Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for detecting the presence of gynecological carcinomas in a patient. The method, which comprises detecting the presence of lysophosphatidic acid in a plasma sample of the patient, is useful for detecting ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, and peritoneal carcinoma. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises: providing a blood specimen from the patient, obtaining a plasma sample for the blood specimen under conditions which minimize the release of lysophosphatidic acid from the platelets in the blood specimen into the plasma, extracting lipids from the plasma, and detecting the presence of lysophosphatidic acid in the lipid extract. A new method for extracting lysophosphatidic acid from a biological fluid is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a compound centrifuge tube including a larger volume bottomless portion, and a smaller volume portion having a bottom and formed just below the larger volume portion. The smaller volume portion is designed to be separable from the larger volume portion, for instance, by forming an annular groove at an outer surface of the tube so that a boundary between the larger and smaller portions has a smaller wall-thickness than other portions. For another instance, there may be formed threaded portions both at a lower end of the larger volume portion and at an upper end of the smaller volume portion so as to detachably engage those two portions to each other. In accordance with the compound centrifuge tube, a cell pellet remain unremoved at a distal end of the smaller volume portion even after centrifugation and washing.

Abstract: A waste container for a blood analyzer or other fluid analysis medical device. The waste container includes a flexible waste bag having a gas vent that may include a gas permeable, but substantially fluid impermeable, material or fabric. The fabric allows gases to escape the waste bag, but substantially prevents fluids from escaping. The waste container also includes a moisture absorbent material, such as a polyacrylamide polymer, that converts waste fluid, such as blood, from the blood analyzer into a substantially solid material, such as a gel, as waste fluids enter the waste bag. As waste fluids enter the waste bag and are converted into a substantially solid material, expelled gases that form in the waste bag as well as gases entering the waste bag from the blood analyzer pass through the gas vent. The waste container can be used with a blood analyzer that analyzes blood gases and electrolytes.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently mixing and sucking a sample capable of performing sucking collection from a sample plural times even when the amount of the sample contained in a vessel is small and requiring a shortened processing time, is provided comprising a first pipet having a through-hole for mixing a liquid sample contained in a vessel by sucking the liquid sample from the vessel through the through-hole and discharging the liquid sample thus sucked into the vessel; and a second pipet having a through-hole having an inner diameter different from that of the through-hole of the first pipet for collecting the sample from the vessel through the through-hole thereof by suction, the first and second pipets being integral with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly sensitive and accurate method and system for the discrimination and quantification of platelets in a whole blood sample using automated hematology instruments. The method and system of the invention provide the accurate measurements of platelet dry mass and platelet component concentration in both normal blood samples and in abnormal blood samples, such as those from thrombocytopenic patients. The determination of platelet dry mass and platelet component concentration can serve to assess the activation state of platelets since activated platelets possess measurably lower component concentrations and refractive indices than do unactivated platelets. The method and system of the invention also allows the clinician or skilled practitioner to determine the age of a blood sample on the basis of the measured parameter of platelet component concentration.

Abstract: A method of irradiating a biological specimen with ultraviolet, in particular a polynucleotide specimen selected from DNA or RNA, or optionally a protein. In the case where the specimen is DNA or RNA, or potentially proteins, the specimen is irradiated to cross-link the specimen to a substrate. In the case where the specimen is DNA, the specimen can also be irradiated to form thymine dimers. The method uses an apparatus which permits relatively precise control of the total ultraviolet dose received by the specimen, despite any changes of ultraviolet flux from the lamps which may occur from during any one experiment, or between a number of experiments. Thus, the method allows relatively highly reproducible results to be obtained.

Abstract: A resistive gas sensor has a porous semiconducting oxide body in which the pore surfaces are decorated with a precious metal. The sensor operates at ambient temperatures for detection and measurement of target gases, especially carbon monoxide. The porous sensor body is formed of primary crystallites agglomerated together, the agglomerate size being less than 10 times the primary crystallite size, and the primary crystallite size having an average diameter of less than 5 micrometer. From 0.05 to 80% of the pore surfaces are covered by the metallic phase, the metallic phase consisting of particles having an average size of less than 50 nanometers. Presence of the target gas is indicated by a change in electrical resistance of the sensor.

Abstract: A new flask for two products, includes a general flask body having a neck; a vessel housed inside the neck of the general flask body and having a weakened part; the neck of the flask body including a thread, and a flange at an upper part of the neck; a cap which screws onto an outside of the neck, the cap including a thread which is complementary to the thread on the neck, a flange which is complementary to the flange on the neck, a wall defining a hole, and a vertical projection which emerges from an inside of the cap, in the form of a short cylinder with extremely sharp edges, the length of the cylindrical vertical projection from the inside of the cap being such that the vertical projection facilitates cutting of the weakened part of the vessel, when the cap is screwed down; and a cover hinged to the cap and made from the same material as the cap, for fully sealing a top of the cap by pressure, the hinged cover of the cap having a central projection at a lower part thereof corresponding to the hole and of

Abstract: A method of determining the glycosylated fraction of a protein in a sample includes the steps of examining the sample to determine the total quantity of protein in the sample (READ 1), removing the glycosylated fraction of the protein, and then reexamining the sample to measure the glycosylated fraction of the protein (READ 2). The glycosylated fraction of the protein may then be calculated by the formula (READ 1-READ 2)/READ .times.100. The glycosylated fraction of the protein is removed by inserting a cartridge containing a binder into the sample, or by urging the sample through a cartridge containing a binder. Both of the cartridge assemblies preferably include a flow through body, a support material disposed in the body, and a binder material attached to the support wherein the binder has an affinity for the glycosylated fraction of the protein.

