Abstract: Subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting surface contamination by an analyte by wiping the analyte off the surface with the aid of a wiping surface, eluting the analyte from the wiping surface with an eluant, and detecting the analyte in the eluate in an immunological detection reaction, characterized in that: a) the surface to be tested for the analyte is wiped with a wiping surface, b) the wiping surface is brought into contact with the planar surface of a capillary active, chromatographic test strip which has an eluant application zone at its one end and a target zone at its other end whereby contact is made in an area between these two zones, c) eluting liquid is applied onto the zone provided for this purpose, said liquid moving toward the target zone passes the contact site with the wiping surface as a consequence of capillary forces, whereby analyte is taken up by the eluant, and d) in the target zone, the analyte is measured in an immunological binding reaction.

Abstract: A plurality of catalyst disks pressed from porous catalyst material are stacked one on the other and together sintered with the application of pressure to make a stacked reactor for hydrogen production from hydrocarbons. To form especially tight seams the catalyst disks have projections formed in the area of contact with an adjacent catalyst disk. Hollow spaces formed in the catalyst disk or formed by two adjacent catalyst disks have a system for supporting the hollow spaces, as for example a cooper grid placed in the hollow space, which can be covered at least partially by a metal sheet or supporting bars pressed onto the catalyst disk.

Abstract: A device for the production of hydrogen-containing gas for a fuel cell system, in particular in a motor vehicle, is disclosed. Suitable feed materials are water and at least one hydrocarbon-containing starting material, in particular a hydrocarbon derivative, such as methanol or ethanol. The device comprises an evaporator to evaporate the feed material; a superheater to superheat the feed material vapor; a high temperature reformer in which steam reforming of the superheated feed material is carried out; a burner which provides the thermal energy required for the steam reforming by burning a gas stream that contains fuel and oxygen; a water gas shift stage to reduce the carbon monoxide content of the reformate stream produced in the steam reforming; and a cooler to reduce the temperature of the reformate stream between the point where the reformate stream is discharged out of the high temperature reformer and the point where the reformate stream enters into the water gas shift stage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of fluidically parallel first layers which define first heat exchanger ducts through which a first medium is capable of flowing, and in each case has a second layer between the two first layers. The respective second layer is in thermal contact with the two adjacent first layers and defines at least one second heat exchanger duct through which a second medium is capable of flowing in parallel. The respective second layer comprises two fluidically parallel layer plies. A controllable supply of the second medium to the one and/or the other layer ply in each case is provided. Such a heat exchanger can be used, in particular, as an evaporator with an integrated starting and main evaporator part, and particularly as an evaporator in a reforming plant of a fuel-cell vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for a fuel cell unit includes a membrane that separates the pressure regulator into an anode-side region and a cathode-side region. The membrane is acted in the anode-side region by the pressure of the anode side of the fuel cell unit and in the cathode-side region by the pressure of the cathode side of the fuel cell unit. The pressure regulator further includes an actuator connected to the membrane, wherein the actuator sets a predetermined pressure on at least one of the anode and cathode sides.

Abstract: An adhesive insect trap with a carrier layer, an attractant-containing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer suitable for trapping insects, and a protective layer contains attractant-loaded microparticles in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a metal foil consisting of several metals in which at least one galvanic bath of several different bath types is prepared. Each bath type contains an electrolyte solution suitable for the deposition of one of the metals involved. A layer stack is then formed for the metal foil by successive alternate galvanic deposition of one layer at a time of the metals contained in the various bath types, on the circumference of a rotating deposition roller which is wired as a cathode in the corresponding galvanic bath. This step is followed by a tempering process that converts the layer stack is converted into a homogeneous alloy of the metals. Thereby, a metal membrane foil is produced for hydrogen separation from a process gas of a methanol reformation system in a fuel-cell-operated motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalytic component on a metallic or ceramic support for a fuel cell system, in which the catalytic component is applied to the metallic or ceramic support in at least one layer. This at least one layer contains at least one hydrophobic material component, which is applied together or alternately with at least one catalytically active material component in one process step. The invention also relates to a catalytic component, which is applied to a metallic or ceramic support, for a chemical reactor in a fuel cell system, and to methods of using the catalytic component.

Abstract: In a device for treating blood vessels with a laser, the laser provides a beam in a wavelength range from 750 to 850 nm, preferably 805 nm. The device has a measuring unit which measures the concentration of a chromophore (preferably indocyanine green) administered to the patient in the patient's blood vessels. The device further comprises a control unit which controls the power of the laser in a contrary sense to the measured concentration.

Abstract: An electroporation and/or fusion treatment of microscopic objects occurs in a medium between at least two electrodes, with the electrodes being miniaturized electrodes in a microsystem with a channel structure which is set up for the flow-through of the medium with the objects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for injecting an injectate fluid into a blood vessel of a patient for carrying out thermodilution or dye-dilution measurements in order to determine hemodynamic parameters of the patient. The apparatus includes sensing means for sensing a change of pressure and/or flow rate and/or temperature inside the injection channel, and a computer coupled to the sensing means for determining the time instants of start and finish of the injection process.

