Abstract: An apparatus for discharging the contents of a sealed container, such as a test tube, includes an inlet path and a discharge path with a delivery tube in the discharge path. A predetermined clearance is provided between the exterior of the delivery tube and the interior of the discharge path, the clearance providing venting, or blow-by, such that temperature changes do not cause accidental discharge of the contents of the container, while still maintaining sufficient resistance to venting for permitting pressurizing the interior of the test tube for accurately controlling the discharge of the test tube contents.

Abstract: A thermally conductive, electrically insulating interface adapted to be interposed between the heat conductive metal floor of an electrophoresis chamber and an electrophoresis plate for conducting heat from the plate to the chamber floor. The interface is preferably silicone or a silicone base, and demonstrates a preferential affinity to the electrophoresis plate. Optionally a support layer or backing layer may be included as part of the interface member.

Abstract: An electrophoretic gel container for protecting an electrophoresis plate during shipment and storage, the electrophoresis plate being the type including a substrate having a major surface and a gel layer adhered to a portion of the major surface with the substrate including a peripheral portion free of the gel layer. The container includes a top portion and a bottom portion which are sealingly engageable with one another. The top and bottom portions have cooperating projections such that the top and bottom may be interlocked together. The gel layer substrate includes alignment apertures and the container includes alignment sockets in the bottom portion and locking pins in the top portion. The alignment sockets extend through the alignment apertures in the electrophoresis plate and has locking pins engage the alignment sockets to further secure the electrophoresis plate against movement.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit is disclosed for the detection of hemoglobin, myoglobin, ferritin, or the like substances having peroxidase-like activity in different mixtures of biological origin, such as fecal blood in toilet bowl, occult blood in the breath of internally bleeding horses, or myoglobin in the urine of severely muscle damaged victims. The kit includes, in an air, moisture, and light proof package, an inert water insoluble matrix, such as a sheet of paper, which has an area where a chemical composition containing a water soluble polymer, or polymers, is deposited in at least two separate steps of thin film coating, for the detection of the above substances. The composition further includes one or more oxygen donors, one or more organic peroxides or other suitable oxidizing agents, and a leuco-dye which gives a colored oxidation product when it is oxidized by the oxidizing agents with the hemoglobin or like substance acting as the catalyst.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing pump mechanisms to test tubes sealed by a closure such that the contents of the test tubes may be discharged without removing the closure. The apparatus includes a rack for holding a plurality of pump mechanisms, each of the pump mechanisms including a downwardly extending needle or the like for penetrating the closure of the test tube. The test tubes are arranged within a tray in a plurality of rows, and each row is sequentially advanced into position. As each row is in position, the pump mechanism is moved toward the row of test tubes to penetrate the test tube closures. The pump mechanisms thereafter released, the rack filled with a next series of pump mechanisms, the test tube array indexed, and the cycle of steps is repeated. The pump mechanism needles are initially imbedded in a protective packaging. The apparatus strips away the protective packaging to expose the sharpened points or tips of the pump mechanism.

Abstract: An improved electrophoresis plate of the type including a base layer of an electrophoretic medium and opposed thickened ends made of an electrophoretic medium containing a desired fluid, such as a buffer material or solvent. The thickened ends function as a self-contained reservoirs during electrophoresis. The thickened ends of the present invention divert water generated by electroendosmosis or gel melt away from the electrophoresis area. This may be accomplished by providing a hollow region within the thickened ends which holds the water generated. Alternatively, serrations on the edges of the plate, or on the edges of the thickened ends of the plate which are disposed away from the electrophoresis area, may be provided to act as a path by which the water generated can flow away from the electrophoresis area.

Abstract: An electrophoretic gel container for protecting an electrophoresis plate during shipment and storage, the electrophoresis plate being the type including a substrate having a major surface and a gel layer adhered to a portion of the major surface with the substrate including a peripheral portion free of the gel layer. The container includes a top portion and a bottom portion which are sealingly engageable with one another. The top and bottom portions have cooperating projections such that the top and bottom may be interlocked together. The gel layer substrate includes alignment apertures and the container includes alignment sockets in the bottom portion and locking pins in the top portion. The alignment sockets extend through the alignment apertures in the electrophoresis plate and the locking pins engage the alignment sockets to further secure the electrophoresis plate against movement.

Abstract: An analyzer system for automatic column chromatography, and method for its use, includes an array of chromatograph columns and multi-cell cuvettes associated with each column. Chromatographic separation takes place under a constant, low fluid pressure. A pressure system distributes air to each column during chromatographic separation but prevents leakage of air if the column array is partially empty. The multi-cell cuvette collects and separates the eluates associated with a single column. The system provides for automatic removal of caps from the bottoms of the chromatograph columns and provides for automatic optical density reading.

Abstract: An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The machine includes apparatus for automatic pipetting of liquid samples from the sample plate to the surface of the support strip, apparatus for applying electrophoresis current to the strip while simultaneously cooling it, apparatus for applying and spreading fluorescent staining reagent to the strip, and apparatus for incubating the strip and subsequently drying it. Mechanical aligning apparatus is provided for precisely aligning pipettes with application wells on the sample strip. Electrode bars and reagent spreader bars are provided to apply electrophoresing current to the strip and to spread reagent dumped onto the strip after electrophoresis. Circular indentations as well as rectangular indentations are provided as application wells on the sample strip.