Abstract: A replaceable pipette tip comprising a pipette surface contamination protector comprising an upwardly extending projection connected by the shoulder to the proximal end portion for laterally spacing the pipette device from a tube which contains or which is to receive the sample fluid to prevent contamination of an outer surface of the pipette device by contact with the tube into which the pipette tip is inserted.

Abstract: A system for sorting particles is arranged such that the presence or absence of multiple parameters is determined for each particle in a flow of particles, and a logic condition is determined based on the multiple parameters. Thereafter, particles are outputted from the system when the logic condition is present. Accordingly, multiparameter high-speed measurements of a rare subpopulation of particles (e.g. biological cells) can be made amidst a larger population of particles with differing characteristics. When attached to a multiparameter flow cytometer/cell sorter and microcomputer, the system allows multiparameter analysis of cells at rates in excess of 100,000 cells/sec. This system can be an outboard module attached to a commercially available or home-built flow cytometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the amount of various corrosive gases present in a corrosive environment, which uses a metal plate having a thin metalic film thereon formed by sputtering or deposition, instead of the conventional hand made metal sheet, and which measures the thickness of a corrosion film formed on the metal film by utilizing an X-ray spectrum instead of the conventional cathode reduction method, and without destroying the corrosion film, through use of a calibration curve. The invention also provides a novel casing for holding the metal plate in the corrosive environment during measurement.

Abstract: A piston pipette having pulling equipment for moving a piston upward and pushing equipment for moving the piston downward. The pushing equipment has a movable gripping device (5), which when moving downward is attached to the piston and transfers the piston downward, and a movable transfer device (4) extending below the gripping device. According to the structure a pipette is obtained which is gripped a pen-shape handle and with which liquid can be dosed to a desired place as exactly as possible.

Abstract: The total base number of an oil sample of measured volume is determined by solvating the oil sample, adding a predetermined amount of acidic species to the solvated sample to react the acidic species with any basic species contained in the oil sample, extracting the remaining acidic species into an extractant phase, separating the extractant phase from the oil sample, and measuring the acidic species content of the extractant phase to determine the quantity of basic species in the oil sample. The same technique may be used to determine the total acid number of an oil sample by adding a predetermined amount of basic species to the sample and measuring the basic species content of the extractant phase.

Abstract: Testing of samples in a small, closed, and easy-to-fill device. Simultaneous filling of a large number of test wells using a novel gas-venting design, allowing for multiparameter testing and/or identification of bacteria.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cleaning the inner wall of a pipeline, which includes providing a pig component, of the type having a pig body, a plurality of spacers around the pig body, the spacers making contact with an inner surface of the pipeline wall, a forward end of the pig having a plurality of pressure nozzles positioned thereon for allowing fluid under pressure to flow therefrom onto the inner wall of the pipeline; a bore through the pig body extending from an opening in a rear end of the pig, to the forward end of the pig; a valving member on the forward end of the pig for moving to the open position to allow the fluid to flow to the pressure nozzles when sufficient fluid pressure is placed on the valving member; providing a fluid under pressure, such as water or chemicals, to the rear and front of the pig, the fluid forcing the pig to move forward under pressure; encountering an obstruction, such as paraffin, formed along the inner wall of the pipeline fo such amount to hinder the forward movement

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning the internal channels of a medical endoscope wherein the water bottle is replaced with a cleaning bottle adapted to pass fluids stored in the bottle into both the air and the water channels of the instrument. An end cap having a fluid reservoir is placed over the distal end of the instrument. The air/water pump and the suction pump are then cycled to pass a cleaning solution stored in the replacement bottle through the air and water channels into the end cap. The solution in the end cap is drawn through the suction line and collected in a container for disposal. The procedure is repeated using a rinse solution. The pumps are allowed to run after the rinse solution is exhausted, thus air drying the channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable electronic diagnostic instrument designed for use in an Over-the-Counter (OTC) cholesterol test kit for measuring cholesterol levels of blood. The instrument is designed and calibrated specifically for use with diagnostic test strips supplied with the OTC cholesterol test kit.

Abstract: A storage container for measuring vessels containing fluids to be tested, such as blood, blood plasma or the like; includes a housing having an interior space for accommodating the measuring vessels which are arranged within the housing in rows. The housing is formed with openings formed laterally outside a covering area of the vessels and includes a rear wall and a front wall which exhibits an ejection slot for extraction of the vessels. In order to allow a displacement of the rows of vessels toward the ejection slot, an ejector is insertable through the openings to act on a guide rail that extends between a rearmost row of vessels and the rear wall, to thereby move the guide rail and thus the vessels in direction toward the ejection slot.

Abstract: A vacuum filter device is disclosed which includes a filter body which is adapted to receive in fluid-tight, sealed relationship a pair of closed containers for solutions to be filtered by a membrane filter positioned within the filter body. A vacuum port in the filter body communicates with the downstream side of the membrane and a venting passageway also located in the filter body communicates with the closed sample container to serve as a vent to atmospheric pressure. The venting passageway is made of an air permeable hydrophobic filter or preferably a small enough opening to prevent the sample solutions from leaking out of the device during normal use.