Abstract: A method of making a derivatized aminoglycoside includes reacting an aminoglycoside with at least 2 equivalents of a divalent metal ion in an aprotic solvent to complex two neighboring amino group and hydroxyl group pairs; reacting the non-complexed amino groups with a protecting reagent to provide protecting groups; removing the divalent metal ion to provide two unprotected amino groups; reacting one of the unprotected amino groups with a reactive substance containing an linker, a carrier, or a label; and removing the protecting groups. This method can be used to produce novel compounds and reagents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a biological fluid comprise providing a cell supporting a chemistry which reacts with the medically significant component. Placement of first and second terminals of the cell in contact with first and second terminals, respectively, of an instrument permits the instrument to assess the reaction. The instrument determines a first response of the cell to a first signal, and determines based upon the first response whether to proceed with the determination of the concentration of the medically significant component of the biological fluid. If the determination is to proceed, the instrument determines the type of sample that has been applied.

Abstract: A biosensor is provided that comprises a plate element with a pre-determined reaction zone and a recess positioned adjacent to the reaction zone. The biosensor also comprises a reagent that is positioned on the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments, the recess circumscribes at least a portion of the reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the modification, cloning and amplification of cDNAs which are complete at their 5′ end which is essentially characterized in that the first strand cDNA synthesis is carried out in the presence of manganese2+ ions or manganese2+ is added as an additive at a later time. The CAP structure at the 5′ end of the reversely transcribed mRNA triggers the attachment of deoxy-cytosines to the 3′ end of the cDNA with high efficiency. In a preferred embodiment a controlled ribonucleotide tailing is carried out with the aid of terminal transferase following the first strand cDNA synthesis.

Abstract: An instrument (20) has a well (28a-b) for receiving a dry cell (75), an opening (78) through which a first connector (74) is exposed to the well (28a-b), and a boss (76) adjacent the opening (78). The boss (76) precludes the wrong terminal of the dry cell (75) from engaging the first connector (74) when the dry cell (75) is inserted into the well (28a-b) in incorrect orientation. A second connector (80) includes a base (81), a first leg (82) resiliently connected to and extending away from the base portion, a second leg (84) resiliently connected to and extending away from the first leg (82), and a third leg (86) resiliently connected to and extending away from the second leg (84) and toward the first leg (82). A display (42) for the instrument (20) has a lens (90) having a substantially transparent substrate with a polyurethane coating. The instrument housing has first and second portions.

Abstract: A sensor strip comprises an electrode substrate, an electrode set, on the electrode substrate, and microspheres. The sensor strip allows for a smaller sample volume and maintain a more uniform flow profile through the sample channel.

Abstract: Compounds including haptens, intermediates, and immunogens that are useful in the production of antibodies specific for the methylenedioxy class of amphetamine derivatives are described. Antibodies specific for the methylenedioxy class of amphetamine derivatives, reagent kits containing antibodies specific for the methylenedioxy class of amphetamine derivatives, methods of producing antibodies specific for the methylenedioxy class of amphetamine derivatives, and methods of detecting analytes including members of the methylenedioxy class of amphetamine derivatives are also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a lancet system comprising a plurality of essentially needle-shaped lancets, a drive unit which has a drive element which is moved from a resting position into a lancing position in order to carry out a lancing process, a storage area to store the lancets, a withdrawal area to guide at least the tip of the lancet out of the system during the lancing process and a transport unit which can transport lancets from the storage area into the withdrawal area, wherein the drive element is arranged in such a manner that in the withdrawal area it can act on the lancet located there to carry out a lancing process and thus move the lancet from a resting position into a lancing position and wherein the system has a retraction device in the withdrawal area which can interact with the lancet located in the withdrawal area in order to move the lancet after completion of the lancing process from the lancing position into the resting position and it concerns a lancet magazine adapted to the system, a cor

Abstract: An aqueous control liquid is provided that contains glucose at a known concentration and cyclodextrin. A method is also provided that binds a wetting agent from a region of a test element that comes into contact with a sample. The method includes contacting the region with a control liquid that has a substance selected from the group of cyclodextrin derivatives and dispersed materials having a specific surface of 100 m2/g to over 1000 m2/g. A method for controlling the function of a measuring system having test strips and a measuring instrument for the determination of glucose in liquid samples is provided that includes contacting the test strip with a control liquid containing glucose at a known concentration and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives and detecting a signal caused by the glucose contained in the control liquid.

Abstract: Blood lancet system for blood withdrawal for diagnostic purposes with a housing, a lancet holder movable in the housing for holding an exchangeable lancet, and a lancet drive for driving the pricking movement of the lancet holder with the lancet contained herein. The housing has a cap at the front end in pricking direction which can be removed in order to remove a used lancet from the lancet holder. The lancet and the housing cap are coupled, during the attachment of the housing cap, by a coupling mechanism comprising coupling elements matched to each other and enabling the extraction of the lancet from the lancet holder simultaneously with removing the housing cap.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microdialysis system comprising a microdialysis probe (12) that can be inserted into organic tissue (10) and has a dialysis membrane (28) to separate a probe channel (18) filled with perfusion fluid from the tissue (10), a sensor cell (14) to determine the concentration of components and especially glucose in the perfusion fluid that is conveyed from the microdialysis probe (12) and a transport device (16) to convey the perfusion fluid through the probe channel (18) of the microdialysis probe (12) to the sensor cell (14).

