Abstract: A volume-control receptacle has a reservoir with a bottom. The reservoir is adapted for receiving a fluid. The receptacle has a plurality of capillaries opening on the reservoir at a specific height above the bottom; the capillaries draw off the excess fluid from the receptacle, thereby leaving a specific amount of fluid in the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the volume-control receptacle is adapted for use with a disposable cuvette. The reservoir of the receptacle has a drain at the bottom connected to the cuvette for delivering the fluid to a testing instrument or other final application point. The volume-control receptacle has a lip projecting upward from a promontory of the receptacle. A rib extends downward from the lip to the bottom of the reservoir for guiding the fluid into the reservoir.

Abstract: A portable device for performing coagulation tests on a patient's blood. Blood is first drawn from a patient using a lancet. The blood is then supplied to a disposable cuvette placed within the testing device. The blood is drawn into multiple conduits within the cuvette. Each of the conduits contains a dried or lyophilized activation reagent that is rehydrated by the blood. The blood in each of the conduits is then reciprocally moved across a restricted region until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs. Since the coagulation time is being monitored in multiple conduits, a representation coagulation time for a given sample can be determined. In at least one of the conduits a normalizing control agent is present. The normalizing control agent counteracts any effects of anticoagulants present in the blood sample, thereby allowing the blood sample to have generally normal coagulation characteristics.

Abstract: A method for circumcising a penis having a foreskin encircling the glans penis using an apparatus having a cap, a guide clamp, and a blade holder mechanism. The cap defines an interior space and has an outer surface. The glans penis of the penis is placed in the interior space defined by the cap. The foreskin of the penis is positioned around an outer surface of the cap. The clamp is positioned over the foreskin such that a portion of the foreskin is interposed between the clamp and specific features on the outer surface of the cap. The guide clamp is secured in a position over the foreskin of the penis crushing the skin to prevent bleeding. The blade holder mechanism is placed on the guide clamp and rotated around the guide clamp so that a blade carried by the blade holder mechanism cuts the foreskin. The blade is mounted on a flexible finger within the blade holder and as such is exposed for cutting only during use. At all other times the blade is safely contained within the blade holder body.

Abstract: A device for making an adjustably sized incision in skin. The device comprises a housing having a slotted opening; a blade disposed within the housing for making an incision in skin; a blade triggering mechanism disposed within the housing, for propelling the blade through the slotted opening of the housing a given distance to make an incision of a predetermined size in the skin; and incision size adjusting mechanism associated with the housing for selectively adjusting the size of the incision. The incision size adjusting mechanism includes a cam disposed within the housing, the cam being manually movable relative to the housing for allowing the size of the incision to be adjusted by variably limiting the given distance the blade is propelled through the slotted opening of the housing according to the cam's position relative to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a skin incision has an incision blade having at least three facets and at least one sharpened apex. Each of the facets narrows down to one of the apexes. A housing having an exterior surface adapted to be placed flush against the skin and an elongated slot located on the exterior of the surface housing the incision blade. A blade pivoting mechanism located in the housing guides the incision blade through the slot. The blade pivoting mechanism has a first end and second end wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the housing and the second end supports the incision blade. An actuatable depressing mechanism, located within the housing means, engages and holds the blade pivoting mechanism in a set position, preventing the pivotal movement of the blade pivoting mechanism within the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a skin incision has a torsion spring and a method of assembling the apparatus. The apparatus has a housing having a pair of housing sections, each of the housing section having a base and a plurality of walls. The housing defines an inner space and an exterior. A pivot arm is pivotally mounted to a base of a housing section. The pivot arm is guided between a first position and a second position by a follower in a cam carried by the housing. A torsion spring carried by a spring post is coupled to the arm to exert a spring force on the arm in the first position. The housing has an indentation with a raised level and a lower groove on the base for receiving a portion of the spring post. The opening through the base extends from the lower groove. The spring post has a cylindrical base portion adapted to be received by the indentation in the base and a detent portion.

