Abstract: A device for assay of a liquid sample. The device comprises: a support composed of an organic macromolecule, said support having a surface divided into two areas located adjacent to each other; a divider in the surface, defining the border of both areas to separate a first area from a second area; a detection layer affixed to the first area and containing a reagent; and a water-swelling layer affixed to the second area, said water-swelling layer expanding by absorbing water.

Abstract: A blood measuring instrument for measuring a specific component of blood. The instrument has a platelike chip (2) for sucking sampled blood, and a measuring instrument body (1) including a connector (3) into which the chip (2) is plugged. The chip (2) has an enzyme electrode for delivering a response current when the enzyme reacts with a specific component of the blood. The measuring instrument body (1) includes two sets of connection terminals (21, 22) capable of being in contact with lead terminals on the chip (2), and the connection terminals (21, 22) of each set are opposed to each other. Therefore, the chip (2) can be plugged into the connector (3) and one of the connection terminals of each set can be brought into contact with the lead terminal even if the chip is upside down.

Abstract: A test apparatus for assaying a component in a liquid sample by measuring a reflected light comprising a support having a through hole or a light permeable area, a reagent layer having a detecting area fixed on the support to cover said through hole or light permeable area, and a cover which covers at least the detecting area, wherein at least a portion covering the detecting area in the cover is processed into a color which substantially has no influence on the reflected light at a measured wavelength.

Abstract: A test piece analyzing apparatus is provided which includes a releasably fixed absorbent member, a horizontally reciprocative pinching mechanism for simultaneously transferring a plurality of test pieces in a transfer direction, and an optical analyzing assembly provided with a primary illuminator and a secondary illuminator. The second illuminator serves to illuminate the bottom surface of the test piece.

Abstract: A method capable of showing a color change sufficient for indicating the presence and/or concentration of a protein in a protein-containing liquid sample by contacting with the sample, comprising: indium or an induim compound, and a dye or pigment capable of forming a complex with indium.

Abstract: A test apparatus for assaying a component in a liquid sample by measuring a reflected light, comprising a support having a through hole or a light permeable area, a reagent layer having a detecting area fixed on the support to cover said through hole or light permeable area, and a cover which covers at least the detecting area, wherein at least a portion of the cover covering the detecting area is of a color which substantially has no influence on the reflected light at a measured wavelength.

Abstract: A test piece analyzing apparatus is provided which includes a releasably fixed absorbent member, a horizontally reciprocative pinching mechanism for simultaneously transferring a plurality of test pieces in a transfer direction, and an optical analyzing assembly provided with a primary illuminator and a secondary illuminator. The second illuminator serves to illuminate the bottom surface of the test piece.

Abstract: A dispersed-type testing/measuring system provides for example a simplified terminal unit to be installed at a patient's home.

Abstract: A dispersed-type testing/measuring system provides for example a simplified terminal unit to be installed at a patient's home. The dispersed-type testing/measuring system has a central controlling unit (20) and a plurality of terminal units 30 each accessible to the central controlling unit via a communication line (15). Each terminal unit (30) includes a crude data collecting portion (40), and a data transmitting means 45 for sending the data collected by the crude data collecting portion 40 to the central controlling unit (20). The central controlling unit 20 includes a measurement data calculating means (210) for generating measurement data by making calculation on the crude data sent from each terminal unit (30).

Abstract: The apparatus for processing a spectrum in spectral measurement includes: a measurement section 10 for measuring an energy spectrum of light for measurement from an object to be measured; an addition section 11 for adding a predetermined value to the energy spectrum of the light for measurement; and a conversion section 12 for obtaining an absorbance spectrum with reduced noise by effecting absorbance conversion of the energy spectrum of the light for measurement with the addition of the predetermined value.

Abstract: An analysis element for analyzing a specific component in a liquid sample is disclosed, which comprises a reagent comprising insoluble particles and boric acid. Furthermore, a method for preparing a reagent liquid for use in the preparation of an analysis element for analyzing a specific component in a liquid sample is disclosed, which comprises adding insoluble particles and boric acid to the reagent liquid.

Abstract: This invention provides a device for analyzing a sample which is capable of performing rapid and precise analysis of a small amount of sample, and whose gradient in a measuring apparatus is not limited. This device comprises approximately a rectangular plate shaped body comprising a base member made of resin and a transparent covering. A first depressed cylindrical concave portion is formed in the upper surface of the base member, and a groove is formed in communication with the first depressed cylindrical concave portion, the groove extending to the end of the protrusion portion 5c, and a second depressed cylindrical concave portion which is smaller than the first depressed cylindrical concave portion is formed in a certain position in the groove, the end of the groove opening to the outside at the end of the protrusion portion 5c. Then, the transparent covering is placed over the upper surface of the base member and then integrated together.

