devices to prevent the gantry from movement and damage when there are obstructions in the path of the gantry. A fluorescent scanning unit is moved by X- and Y-direction motors to position a photomultiplier over an electrophoresed sample. In this way, the electrophoretic sample can remain fixed in place during sample delivery, ultraviolet exposure and measurement operations.