Abstract: In a wireless network with point-to-point, multi-point or broadcast communications links, a method is provided for adaptively setting frequency channels for wireless devices within the network by dynamically exchanging time-varying spectral maps and communication parameters to utilize available frequency channels efficiently.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system control apparatus and method to determine available wireless communication channels locally and remotely, and for sending a probe signal to a remote wireless communication control apparatus location on a determined available communication channel. A confirmation message is received from the remote wireless communication apparatus location to verify the establishment of the viable communication path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the determination of an analyte in a liquid sample, the method and apparatus employing a liquid-permeable solid medium defining a liquid flow path. The medium includes one or more reactant-containing reaction zones spaced apart along the flow path and in which reaction occurs with the analyte or an analyte-derivative (e.g. a labelled analyte) to result in the formation of a predetermined product. Detector means are employed to detect analyte, analyte derivative, reactant or predetermined product in one or more reaction zones, the number of such zones in which such detection occurs reflecting the presence of analyte in the liquid.

Abstract: The biocompatibility of biomaterials having solid surfaces is improved through coating the same with biocompatible agents. The method for modifying the solid surface to improve biocompatibility employs molecules of a biocompatible agent and a chemical linking moiety possessing a photochemically reactive group capable upon activation of covalently bonding to the solid surface and possessing a different reactive group as capable upon activation of covalently bonding to separate molecules of the biocompatible agent. One of the groups is unresponsive to activation by a stimulus to which the other group is responsive.

Abstract: A method for attaching a biomolecule to a support having a hydrophobic surface, involving the use of a long chain chemical spacer having a hydrophobic guiding group capable of becoming embedded in the surface, and the biomolecule being covalently bound to the spacer at its opposite end.

Abstract: A long chain chemical spacer useful for attaching a biomolecule to a support having a hydrophobic surface, the spacer having a hydrophobic guiding group capable of becoming embedded in the surface, and optionally including a stopping group and/or an attached biomolecule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the quantitative determination of an analyte in a liquid employs a liquid-permeable solid medium defining a liquid flow path. The medium includes a number of reaction-containing reaction zones spaced apart along the flow path and in which reaction occurs with the analyte or an analyte derivative (e.g., a labeled analyte) to result in the formation of a predetermined product. Detector means are employed to detect analyte, analyte derivatives, reactant or predetermined product in the reaction zones, the number of such zones in which such detection occurs indicating the amount of analyte in the liquid.

Abstract: A method wherein surfaces are provided with desired characteristics of a polymer by covalently bonding polymer molecules to the surface through external activation of latent reactive groups carried by the polymer molecules is disclosed. The initial surfaces are free of chemical groups added by surface pretreatment and which chemically participate in the covalent bonding process.This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 223,149, filed July 22, 1988 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 138,226, filed Dec. 24, 1987 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 920,567, filed Oct. 17, 1986 now abandoned and of U.S. Ser. No. 108,765, filed Oct.15, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,493 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 428,074 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,906 filed Sept. 29, 1982, and of U.S. application Ser. No. 920,567 filed Oct. 17, 1986.

Abstract: The biocompatibility of biomaterials having solid surfaces is improved through coating the same with biocompatible agents where the biocompatible agents are covalently bonded to the solid surface via a chemical linking moiety. The method for modifying the solid surface to improve biocompatibility employs molecules of a biocompatible agent and a chemical linking moiety possessing a photochemically reactive group capable upon activation of covalently bonding to the solid surface and possessing a different reactive group as capable upon activation of covalently bonding to separate molecules of the biocompatible agent. One of the groups is unresponsive to activation by a stimulus to which the other group is responsive.

Abstract: A method for modifying the solid surface to improve its biocompatibility is disclosed. The method employs molecules of a biocompatible agent and a chemical linking moiety possessing a photochemically reactive group capable upon activation of covalently bonding to the solid surface and possessing a different reactive group as capable upon activation of covalently bonding to separate molecules of the biocompatible agent. The method comprises applying stimulus to sequentially activate the groups and covalently bind the different reactive group of the linking moiety to the molecules of the biocompatible agent and to photochemically covalently bind the linking moiety to the solid surface with a sufficient population density to enable the molecules of the biocompatible agent to effectively shield the solid surface and to provide a biocompatible surface.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed which can be used in the field (i.e., outside the laboratory environment) to determine qualitatively and at least semiquantitatively the presence or absence of minute quantities of ligand. The apparatus can be in the form of a strip comprising a support means provided with a groove intermediate its ends forming a crease line upon which the strip can be folded upon itself with bibulous elements and spaced from the crease line and arranged so that when the strip is folded upon itself the bibulous elements become aligned with each other and come into liquid contact.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring the distance between first and second positions on an inside surface of a metal part that includes locating a metal probe within the part, applying a voltage across the probe and part, measuring the capacitance between the probe and part, moving the probe toward the first position until a predetermined capacitance is measured, moving the probe toward the second position until the predetermined capacitance is measured, determining the distance travelled by the probe between the first and second positions, and adding to the determined distance a known value to compensate for the width of the probe and the distance between the probe and part when the predetermined capacitance is measured.

Abstract: A device for measuring an object includes a laser beam, a translator for moving the object with respect to the beam, an object reference plane which is the plane perpendicular to the beam that is first entered by the object, a lens system for imaging a light pattern formed in a second plane onto a first plane, wherein the second plane is adjacent to the object reference plane, and the light pattern includes a diffraction pattern caused by interaction of the beam and the object, a slit interposed at the first plane for limiting the extent of the beam that passes through the first plane, and a photodetector that emits a signal representative of the light received behind the slit for detecting the portion of the beam that passes through this slit. The slit is sufficiently small so as to enable resolution of the diffraction pattern by the photodetector. The device further includes a circuit for calculating a dimension of the object in response to the signal emitted by the photodetector.

Abstract: A method for selectively covalently linking a target moiety to a chemical moiety or carrier comprising attaching to the chemical moiety or carrier a reagent having a selector group capable of forming a specific bond with a receptor carried on the target moiety and attaching a latent reactive group which is capable upon activation of covalently bonding to the target moiety, reacting the selector group with the receptor on the target moiety, and activating the latent group to form a covalent linkage to the target moiety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for measuring the width of an object. The object is moved across a first beam and a photodetector produces a signal indicating when the object is eclipsing the beam. An interferometer is trained on a device for moving the object across the beam and is used to calculate the distance the moving device travels while the object is eclipsing the beam. From that distance, the width of the object can be calculated.