Abstract: A cuvette based testing device for use in testing or otherwise analyzing a fluid sample. A cuvette is provided that defines at least one conduit, wherein the fluid sample is introduced into the various conduits. Reagents are disposed within the conduits that are intended to be mixed with the fluid sample. The fluid sample is drawn into the conduits by the force of a pneumatic pump. As the fluid sample contacts the various reagents, the reagents mix with the sample. Mixing is further conducted by moving the fluid sample back and forth across an obstruction in the conduit. The obstruction causes turbulent flow in the fluid sample, thereby mixing the sample with any reagent also present. The conduit is preferably transparent. The fluid sample is brought to a point in the cuvette where it is disposed below a detector. The detector is used to measure a characteristic of the fluid sample such as optical density, nephelometry, fluorescence, chemical luminescence, photoemittions or the like.

Abstract: A portable device for performing coagulation tests on a patient's blood. Blood is first drawn from a patient using a lancet. The blood is then supplied to a disposable cuvette placed within the testing device. The blood is drawn into multiple conduits within the cuvette. Each of the conduits contains a dried or lyophilized activation reagent that is rehydrated by the blood. The blood in each of the conduits is then reciprocally moved across a restricted region until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs. Since the coagulation time is being monitored in multiple conduits, a representation coagulation time for a given sample can be determined. In at least one of the conduits a normalizing control agent is present. The normalizing control agent counteracts any effects of anticoagulants present in the blood sample, thereby allowing the blood sample to have generally normal coagulation characteristics.

Abstract: A low cost lancet device for creating a skin incision. The lancet contains a unistructurally formed plastic body, thereby making the lancet device easy to manufacture at low cost. The plastic body contains a resilient spring loop that attaches an arm element to an opposing base element. The spring loop is curved, therefore the arm element is retained above the base element by the spring loop. A blade is disposed on the arm element. The blade aligns with a slot in the base element so that when the spring loop is compressed, and the arm element is moved toward the base element, the blade extends through the slot in the base element. A protrusion extends from the base element that obstructs the movement of the arm element toward the base element. As a result, when a force is applied to the arm element, the arm element abuts against the protrusion and applies a bias to the protrusion that acts to displace the protrusion.

Abstract: A self-activated blood drop generator device comprising a casing having an internal hollow and blade assembly disposed within the hollow of the casing for generating an incision in a patient's skin. The device includes a fork-shaped triggering mechanism coupled to the blade assembly for propelling the blade assembly through a predetermined path. A cam arrangement associated with the casing causes the cutting portion of the blade assembly to travel through an arcuate scapel-like path as the cutting portion passes through an aperture in the casing. A retractor arrangement associated with the casing, the blade assembly and the triggering mechanism, are provided for retracting the blade assembly into the hollow of the casing. Also provided is accelerator arrangement associated with the casing and the triggering mechanism for accelerating the triggering mechanism through the hollow of the casing thereby causing the blade assembly to accelerate through the predetermined path.

Abstract: A portable device for performing coagulation tests on a patient's blood. Blood is first drawn from a patient using a lancet. The blood is then supplied to a disposable cuvette placed within the testing device. The blood is drawn into multiple conduits within the cuvette. Each of the conduits contains a dried or lyophilized activation reagent that is rehydrated by the blood. The blood in each of the conduits is then reciprocally moved across a restricted region until a predetermined device of coagulation occurs. Since the coagulation time is being monitored in multiple conduits, a representation coagulation time for a given sample can be determined. In at least one of the conduits a normalizing control agent is present. The normalizing consol agent counteracts any effects of anticoagulants present in the blood sample, thereby allowing the blood sample to have generally normal coagulation characteristics.

Abstract: A lancet device and associated method used for obtaining a blood sample from a patient. The lancet includes a safety housing adapted to be placed against some area of the patient's skin, such as a finger. A slotted aperture is formed through the safety housing in the region of the housing placed against the skin. An invertible spring member is disposed within the safety housing. The invertible spring member is a curved structure that automatically inverts into a generally oppositely curved orientation when the invertible spring member is flattened by a predetermined degree. The cutting blade used to make the incision is coupled to the invertible spring member within the safety housing. A manipulative element supports the invertible spring member and blade within the safety housing. The manipulative element is held at a set position in relation to the safety housing until a threshold force is applied to the manipulative element.