Abstract: In a method, a device and a computer program for determining the blood flow in a tissue or organ region, the fluorescence intensity of an exogenous chromophore is measured as a function of time in the tissue region to be examined and from this the permeation rate of the chromophore is calculated, from which the blood flow can be derived.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a magnetic component on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one inner layer including a trace that forms a winding of the magnetic component. Another winding of the magnetic component is formed by a length of wire that is disposed externally to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A catheter system comprising a catheter including a tip having a distal opening, a first opening, and an insertion wire lumen extending from the distal opening to the first opening provided on a surface of the catheter, and an insertion wire having a length substantially smaller than a length dimension of the catheter. The catheter system in accordance with the present invention may include a sensor lumen and a pressure lumen. The sensor lumen terminates at a second opening and includes an optically transparent closure and the pressure lumen includes a third opening. In the preferred embodiment, the first opening and the second opening are positioned on the catheter at substantially same axial distance from the distal opening and further includes a perforation that allows fluidic communication between the pressure lumen and the second opening. The catheter system may also comprise a pressure hose, at least one optical fiber and a thermal sensor element.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an incoming conveyor and a revolving device, in which grippers (9) circulate at a regular first spacing (T1) over a closed circulating path (10). The grippers (9) can be individually switched between a first state, in which they take hold of the products (2) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release the products from the grippers. At a transfer point (11) the grippers (9) pass above the incoming conveyor (1). They are switched at the transfer point (11) into the first state, in which they each take hold of a product and carry it along. A store (16) has carriers (19) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T2) in a closed, second circulating path (15). The second circulating path (15) runs over a buffer region (20) parallel to the first circulating path (11). Within the buffer region (20) the grippers (9) can be switched into their second state. The circulating speed of the grippers (9) is greater than the circulating speed of the carriers (9).

Abstract: A process for producing a compact catalytic reactor, in which reaction spaces or heat-transfer spaces are formed by stacking at least partially structured plates alternately one on top of the other, a catalyst is introduced into the reaction spaces, and the plates are provided with a layer of solder at least in the edge region, but not in the region provided with catalyst material, and, after stacking them one on top of the other, are soldered to form a reactor. In addition, the plates may be provided with a bent-up edge region a for easy positioning and for increasing the leak tightness. Finally, an unstructured intermediate plate may also be respectively provided between the structured plates.

Abstract: An air mover apparatus for conveying and separating articles through a transport tube. A line-up of articles are supplied via a track from an orienting and feeding device and, thence, to a transport tube leading to a remote processing machine. The air mover is operatively connected between the track and the transport tube. Oppositely disposed converging air passages are formed in the air mover, adapted to receive compressed air from a suitable source and emit same to the interior of the air mover, to thereby draw each successive article therepast from the line-up and project same forward, creating a separation between adjacent articles while blowing the articles through the transport tube to the processing machine. An orifice may be formed upstream of the converging air passages, adapted to receive the compressed air to stall the articles to enhance the separation between adjacent articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rejecting signals exhibiting pulse pile-up and devices incorporating the method and/or apparatus. A pulse sensor senses pulses and an analog-to-digital converter digitizes the sensed pulses into discrete ADC values over a plurality of time slices. The digitized pulses are stored in a FIFO memory for processing by a classification processor. The processor qualifies the pulse and marks its first time slice. The processor includes accumulators that calculate parameters from various regions of the pulse. The calculated parameters are compared to criteria from identical regions of known, non-piled pulses. Pulses whose calculated parameters meet the criteria are accepted and stored in one memory location, and pulses whose calculated parameter do not meet the criteria are rejected and stored in another memory location.

Abstract: A transformer group in which a multitude of transformers are used to supply energy to a single load. The transformers are connected in series; in order to assist in providing a “flux equalizing” affect, the invention includes a flux equalizer circuit. The flux equalizer circuit provides a series of flux windings. Each flux winding is associated with a single transformer. The windings are arranged in parallel. In this manner, a balancing of the output of the transformers is obtained; the power output from each transformer is “sensed” by its associated flux winding which is “shared” with the other transformers via their own associated flux winding. Power is process then through the secondary windings, rectifiers, and output filters to a common load.

Abstract: A therapeutic system for supplying active substances to the skin consists of a backing layer remote from the skin, with at least one active substance depot. The depot may consist of a fluid active substance or a fluid composition comprising an active substance delivery control matrix. There is also included an adhesive fixing device for fixing the therapeutic system on the skin. The therapeutic system is characterized in that the active substance depots (14) consist of at least one adjuvant having a supporting and distributing function by being provided with a planar textile material completely surrounded by matrix (12).