Abstract: A method of preparing a glass bead mixture using inert nanoparticles to improve flow rates of the glass beads for purposes of manufacturing an immunodiagnostic test element, such as a column agglutination test cassette, and a test element made in accordance with the method.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for liquid transfer and performing reactions. In one aspect, a system includes a liquid transfer device having a housing having a pipette tip and a plunger assembly; and a reaction chamber, wherein the housing of the liquid transfer device is configured to sealably engage with the reaction chamber. In another aspect, a liquid transfer device including a housing having a pipette tip; and a plunger assembly disposed within the housing and the pipette tip, wherein a portion of the plunger assembly is configured to engage a fluid reservoir such that the plunger assembly remains stationary relative to the fluid reservoir and the housing moves relative to the plunger assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a microchip having a liquid supply mechanism which can supply a solution in a micro flow path with a simple construction in which a drive source utilizing an osmotic pressure is arranged within the microchip and which controls the osmotic pressure by a control unit utilizing temperature or the like, whereby it is possible to effect drive control such as intermittent driving and continuous driving at a fixed velocity. The liquid supply mechanism using osmotic pressure includes an osmotic pump utilizing the osmotic pressure of a liquid filling chambers separated from each other by a semipermeable membrane, and a unit which varies the osmotic pressure by changing a condition of the solution in at least one of the chambers on the basis of a timing of a pumping operation.

Abstract: Discussed are a diagnostic cartridge and a control method for the diagnostic cartridge. The cartridge includes a sample port through which a sample is injected, a first chamber moving the sample injected from the sample port, a second chamber moving a substrate solution, a first membrane formed at a distal end of the first chamber to function as a valve for preventing other substances from being injected into the first chamber after the sample is completely moved, and a second membrane formed at a distal end of the second chamber to function as a valve for preventing other substances from being injected into the first chamber after the substrate solution is completely moved.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly (201) with an intake (213) has at least one pump (210) featuring at least one pump channel mounted in the monitoring assembly (201). A plurality of fluid lines are coupled to the at least one pump (210). At least one filter cartridge (315) is also mounted in the assembly. Each filter cartridge (315) is separately coupled by one of the plurality of fluid lines to one of the pump channels, where each filter cartridge (315) contains material for extracting an analyte, and where the at least one pump operates to separately push fluid through the at least one filter cartridge (315). The filter cartridge (315) operates to separate fluid into constituent parts.

Abstract: A method of screening aircraft passengers and/or cargo comprising loading an aircraft with passengers, cargo or both, circulating air within the aircraft so that the air is in contact with the passengers and/or cargo, expelling some of the circulated air from the aircraft, diverting a portion of the air being expelled from the aircraft through a chemical filter configured to retained evidence of a target substance, and analyzing the chemical filter to detect the presence of a target substance within the aircraft.

Abstract: A biologic fluid sample analysis method and system is provided that includes a reagent depository, and analysis chamber, a biologic fluid transfer system, and a programmable analyzer. The reagent depository has a plurality of reagent deposits, and each reagent deposit located at a position within the depository independent of the other reagent deposits. The analysis chamber is adapted to quiescently hold a biologic fluid sample and one or more reagents during analysis. The biologic fluid transfer system has at least one fluid transfer device. The programmable analyzer is adapted to control the biologic fluid transfer system to acquire a volume of sample from a sample reservoir, dispense a volume of the sample into the reagent depository, acquire a volume of sample and reagent from the reagent depository, and to transfer the sample and reagent to the analysis chamber, and to analyze the combined sample and reagent.

Abstract: A specimen identification and dispensation device includes an optical measurement device which is an identification part for measuring and identifying optical information on a specimen by emitting exciting light to the specimen being a measurement target dispersed in a liquid flowing through inside of a capillary, a dispensation part for dispensing the identified specimen into wells being sections to be dispensed through a nozzle, and a concentration adjustment part which adjusts the number of the specimens contained in an aliquot solution to a desired number according to the concentration of a sample liquid and the amount of the aliquot solution. The dispensation part is movable three-dimensionally with respect to the identification part and the nozzle.

Abstract: Described systems and methods allow the detection of and determination of a concentration of a target analyte such as a biological cell, a virus, a polypeptide, a toxin, a pesticide, a drug, a drug residue, or a DNA strand, in a fluid sample. A variable stimulus, such as an oscillating magnetic field or a light beam of oscillating intensity, is applied to the sample, inducing variations in a position or shape of a constituent of the sample, or variations in a fluorescence of the sample. Such variations produce measurable variations in electric and/or optical properties of a sensor, variations which allow the determination of the concentration of the target analyte.

Abstract: A microsystem for fluidic applications includes a substrate with a reservoir, a first microchannel, connected to the reservoir, and a second microchannel, separated from the first microchannel by a fixed member. The microsystem furthermore has an elastic film on the substrate, which film has a joint to the substrate around the reservoir and seals the reservoir. Here, the joint has a permanent joining area and, on the fixed member, a fixed member joining area that can be broken open and adjoins the permanent joining area at both ends of the fixed member. Such a microsystem forms a processing chip with reagent receptacle.

