Abstract: A rare earth (RE) downconverting phosphor composition may contain two or more lanthanide materials each having a host and at least one downconverting emitter. Each lanthanide material emits a detectable electromagnetic radiation emission peak at an intensity, which is proportional to the amount of emitter present, upon excitation with an absorbable electromagnetic radiation, the emitted radiation having a lower energy, i.e., a longer wavelength than the absorbable radiation. One or more ratios of the intensities of the emitted detectable electromagnetic radiation may be used to uniquely identify the composition. Alternatively, the RE downconverting phosphor composition may contain a lanthanide material having a host and at least two emitters. The lanthanide material emits at least two different detectable electromagnetic radiation emission peaks each at an intensity upon excitation with an absorbable electromagnetic radiation, the emitted radiation having a lower energy, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to encoding samples. More specifically, it relates to barcodes and compositions involving upconverters and methods including them. In a composition aspect of the invention, a composition comprising two or more lanthanide materials is provided. Each lanthanide material comprises a host, an absorber, and an emitter, and the materials emit detectable electromagnetic radiation upon excitation with absorbable electromagnetic energy. One or more relative ratios of emission intensities uniquely identify the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition, method and apparatus for determining the sequence of a nucleic acid strand utilizing a pH-sensing agent.

Abstract: Rare Earth downconverting compositions for optical encoding objects and related methods and apparatuses. The rare earth (RE) downconverting phosphor compositions are capable of generating a unique optical spectrum or unique optical signature from which an optical code or barcode can be derived. In one exemplary embodiment, the RE downconverting phosphor composition may contain two or more lanthanide materials each having a host and at least one downconverting emitter. Each lanthanide material emits a detectable electromagnetic radiation emission peak at an intensity, which is proportional to the amount of emitter present, upon excitation with an absorbable electromagnetic radiation, the emitted radiation comprising a lower energy, i.e., a longer wavelength than the absorbable radiation. One or more ratios of the intensities of the emitted detectable electromagnetic radiation may be used to uniquely identify the composition.

Abstract: A method for labeling an object such as a biological sample, including printing at least two different light-emitting species onto a substrate which are capable of displaying a unique optical signature when excited; and externally attaching the object to the printed at least two different light-emitting species.

Abstract: A system for reading optical codes includes a set of beads or particles, each of which has a surface functionalization selected for attaching a biomolecule to be studied, and a device for reading an optical code provided by rare earth-based light emitter associated with each of the beads or particles. The device includes an excitation source and a color CCD light detector. The excitation source excites the rare earth-based light emitters of each of the beads, thereby causing the emitters to emit light having a unique ratio of relative intensities, the unique ratio of the relative intensities forming the optical code of the bead or particle. The color CCD light detector detects the emitted light having the unique ratio of the relative intensities and a memory stores an image of the emitted light.

Abstract: A method for labeling an object such as a biological sample, including printing at least two different light-emitting species onto a substrate which are capable of displaying a unique optical signature when excited; and externally attaching the object to the printed at least two different light-emitting species.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device includes a body and a sample holding reservoir formed in the body. The sample holding reservoir is capable of imbibing a fixed and very small quantity of fluid from a fluid source and dispensing the fixed quantity of fluid therefrom at a destination. The fluid transfer device may be manufactured from various materials including semiconductor materials such as silicon, polymer materials, ceramic material, and metal or metallic materials. The fluid transfer device may be used to puncture a closure covering the fluid source or the destination.

Abstract: A microcontact printing device including a tube member for storing or transferring a printing fluid or liquid and a printing element attached to an end of the fluid dispensing member. Further, a microcontact printhead device including a holder and at least one microcontact printing device disposed within the holder, the microcontact printing device including a tube member for storing or transferring a printing fluid or liquid and a printing element attached to an end of the fluid dispensing member. In addition, a method of fabricating a microcontact printing device including providing a wafer or substrate, micromachining a printing element from the wafer or substrate, providing a tube member for storing or transferring a printing fluid or liquid, and attaching the printing element to an end of the tube member.