Abstract: A biosensor is provided that comprises a substrate, a reagent positioned on the substrate, and a cover including a first surface coupled to the substrate and a second surface. The first surface is carved so that it includes a flow channel therein. The flow channel extends over at least a portion of the reagent. In addition, the cover includes secondary channels extending on either side of the channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay method for the highly sensitive detection of amphetamines, methamphetamines, and methylenedioxy designer amphetamines in urine samples. Commercially available reagents for the determination of amphetamines and methamphetamines are used with a calibrator comprising a known amount of a substance selected from the group consisting of methylenedioxy designer amphetamines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the measurement of an analyte in biological samples whereby an uncompetitive inhibitor is coupled to a ligand and utilized in a homogeneous assay. The analyte can be a drug or drug derivative, hormone, polypeptide, or oligonucleotide. The present invention also provides novel compounds, assay reagents and packaged kits useful for performing such measurements.

Abstract: Multicyclic aromatic compounds useful as complexing agents having the general formula: Methods of complexing and quantitating a component in a sample such as urea or guanidine are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer system including transport means for moving sample racks within the system. In order to simplify and reduce the cost of the means for transporting the sample racks the system comprises (a) a rack supply unit capable of containing sample racks, said rack supply unit including (a.1) a rack input device for introducing sample racks into the rack supply unit, (a.2) a rack output device for removing sample racks from the rack supply unit, (a.3) a buffer unit for storing unprocessed racks before they are transferred from said rack supply unit to a position corresponding to an analyzer unit, and for storing also already processed racks which contain samples having a probability of being reexamined, and (a.

Abstract: Methods for isolating trophoblast cells from pregnant women are provided. A central maternal blood sample is obtained, typically from the uterine wall of a pregnant woman. The trophoblast cells are isolated from the central maternal blood sample.

Abstract: A method for transferring a liquid using a device having a waste chamber, a pipette tip parking chamber and at least one process chamber is disclosed. The liquid may be transferred between process chambers, or from one process chamber to the waste chamber, or from a primary sample tube external to the device to one process chamber, or from one process chamber to a specimen container external to said device, and wherein said transfer of the liquid is effected by means of pipetting operations carried out with said pipette tip. The method is particularly suitable for contamination-free processing of biological samples.

Abstract: A recloseable biosensor is provided that comprises a substrate, a sample site positioned on the substrate, and an openable and recloseable cover coupled to the substrate. The cover is operative to selectively block access to the sample site. The cover includes a fixed end coupled to the substrate, an opposite free end, and a middle portion extending across the sample site. The middle portion is releasably and recloseably adhered to the substrate.

Abstract: A self-power down circuit for a controller coupled to a battery to obtain power from the battery. The controller has a port, the state of which changes during powering up of the controller. The circuit includes a first switching device including a main current conducting path and a control terminal. The control terminal of the first switching device is coupled to the port for monitoring the state of the port. The circuit further includes a second switching device including a main current conducting path and a control terminal, and a switch. The port is coupled to the battery through the main current conducting path of the second switching device. The control terminal of the second switching device is coupled to the switch for actuation by actuation of the switch. The control terminal of the second switching device is also coupled to the main current conducting paths of the first and second switching devices through first and second voltage dropping elements, respectively.

Abstract: A sampling device for sampling body fluid includes a casing which is pressed against a skin surface to produce a seal therewith. A cocking mechanism is pulled rearwardly to place a lancing device in a cocked state. By releasing a trigger, the lancing device is driven forward to produce an incision in the skin, and then is retracted out of the incision. A plunger mounted on the cocking mechanism is then retracted to generate a negative pressure at the front end of the casing to draw body fluid from the incision.