Abstract: A structure is configured to retain optical diagnostic assay components in a manner that enables them to be synergistically combined or coupled both mechanically and electrically with a conventional mobile electronic device (such as a smartphone), such that the pairing maintains a mutually advantageous relationship to provide a compact portable optical assay apparatus in which the optical assay portion has access to the image sensor, battery power, microprocessor, and data capture, analysis, storage, display and transmission capabilities of the smartphone, and the smartphone portion provides the overall apparatus with features of transportability, user interface, and information storage, analysis and retrieval, and transmission of assay results to a separate site, such as a site of records related to the provider of the sample being assayed. Methods of providing such structure and of performing an optical assay of sample material utilizing such structure are described.

Abstract: Sample preparation device that allows for a complete bind, wash, elute, buffer-exchange and concentration process to be carried out without sample transfer between multiple devices. The device includes a reservoir, a column for holding chromatography media, a holder region for holding a filtration device, and an outlet. The filtration device plugs into the holder region of the centrifugal device, and the assembly can be placed in an optional holder. The assembly, with or without the optional holder, can be placed in a conventional centrifuge tube for centrifugation. The entire bind, wash, elute, buffer exchange and concentration steps can be carried out with the apparatus without any pipette transfers (and the associated sample losses. The sample preparation device also can be used for binding and washing steps, in which case the filtration device is not needed, and for buffer exchange and concentration steps, in which case the media is not needed.

Abstract: A method of measuring a pH of a solution includes: emitting light beams of two wavelengths from one side of a measuring region of a solution into which an indicator is mixed, while pulsating the solution in the measuring region; receiving at least one of transmitted light beams and reflected light beams of the emitted light beams on the other side of the measuring region, while pulsating the solution in the measuring region; obtaining absorbances of the two wavelengths based on the received at least one of the transmitted light beams and the reflected light beams; obtaining an absorbance ratio from the obtained absorbances; and calculating a pH value of the solution based on the obtained absorbance ratio and an absorbance ratio/pH value correspondence database which is previously stored.

Abstract: The invention is directed to separation of amylase from body fluid by contacting said body fluid with starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch, separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free components, thereby removing the bound amylase, and collecting the non-bound components.

Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a filter having first and second opposed surfaces. A first reservoir is positioned adjacent with the first surface and in communication with the first surface, and a first inlet-outlet port is in communication with the first reservoir and spaced from the first surface. A second reservoir is positioned adjacent the second surface, and in communication with the second surface, and a second inlet-outlet port is in communication with the second reservoir and spaced from the second surface. A filter plate system comprises a reservoir plate. The reservoir plate comprises at least one reservoir well. The filter plate system further comprises a strainer plate. The strainer plate comprises at least one strainer well, which is removably receivable in the reservoir well. The strainer well comprises at least one mesh wall portion.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dissolution testing of active substances in various dosage forms is provided. The apparatus has filtration cells equipped and configured to simulate bodily functions, operate continuously and facilitate testing various types of dosage forms including, but not limited to, tablets, capsules and those having non-disintegrating substrates.

Abstract: Provided are a method of semi-quantitatively evaluating concrete carbonation including the steps of a specimen preparing step of preparing a concrete specimen for identifying a degree of carbonation, a carbonation depth measuring step of measuring a carbonation depth of the specimen by a method of promoting carbonation of the specimen using a carbonation promoting tester and applying an indicator, an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzing step of qualitatively analyzing components of the specimen by an XRD method after cutting the specimen from a top end to a predetermined depth and crushing the specimen. Thus, the method of the present invention may calculate the exposure time of concrete carbonation by converting the analysis result value of XRD to the result value of TG-DTA.

Abstract: A method and device for enhanced capture of target analytes is disclosed. This invention relates to collection of chemicals for separations and analysis. More specifically, this invention relates to a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device having better capability for chemical collection and analysis. This includes better physical stability, capacity for chemical collection, flexible surface chemistry and high affinity for target analyte.

Abstract: A biosensor cartridge includes a plasma separator, a plasma metering chamber, a mixer, and a biosensor.

Abstract: Fluidic devices and methods associated with mixing of fluids in fluidic devices are provided. In some embodiments, a method may involve the mixing of two or more fluids in a channel segment of a fluidic device. The fluids may be in the form of, for example, at least first, second and third fluid plugs, composed of first, second, and third fluids, respectively. The second fluid may be immiscible with the first and third fluids. In certain embodiments, the fluid plugs may be flowed in series in the channel segment, e.g., in linear order, causing the first and third fluids to mix without the use of active components such as mixers. The mixing of fluids in a channel segment as described herein may allow for improved performance and simplification in the design and operations of fluidic devices that rely on mixing of fluids.