Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting the presence of bacterial vaginosis in a female subject comprising the steps of: obtaining a sample from the vaginal region of the subject; detecting acetic acid present in the sample; and correlating the presence of detected acetic acid with the presence of bacterial vaginosis.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of an infection in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: lowering the pH of the liquid sample so as to drive short-chain fatty acids present in the liquid sample, acetic acid in particular, to the gaseous phase; detecting short-chain fatty acids, ammonia and, optionally amine species present as gases in a headspace associated with the liquid sample using a detector which is sensitive to the presence of short-chain fatty acids, ammonia and, optionally, amine species, particularly conductive and semi-conductive polymer sensors; and correlating the presence of detected short-chain fatty acids, ammonia and, optionally, amine species with the presence of the infection.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing a batch of sensors including providing a substrate which has a plurality of conductive tracks formed thereon; electrochemically depositing a first active sensing material layer over the substrate and the conductive tracks in a process in which the conductive tracks are part of a single electrical circuit; removing deposited active sensing material from predetermined portions of the substrate: and sub-dividing the substrate to produce a plurality of sensor units.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting microorganisms comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of cultures by culturing said microorganisms on a plurality of different media; making measurements of the cultures; collating the measurements of the cultures; and correlating the collated measurements with the presence of the microorganisms.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for detecting the presence of bacterial vaginosis in a female subject comprising the steps of:

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas sampling apparatus adapted for use in a hand-held gas sensing device having at least one gas sensor, the apparatus comprising: a gas inlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the gas inlet to the sensor or sensors; a gas outlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the sensor or sensors to the gas outlet; and a vacuum containment enclosing an inner region having a pressure below atmospheric pressure and adapted for connection to the gas outlet so that a flow of gas is developed from the gas inlet to the vacuum containment.

Abstract: [There is disclosed a method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject comprising the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in said emitted subject respiratory gases with said gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of said species with the occurrence of the condition] A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas sampling apparatus (10) adapted for use in a hand-held gas sensing device (12) having at least one gas sensor (14), the apparatus comprising: a gas inlet (16); a gas conductor (18) for conducting gas from the gas inlet to the sensor or sensors; a gas outlet (20), a gas conductor (22) for conducting gas from the sensor or sensors to the gas outlet; and a vacuum containment (24) enclosing an inner region having a pressure below atmospheric pressure and adapted for connection to the gas outlet so that a flow of gas is developed from the gas inlet to the vacuum containment.

Abstract: A microorganism analyzer has a flow-through arrangement into which a microorganism-containing sample may be introduced, and a headspace connected or connectible to a gas analyzer. The headspace is connected to the flow-through arrangement so as to be affected by the sample.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for interrogating a sensor comprising the steps: applying a periodic electrical signal to the sensor; obtaining a signal therefrom; and performing an operation on the obtained signal to obtain the sensor response at a plurality of frequencies, said operation including a transformation to the frequency domain of said signal or a quantity related to said signal.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for monitoring at least one condition in a patient comprising the steps of (a) obtaining samples from the patient over a period of time; (b) flowing the samples, or gases associated with or produced by the samples, over at least one gas sensor; c) measuring the response or responses of the at least one gas sensor; and (d) correlating the response or responses with the occurrence or state of the at least one condition. A method for identifying a micro-organism comprising the steps of (a) providing at least one gas sensor; (b) compiling a database of responses to at least one known micro-organism under a variety of culturing conditions; c) abstracting gas or vapor from a detection region and flowing the same over the at least one gas sensor and observing the response of the sensor or sensors; and (d) comparing the response to the database.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pattern identifying neural network comprising at least an input and an output layer, the output layer having a plurality of principal nodes, each principal node trained to recognize a different class of patterns, and at least one fuzzy node trained to recognize all classes of patterns recognized by the principal nodes but with outputs set out at levels lower than the corresponding outputs of the principal nodes.

Abstract: A gas sensor comprising a pair of electrodes. The gas sensor includes one or more semiconducting organic polymers deposited between the pair of electrodes in such a manner as to effect a semiconducting electrical connection therebetween. The gas sensor also includes a device for applying an electric signal across the electrodes and a detector for detecting a chosen electrical property across the electrodes in the presence of a gas. At least one of the semiconducting organic polymers is polymerized from a monomer comprising a five membered heterocyclic aromatic ring with substituent groups at the 2 and 5 positions.

Abstract: A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.