Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for an immunoassay comprising insoluble carrier particles which can give the values to be determined with high accuracy and reliability, and can be stored for a long time; an immunoassay using the reagent; and a method for keeping the reagent stable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a reagent and a kit for the simple and accurate measurement of HDL cholesterol. The method for the measurement of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein in a sample comprises reacting the sample with i) cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or ii) cholesterol esterase, oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in an aqueous medium comprising a specific nitrogen-containing surfactant having the structure of amine or ammonium salt and a polyanion, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme.

Abstract: A flexible fluid filled actuator has an elastic bladder and a guide surrounding the bladder. The guide has asymmetrical elastic properties. When the bladder is inflated the guide directs the bladder to expand preferentially in a selected direction or directions. The actuator has utility in the traction and/or unloading of portions of the body. A fluid-filled traction apparatus is disclosed which has particular advantages in spinal unloading.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for a simple and accurate measurement of triglycerides in low-density lipoprotein in a sample comprising performing the following steps sequentially: (i) a step of generating free glycerol by allowing lipoprotein lipase to act on a sample, in an aqueous medium comprising the sample and a specific surfactant such as polyoxyethylene polyoxyalkylene polycyclic phenyl ether; (ii) a step of removing free glycerol present in the reaction solution of the above step (i); (iii) a step of generating free glycerol by allowing lipoprotein lipase to act on the reaction solution from which free glycerol has been removed in step (ii), in the presence of a specific surfactant such as polyoxyethylene polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether; and (iv) a step of measuring free glycerol generated in step (iii), and a kit used for the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for simple and accurate measurement of cholesterol in remnant-like lipoprotein (RLP) (RLP-C) in a sample, which comprises the steps of: (i) eliminating cholesterol in lipoproteins other than RLP by reacting the sample with cholesterol oxidase, or cholesterol dehydrogenase and oxidized coenzyme, in an aqueous medium comprising surfactant A; (ii) reacting the reaction solution from which cholesterol in lipoproteins other than RLP has been eliminated in the above step (i) with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase, or cholesterol esterase, cholesterol dehydrogenase and oxidized coenzyme, in the presence of surfactant B to form hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme; and (iii) measuring the hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme formed in the above step (ii).

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple method for the stabilization of a peptide in a biological sample and a reagent for the stabilization, a simple method for the preservation of a biological sample comprising a peptide and a reagent for the preservation, and a method for the accurate measurement of a peptide in a biological sample and a reagent for the measurement. Addition of a saccharide to a biological sample enables the stabilization of a peptide in the biological sample, the preservation of the biological sample comprising a peptide in a stable condition and the accurate measurement of a peptide in the biological sample. As the present invention can stabilize a peptide in a biological sample collected in the clinical examination, the peptide as a marker in the biological sample can be measured accurately in the clinical examination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a reagent and a kit for simple and sensitive determination of cholesterol in remnant-like particles without separation of components of a sample. A method for quantitatively determining remnant-like particle cholesterol in a sample, which comprises: in an aqueous medium containing the sample and in the presence of a combination of specific surfactants and a phospholipid-hydrolyzing enzyme, allowing remnant-like particle cholesterol in the sample to react with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or cholesterol dehydrogenase (in the presence of oxidized coenzyme); and determining the formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing leukemia, pre-leukemia or aleukemic malignant blood diseases, a method of discriminating leukemia from pre-leukemia or aleukemic malignant blood diseases, a method of discriminating aplastic anemia from myelodysplastic syndrome, a method of diagnosing delayed engraftment of the hematopoietic stem cells after transplantation of the hematopoietic stem cells, and a method of diagnosing the graft versus host disease, each of said methods comprising quantifying stem cell growth factor (SCGF). The present invention also makes it possible to provide an agent for diagnosing leukemia, pre-leukemia or aleukemic malignant blood diseases and an agent for diagnosing delayed engraftment of the hematopoietic stem cells after transplantation of the hematopoietic stem cells or an agent for diagnosing graft versus host disease (GVHD), each containing as an active ingredient an antibody reacting with stem cell growth factor (SCGF).

Abstract: A chamber-to-reservoir vented humidification system in which the reservoir is an inverted water bottle elevated above the humidification chamber. A vented cap is provided to couple water from the bottle to the chamber via a supply line coupled between a water port of the cap and a water inlet of the chamber, and to provide a vent between the chamber and the bottle via a vent line coupled between a vent port of the cap and a vent of the chamber. A straw couples the vent port to a space within the inverted bottle spaced from the cap, such as above the water line. The vented cap includes a duckbill valve in the vent port.

Abstract: A float for a humidification chamber has formed-in-place conformable seal, which may be accomplished by overmolding a thermoplastic elastomeric material to the float. The float may be comprised of sections sealingly joined together at an elevation above the water level defined by the buoyancy of the float and also above the water level within the humidifier chamber when filled.