Abstract: A portable device for performing coagulation tests on a patient's blood. Blood is first drawn from a patient using a lancet. The blood is then supplied to a disposable cuvette placed within the testing device. The blood is drawn into multiple conduits within the cuvette. Each of the conduits contains a dried or lyophilized activation reagent that is rehydrated by the blood. The blood in each of the conduits is then reciprocally moved across a restricted region until a predetermined degree of coagulation occurs. Since the coagulation time is being monitored in multiple conduits, a representation coagulation time for a given sample can be determined. In at least one of the conduits a normalizing control agent is present. The normalizing control agent counteracts any effects of anticoagulants present in the blood sample, thereby allowing the blood sample to have generally normal coagulation characteristics.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for transporting a sample of body fluid such as blood from a first location to a remote test site location. The apparatus operates in conjunction with a fluid manifold module which has a first sample input port, a second washing fluid input port and a third input port for receiving air. There are tubes coupled to said first, second and third input ports which are coupled together and coupled to a sample output line which extends from the first location to the remote location. The manifold contains check valves with one valve for blood and one valve for washing fluid and a diaphragm pump for air. There are logic controls which selectively operate the valves and pump to allow the sample line to receive a sample separated by air barriers from washing fluid solution. In this manner, a predetermined volume of sample is transported from the first location to the remote test site location.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for performing a coagulation time test on a sample of blood wherein the blood is deposited in a fluid reservoir and disposable cuvette. Within the cuvette is formed a capillary conduit have at least one restricted region. The cuvette is inserted into a testing machine which engages the cuvette and draws blood from the fluid reservoir into the capillary conduit. The blood is then caused to reciprocally move within the capillary conduit whereby the blood is forced to traverse the restricted region. The testing machine measures the time required each time the blood is caused to traverse the restrict region. When a measured time is a predetermined percentage longer than an immediately preceding time, coagulation is considered to have occured and the overall coagulation time is displayed to the operator.

Abstract: A lancet device uses a planar blade that implements an incision in the skin of a patient using a slicing action. There is a blade support arm pivotably secured within a hollow housing. The pivot connection between the blade support arm and the housing is formed by a pivot pin which extends from the housing and is positioned in a slot receptacle formed on the blade support arm. The pivot pin is free to reciprocally move within the slot receptacle as the blade support arm pivot about the pivot pin. The rotation of the blade support arm about the pivot pin is implemented by a bias spring. The path traversed by the blade support arm as it pivots is controlled by a groove located on the interior surface of the housing which engages a projection that extends from the blade support arm. As such, when the support arm pivots from a first position to a second position, the projection on the blade support arm traverses the groove in the housing.

Abstract: A portable, hand held reflectometer which employs at least one blue light emitting diode for measuring the optical brightness of an opaque material, such as a stack or pad of paper is disclosed. A brightness measuring reflectometer which employs two blue light emitting diodes arranged so as to substantially reduce measured brightness variations caused by changing the orientation of the reflectometer relative to that of the fibers contained in a fibrous material such as paper whose brightness is to be measured is also disclosed. An ultraviolet light source such as a fluorescent lamp is also employed for measuring the brightness of paper or other materials which contain ultraviolet light excitable blue wavelength emitting substances. An electronic circuit for operating the reflectometer is also disclosed which employs a negative feedback circuit for maintaining the intensity of the ultraviolet light source at a relatively constant level.

Abstract: A thermal pack has mirror imaged upper and lower sections which are integrally joined by a reduced central section with both the upper and lower sections adapted to be secured about a corresponding limb of a user with the reduced area central portion serving as a hinge to surround the joint of the user when accommodating the thermal pack. The thermal pack is further characterized in that the entire major surface of the thermal pack is manifested by a plurality of compartments giving the thermal pack a quilted-like appearance. Each of the compartments may communicate with one another via formed passageways within the compartments containing a chemical fluid substance which is adapted to release or absorb heat when subjected to activation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the coagulation of a sample of blood includes a ferromagnetic member, which is immersed in the blood sample and which is magnetically coupled to a reed switch, and an adjustable source of magnetic flux lines, which is also magnetically coupled to the reed switch. As the blood sample coagulates, the ferromagnetic member is displaced from the reed switch and, as a result, the magnetic field coupled to reed switch is reduced. When the ferromagnetic member reaches a predetermined displacement, the reed switch is open, which indicates that blood has coagulated. A microprocessor calibrates the reed switch by adjusting the density of the magnetic flux lines from the adjustable source such that the reed switch is open when the ferromagnetic member reaches the predetermined distance displacement.