Abstract: A fluid-delivery apparatus for delivering a medicament to a patient is provided in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a housing defining a passageway, a bellowed ampoule positioned to lie in the passageway of the housing, and a piston. The bellowed ampoule includes a body with first and second ends and is formed to define a cavity configured to contain the medicament. The piston presses the second end of the ampoule toward the first end to dispense the medicament from the cavity. In addition, the fluid-delivery apparatus includes a visible non-linear scale that represents the relationship between a volume of medicament delivered from the first end of the ampoule and a distance that the piston has traveled in the housing toward the first end.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for measuring an antigen concentration in a sample, which comprises: preparing VH-domain polypeptide and VL-domain polypeptide of an antibody specific to the antigen; labeling one of the polypeptides with a reporter molecule to form labeled polypeptides, and immobilizing the other polypeptide onto solid-phase to form immobilized polypeptides; contacting the antigen-containing sample and the labeled polypeptides with the solid-phase; and measuring the reporter molecule of the labeled polypeptides bound to the immobilized polypeptides. The present invention permits simpler and quicker sandwich ELISA for measurements of an antigen concentration in high sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides hapten derivatives that are useful for the preparation of antigens, antibodies and reagents having superior performance characteristics for use in immunoassays for the detection of LSD and nor-LSD. In the present invention the LSD nucleus is derivatized out of the indole nitrogen to form an aminoalkyl derivative. Derivatives have also been synthesized out of the piperidine nitrogen of the LSD nucleus. The resulting haptens can then be further modified at these functionalized positions for linking to appropriate antigenic or labelling groups to provide reagents for LSD immunoassays having excellent sensitivity and selectivity for both LSD and nor-LSD.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer for the assay of liquid samples pipetted from a container into a mixing chamber includes a controller for controlling the operation of the analyzer in response to sensors that monitor the functions of the analyzer. Within the analyzer, the responses of the sensors are evaluated and, when such responses do not meet prescribed criteria, error messages are provided. In the disclosed embodiments, the controller is implemented using at least one program-controlled processor. In order to monitor the pipetting operations in an effective manner, the automatic analyzer, in one embodiment, uses a plurality of operation and monitoring control units which operate independently of one another. Each of these units is by a central processing unit.

Abstract: A capillary pathway is dimensioned so that the driving force for the movement of liquid through the capillary pathway arises from capillary pressure. A plurality of groups of microstructures are fixed in the capillary pathway within discrete segments of the pathway for facilitating the transport of a liquid around curved portions of pathway. Capillary channels can be coupled between two adjacent groups of microstructures to either the inner and outer wall of the capillary pathway. The width of each capillary channel is generally smaller than the capillary pathway to which it is connected, and can be varied to achieve differences in fill initiation. The grouped microstructures are spaced from each other within each group on a nearest neighbor basis by less than that necessary to achieve capillary flow of liquid with each group. Each group of microstructures are spaced from any adjacent group by an inter-group space greater than the width of any adjacent capillary channels connected to the capillary pathway.

Abstract: The invention is a method, reagent, test cartridge and device for the determination of fibrinogen in a sample, such as undiluted blood and blood plasma. The method utilizes a reagent comprising thrombin and a thrombin inhibitor that slows the enzymatic conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, and thus slows clotting in samples. This is particularly useful for determining fibrinogen in undiluted blood and blood plasma. Fibrinogen assay reagents comprising at least one thrombin inhibitor and thrombin, and test cartridges containing the reagents for automated analysis of fibrinogen are disclosed, along with automated devices using said reagent and test cartridges for the devices.

Abstract: A biosensor is provided that includes first and second plate elements, wherein each plate elements has first and second ends and first and second lateral borders. In addition, the biosensor includes a spacer positioned to lie between the first and second plate elements so that at least a portion of the first and second plate elements cooperate with one another to form opposite walls of a capillary space. Further, the first ends and at least a portion of the lateral borders define a fluid sample-receiving portion in communication with the capillary space. Electrodes are positioned in the capillary space of the biosensor.

Abstract: A biosensor is provided in accordance with this invention. The biosensor includes a bottom section with an edge and a flange extending from the edge, a top section supported on the bottom section and having an edge and flange extending from the edge in alignment with the flange of the bottom section. The flanges of the top and bottom sections cooperate to form a capillary channel, and first and second electrodes. Additionally, the first electrode is positioned on the flange of the bottom section in the capillary channel and the second electrode is positioned on the flange of the top section in the capillary channel.