Abstract: To project measuring light with good reproducibility onto the measuring part of a measured object so that measurement conditions can always be constant. An optical measuring apparatus is equipped with a spectroscopic analyzer that detects the spectral intensity of the reflected light of measuring light projected onto a human hand. Spectroscopic analyzer moves in the direction" of the X-axis, Y axis, and Z axis, and around the Z axis by a moving mechanism. During the registration of the measuring part of the human hand, a CCD camera takes a picture of the human hand, and the operator selects a part having a feature from the pattern of the taken image. During the spectrometry, the CCD camera again takes a picture of the human hand. The optical measuring apparatus then detects the registered feature part on the currently taken image, moves spectroscopic analyzer by moving mechanism, and projects measuring light onto the registered feature part.

Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration or the activity of UTI quickly and easily at high sensitivity. A urine sample, a buffer solution, a trypsin solution and a substrate solution are mixed and the trypsin activity is then measured. Thus, the UTI concentration in the urine sample is determined. In this case, a substrate solution having only L-BAPNA is used as the substrate, and the surfactant is mixed in at least one selected from the buffer solution and the enzyme solution. The mixing ratio of the surfactant is about 1 wt. % in the entire enzyme reaction solution. Examples of the surfactant include polyoxyethylene (40) octylphenylether, polyoxyethylene (10) octylphenylether, 3-[(3-cholamido propyl)dimethylammonio]-propanesulfonic acid, 3-[(3-cholamido propyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensitivity improves when using L-BAPNA.

Abstract: A sample containing a glycated protein is treated with Protease XIV or a protease from Aspergillus genus, thereafter (or while treating the sample with the above protease) FAOD (fructosyl amino acid oxidase) is caused to react with the sample so as to measure the amount of oxygen consumed by the FAOD reaction or the amount of the resultant reaction product, thereby to measure the glycated protein.According to the above method, the glycated protein can be fragmented while the decomposition of the FAOD itself is prevented, thereby to facilitate the binding of the protein with the FAOD and to improve the sensitivity of the detection.

Abstract: A method of and a device for accurately positioning a measuring means such as a measurement probe relative to that target area of a living body which has a unique marking peculiar to the living body. A transparent sheet member is first applied to the target part, and an image of the unique marking is then transferred onto the transparent sheet member. The transparent sheet member bearing the image of the unique marking is associated with the measuring device so that a subsequent measurement can be performed by the measuring device after the image transferred onto the transparent sheet member has been aligned with the unique marking in the target area.

Abstract: A sensor includes an analyzing part and a passage having two ends. One end of the passage is connected to the analyzing part. The other end of the passage is closed before use so that the inside of the passage and the analyzing part is sealed to prevent a contact with the outside. When the sensor is to be used, the other end of the passage is opened so as to provide an inlet for a sample.

Abstract: A method of and a device for positioning an area of a living body to be measured relative to a detecting probe during a biodata measurement with the use of a biodata measuring apparatus designed to irradiate with light the area of the living body by means of the detecting probe then held in contact with the area of the living body, then to detect light transmitted through and/or reflected from the area of the living body, and finally to measure a predetermined biodata within the living body on the basis of a spectrum of the transmitted and/or reflected light. A plurality of local fixing units are utilized for fixing a plurality of predetermined portions of the living body, respectively. The portions of the living body are fixed respectively by the local fixing units during the biodata measurement to thereby fix the area to be measured relative to the positioning device.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for regulating a pressure applied to an area of a living body during a biodata measurement with the use of a biodata measuring apparatus. The apparatus is designed to irradiate with light the area of the living body by means of a detecting probe then held in contact with the area of the living body, then to detect light transmitted through and/or reflected from the area of the living body, and finally to measure a predetermined biodata within the living body on the basis of a spectrum of the transmitted and/or reflected light. The method and the apparatus include pressing, during the biodata measurement, the area of the living body with a predetermined pressure through a soft pressure medium to thereby regulate the pressure applied to the area of the living body to a value equal to the predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration of polynucleotide in a sample comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a sample, a Raman scattering active agent capable of bonding to a polynucleotide and a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate capable of capturing the agent; (2) mixing the sample, the agent and the substrate to capture the agent which has not been bonded to polynucleotide on the surface of the substrate; (3) irradiating the mixture; and (4) measuring the SERS radiation which is generated by the agent captured on the surface of the substrate.