Abstract: System for withdrawing body fluid from a body part in particular the finger pad, comprising a compression unit that is deformed when the body part is pressed against it and increases the internal pressure in a region of the body part, and a withdrawal device. Deformation of the compression unit partially converts the primary pressing movement into a secondary movement which leads to an increase in the internal pressure in a region of the body part. The invention also comprises a system for stimulating the outflow of body fluid using a deformable compression unit.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating magnetic particles in suspension in a liquid contained in a reaction vessel of the type used in an automatic apparatus for processing biological samples. The apparatus comprises a rotatable carrier holding an array of magnet elements positioned on the carrier at different distances from the rotation axis of the carrier and at different azimuth angles. The carrier and the array of magnet elements can be positioned at a plurality of predetermined angular positions and heights.

Abstract: In combination, an instrument for determining a characteristic of a biological fluid or a control, and a cuvette for holding a sample of the biological fluid or control, the characteristic of which is to be determined. The instrument comprises a radiation-reflective surface, a first source for irradiating the surface, and a first detector for detecting radiation reflected from the surface. The cuvette has two opposed walls substantially transparent to the source radiation and reflected radiation. The first source and first detector are disposed adjacent a first one of the two opposed walls. The radiation reflective surface is disposed adjacent a second of the two opposed walls. A second source is provided for irradiating the surface. The first detector detects radiation from the second source reflected from the surface.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for determining the concentration of at least one analyte in a body fluid. The system has a first member and at least a second member of which at least one has a recess on its surface and the members are joined together in such a manner that the recess is closed by a surface of the other member to form a channel. The first and/or second member is composed at least partially of a membrane which is located either in the region of the recess or on the part of the other member that is opposite to the recess such that substances can be taken up from the surrounding fluid by means of the membrane. The system additionally has a sensor which can be used to determine the concentration of an analyte in the channel. Furthermore the system has at least one integrated reservoir which is connected to the channel.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an electrochemical cell for analysis of a sample is provided, comprising a dual electrode having a dielectric strip with electrical conductors on opposite sides. According to a preferred embodiment, the electrochemical cell comprises a base, and a first reagent the proximate the dual electrode. According to a further preferred embodiment, a second reagent is provided proximate the dual electrode. A cover may also be provided comprising a sample aperture. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second reagents are superposed, and the dual electrode is between the first and second reagents. The dual electrode separates the two and preserves chemical stability until a sample is applied.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the modification, cloning and amplification of cDNAs which are complete at their 5′ end which is essentially characterized in that the first strand cDNA synthesis is carried out in the presence of manganese2+ ions or manganese2+ is added as an additive at a later time. The CAP structure at the 5′ end of the reversely transcribed mRNA triggers the attachment of deoxy-cytosines to the 3′ end of the cDNA with high efficiency. In a preferred embodiment a controlled ribonucleotide tailing is carried out with the aid of terminal transferase following the first strand cDNA synthesis.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer for the assay of liquid samples comprises an exchangeable mixing chamber whose mixing chamber is tapered toward the bottom and is provided with an outlet which is followed by a bore which connects the mixing chamber to an outlet opening. An abrupt transition is formed between said bore and the outlet opening for the analyzed liquid. The abrupt transition is a restriction which serves as a collecting trap for disturbing particles, e.g. coaguli, which might lead to undesirable obstructions elsewhere. Those particles which cannot be flushed away laterally by another outlet opening are eliminated by removing the mixing chamber from the base and blowing it through. A sealing ring serves for a tight seal between the plane bottom of the mixing chamber and the connection. A fluid sensor is provided in order to detect the sample liquid flowing through this connection.

Abstract: A system is provided that enables glycemic control for a subject. The system includes an insulin delivery unit, a glucose sensor, and a control unit. The control unit includes a processor unit that receives glucose value readings from the glucose sensor, executes an algorithm that predicts a glucose value at a predetermined time in the future, compares that predicted glucose value to a pre-determined glucose value range, and determines a corrective amount of insulin to be administered when the predictive glucose value lies outside of the predetermined glucose value range. The control unit also includes a communication unit that transmits the corrective amount to the delivery unit.

Abstract: A reagent and method for determining the levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid in a sample are provided. The reagent comprises a ferricyanide salt, a catalytic amount of a first enzyme operative to catalyze the oxidation of 3-hydroxybutyric acid in the sample, a cofactor corresponding to said first enzyme, and a catalytic amount of a second enzyme operative to catalyze the oxidization of the cofactor and the reduction of the ferricyanide. The reagent is incorporated into a test strip that generates an electrical output signal indicative of the level of 3-hydroxybutyric acid when the reagent is contacted with a sample.