Abstract: A shuttle valve (12,150,230) is provided having a body (44,152,232) defining an interior chamber (46,154,234). The valve (12,150,230) includes inlet (16,158,238), outlet (18,160,240) and common (14,156,236) ports that are coupled to the body (44,152,232). A shuttle (48, 162,242) is translatably disposed within the chamber (46,154,234) between a first position wherein the inlet (16,158,238) and common (14,156,236) ports are fluidicly coupled and the common (14,156,236) and outlet (18,160,240) ports are fluidicly uncoupled, and a second position wherein the outlet (18,160,240) and common (14,156,236) ports are fluidicly coupled and the common (14,156,236) and inlet (16,158,238) ports are fluidicly uncoupled. A first check valve (50,50,50) coupled to the inlet port (16,158,238) to permit fluid flow through the inlet port (16,158,238) into the chamber (46,154,234) and to prevent fluid from discharging therethrough.

Abstract: A flexible fluid filled actuator has an elastic bladder and a guide surrounding the bladder. The guide has asymmetrical elastic properties. When the bladder is inflated the guide directs the bladder to expand preferentially in a selected direction or directions. The actuator has utility in the traction and/or unloading of portions of the body. A fluid-filled traction apparatus is disclosed which has particular advantages in spinal unloading.

Abstract: An enclosed needle catheter insertion device (10) includes an elongated needle guard housing (20) and an elongated needle support housing (22). The support housing (22) is received for movement in guard housing (20) to pull needle (24) in from catheter (12) to be enclosed by guard housing (20). Support housing (22) is of sufficient length that a proximal end (42) thereof is accessible at or beyond a proximal end (28) of guard housing (20) even with the needle (24) extended out of catheter (12) for use, so as to allow for access to the fluid path (44) of support housing (22) to needle lumen (49).

Abstract: A generally rigid molded plastic catheter hub attachment (16, 52, 74) includes one or more co-molded elastomeric gaskets (22, 58).

Abstract: An enclosed needle catheter insertion device (10) includes a catheter (12) and a needle insertion device (14) which are held together by cooperating arms (52, 53) with one or more detents (56) cooperating with a radially projecting surface (26) of the catheter hub (16). Insertion device (14) includes a guard housing (30) to enclose a needle (34) in a shielded position and a support housing (32) supporting the needle (34) for movement between a ready position, with the tip (36) of the needle (34) exposed, to the shielded position. Cooperating lock elements (47, 78) are provided for the housings (30, 32) which are positioned to define a lock actuation stage between the ready and shielded positions, whereat the needle is still within a passageway (54) defined by the cooperating arms (52, 53).

Abstract: A device (1) fills a flexible pouch (100) with medicinal fluids. The pouch is mounted with its distal end (113) upward and attached to a filling infuser (110) which is supported in a supporting bore (121). A neck end of the supply container (200) which carries a resilient cap (202) is inserted into the bore such that the filling infuser pierces the cap. A flexible bladder (31) or a squeeze bulb (33) is connected with an air inlet (116) of the filling infuser to inject pressurized air into the supply container and accelerate the transfer of medicinal liquids from the supply container to the flexible pouch.

Abstract: A humidifier apparatus for operating at an air pressure is disclosed for use with a respiratory therapy breathing apparatus that provides a breathable gas supply to patients requiring higher concentrations of liquid vapor and gas pressure. The humidifier apparatus includes a volume of liquid in fluid communication with a humidifier cartridge via a conduit. The conduit enables air to flow therethrough to equalize air pressure between the humidifier cartridge and the volume of liquid in response to liquid being supplied to the humidifier cartridge.

Abstract: According to the present invention, esterified and free cholesterol in very low-density lipoprotein remnant (hereinafter collectively referred to as very low-density lipoprotein remnant cholesterol) in a sample is determined in an aqueous medium containing the sample in the presence of a combination of (a) a polyoxyethylene-polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ether and (b) one kind of surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene copolymer, a polyoxyethylene styrenated-phenyl ether and a polyoxyalkylene long-chain alkyl ether which combination is capable of causing cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or cholesterol dehydrogenase to act specifically on very low-density lipoprotein remnant cholesterol.

Abstract: A valve (10) comprises a housing (12) with a valve element (14) which normally fluidicly couples a low pressure operating device, such as a transducer (30) and tubing (34) to be coupled to a patient (36) along a first flow path (42) including a flexible control wall (58) which normally interrupts a second flow path (72) between a high pressure generating source such as an injector syringe (32) and the tubing (34), but which flexes, in response to high pressure excursions from the syringe (32) to allow the second flow path (72) to open as it flexes into the first flow path (42) to thereby restrict same thus providing protection to the transducer (30) during the high pressure excursion from the syringe (32).

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and sensitive aqueous method for determining cholesterol in remnant-like particles in a biological sample without the separation of components of the sample. The method comprises contacting the sample with (i) cholesterol esterase, (ii) cholesterol oxidase or cholesterol dehydrogenase, and (iii) phospholipase with a surfactant that inhibits cholesterol oxidase or cholesterol dehydrogenase in lipoproteins other than remnant-like particles in the presence of oxygen or an oxidized coenzyme. Formed hydrogen peroxide or reduced coenzyme is measured and correlated to a quantitative determination of cholesterol in remnant-like particles.