Abstract: An electrophoresis plate of the type including a base layer of an electrophoretic medium containing some buffer material and a method of making such an electrophoresis plate. On the base layer of the plate there are formed buffer blocks made up of an electrophoretic medium having a lower electroendosmotic potential than that of the base layer. The buffer blocks contain buffer material for functioning as a self-contained reservoir during electrophoresis. The method of the present invention includes continuous casting of the buffer blocks and also includes casting the buffer blocks as a sequence of discrete layers.

Abstract: A guaiac reagent-based diagnostic aid for determining the presence of occult blood in an aqueous system contains a micron-sized silica gel into which a guaiac solution has been adsorbed. The guaiac-containing carrier is contacted with a dry, particulate, oxidizing agent, such as a monopersulfate compound, to form a single composition. This composition can be packaged in a water-pervious sandwich. Upon contact with water, the oxidizing agent is activated to produce hydrogen peroxide, which in the presence of occult blood will oxidize the adsorbed guaiac to a brilliant blue reaction product.

Abstract: An automatic electrophoresis machine is provided with a path for refrigerated air to pass over the agarose gel of a support medium during the time that electrophoresis current is applied to the support medium. Such apparatus is also provided with means for applying longitudinal electrophoresis current through the gel of the support medium during one time and applying lateral electrophoresis current through the gel of the support medium during another time.

Abstract: An automatic pipetting apparatus is disclosed having a base on which is mounted a vertical frame supporting a row of positive displacement pipettes which are driven in the up or down direction by an electromechanical mechanism under microprocessor controls. The apparatus includes a base, a track and a carriage longitudinally movable beneath the row of pipettes. The carriage includes an independent translating and position signal generation mechanism. The carriage carries a tray which includes sample chambers, a space to receive a microporous electrophoresis support medium, such as a cellulose acetate strip, a wash well, rinse well and a space to receive blotting paper. The pipettes include a barrel and a plunger capable of aspirating and dispensing from 0.5 to 5 .mu.l of liquid. The barrels move up and down with respect to the base by means of another independent translating and signal generating mechanism.

Abstract: A specimen collection apparatus particularly useful for urine samples is disclosed the apparatus includes a container or beaker and a screw on self-locking top that cannot be removed without damage either to the top or the beaker.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a liquid is adapted to be attached to a container such as a test tube. The apparatus includes a hollow, resilient, flexible dispenser having a bore therethrough. One end of the dispenser is attached to the test tube, and the opposite end of the dispenser includes a nozzle apparatus having external and internal nozzle portions and a reverse-taper bore therethrough, i.e., a bore having a diameter which decreases from the external nozzle portion to the internal nozzle portion, the reverse-taper bore being in communication with the interior of the hollow, resilient dispenser.

Abstract: An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The machine includes apparatus for automatic pipetting of liquid samples from the sample plate to the surface of the support strip, apparatus for applying electrophoresis current to the strip while simultaneously cooling it, apparatus for applying and spreading flourescent staining reagent to the strip, and apparatus for incubating the strip and subsequently drying it. A T.V. camera, mounted to a flourescent scanning box enclosing the application plate, in cooperation with digital processing equipment, electronically scans electrophoresically longitudinally displaced components of the samples for determining relative component densities. An alternative scanning apparatus including a collimator and photomultiplier is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved electrophoresis plate and method of making same includes a plate having an inert substrate and an electrophoretic medium formed on the substrate. The electrophoretic medium includes, as a part thereof, buffer blocks or buffer reservoirs, more specifically, relatively thick deposits of the electrophoretic medium. The electrophoretic medium buffer is positioned in a predetermined location relative to alignment apertures in the substrate.The method of making the electrophoresis plate of the present invention includes priming the substrate with electrophoretic medium and thereafter forming, such as by casting or molding, the electrophoretic medium with the buffer blocks on the primed substrate.

Abstract: An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The machine includes apparatus for automatic pipetting of liquid samples from the sample plate to the surface of the support strip, apparatus for applying electrophoresis current to the strip while simultaneously cooling it, apparatus for applying and spreading flourescent staining reagent to the strip, and apparatus for incubating the strip and subsequently drying it. A T.V. camera, mounted to a flourescent scanning box enlosing the application plate, in cooperation with digital processing equipment, electronically scans electrophoresically longitudinally displaced components of the samples for determining relative component densities. An alternative scanning apparatus including a collimator and photomultiplier is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic pipetting apparatus is disclosed having a base on which is mounted a vertical frame supporting a row of positive displacement pipettes which are driven in the up or down direction by an electromechanical mechanism under microprocessor controls. The apparatus includes a base, a track and a carriage longitudinally movable beneath the row of pipettes. The carriage includes an independent translating and position signal generation mechanism. The carriage carries a tray which includes sample chambers, a space to receive a microporous electrophoresis support medium, such as a cellulose acetate strip, a wash well, rinse well and a space to receive blotting paper. The pipettes include a barrel and a plunger capable of aspirating and dispensing from 0.5 to 5 .mu.l of liquid. The barrels move up and down with respect to the base by means of another independent translating and signal generating mechanism.

Abstract: An electrophoretic support medium and method of making the same are disclosed for use in the analysis of ionizable compounds to be made by subjecting a sample to an electrical potential. The electrophoretic support medium includes a base sheet having at least one negative electrode and at least one positive electrode deposited thereon in a predetermined pattern. A layer of an electrophoretic gel is adhered to the surface of the base sheet, whereby the electrodes are disposed between the base sheet and the electrophoretic gel layer with the electrodes being in electrical contact with the electrophoretic gel layer. In addition, the electrophoretic gel layer may include a plurality of sample wells formed therein in which a sample to be analyzed may be placed. The method includes depositing the electrodes onto the base sheet before adhering the gel layer thereto.