Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid, simple and reliable method and a device for diagnosing rheumatism under no influence of diet.

Abstract: In analysis systems which employ discrete nebulized samples which are developed in a sample chamber, potentially interfering residual traces of the sample are removed in a wash-out, prior to development of a subsequent nebulized sample for analysis, in a considerably shorter time than previously possible by directing a jet of flushing gas through the chamber against the face of the nebulizer, preferably a jet of wash liquid is also directed against the nebulizer, before, after or concurrently with the jet of flushing gas.

Abstract: A time-temperature indicator device for recording the duration of time over which a temperature has been established above a predetermined temperature, which device includes a dye-compatible polymer composition having a softening point above the predetermined temperature and a polymer-compatible dye composition in contact with the polymer composition and present in a quantity with respect to the polymer composition sufficient for diffusion through the polymer composition whenever the polymer composition is above the predetermined temperature, which quantity is selected so that the extent of diffusion corresponds to the duration of exposure above the predetermined temperature relative to the total time required for substantially complete diffusion. Articles for which a heat history above a predetermined temperature is to be record, in combination with the disclosed time-temperature indicator devices are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating liquid or slurry having a heat treating zone through which is provided counter current flow of heated gas and independently moveable bodies through the heat treating zone in contact with a feed stream. A steam reforming detoxification reactor is also provided and gas is circulated from the heat treating zone gas outlet, through the reactor and to the heat treating zone gas inlet.

Abstract: A quantitative analyzing apparatus including a high-performance liquid chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface for linking the liquid chromatograph to the mass spectrometer to each other, wherein the interface includes an ionization chamber housing a corona discharge electrode. According to the present invention the electrode is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a silver alloy and a non-plated iron, and thereby quantitative analysis of organic compounds may be carried out.

Abstract: A valving arrangement and a method are provided by which a biological sample is mixed with a reactant, such as a solvent or a precipitating agent, as it is injected through a multi-position injection valve. A multi-position switching valve is connected to the injection valve, and one or more filters attached to the switching valve remove precipitates of predetermined size from the reacted sample. The sample the flows to conventional analytical columns for liquid chromatography analysis of analytes of interest. Proteins and/or peptides are thus quickly and efficiently removed from the sample as precipitates collected in the filters. The injection valve and the switching valve are then placed in respective cooperating positions to flow a carrier fluid through the injection valve and the switching valve directly to the analysis columns, while a back-flow of a suitable surfactant is pumped through the filters to purge them of collected precipitates.

Abstract: A method and test kit for the detection of hydroxy substituted aromatic compounds using a titanium film (12, 23) which reacts with the compound to change the light absorbance. Preferred films are prepared by reaction of a titanium alkoxide with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The change in light absorbance of the film is preferably detected with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Preferably the film is provided on a transparent slide (22) or on an inside wall of a spectrophotometer cell (10). The cells (10 and 20) are provided with covers (13 and 14) for holding the solution to allow the hydroxy substituted compounds to react with the film.

Abstract: A micromanipulator system includes a micropipet, a positive gas-pressure supply line to the micropipet, a negative gas-pressure supply line further in communication with the micropipet, and a micromanipulator for tri-dimensionally moving the micropipet. When a command for supplying either positive or negative gas pressure is issued, a controller enables either line according to a given sequence. The micromanipulator thus manipulates a small particle via the positive/negative pressure supplying and the three-dimensionnal movement or tile micropipet.

Abstract: A robotic system for performing nucleic acid sequencing reactions in microtiter plate format. The robot has a robot arm and its controller, robot hands with which it can manipulate microtiter plates with lids and microtiter plates without lids and with which it can perform pipetting in the 5 to 200 microliter range, cooled storage chambers with electronically controllable doors for storage of microtiter plates, cooled storage with an electronically controllable cover for storage of nucleic acid sequencing reagents, heating blocks to incubate the reactions at appropriate temperatures above ambient temperature, storage for boxes of micropipet tips, storage for microtiter plates in which sequence reactions will be performed and software for controlling the operation of the robot during pipetting.

Abstract: A thermal cycling device having a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such a the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass microcapillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Once a heating cycle is completed, the controller opens a door to the chamber for venting hot air out and cool ambient air is moved in. Temperature versus time profiles corresponding to optimum denaturation, annealing and elongation temperatures for amplification of DNA are achievable by the present invention.

Abstract: An eliminating agent used for the measurement of the amount of glycosylated hemoglobins in a blood sample is provided. The eliminating agent comprises condensed phosphoric acids and/or the salts thereof as the main ingredient, wherein the agent eliminates labile glycosylated hemoglobin A.sub.1c into non-glycosylated hemoglobin and glucose. There is also provided a reagent comprising the eliminating agent and a hemolysis agent, which is used for the measurement of the amount of glycosylated hemoglobins; and an eluent comprising the eliminating agent, which is used for the separation of glycosylated hemoglobins in blood samples by ion-exchange chromatography to measure the amount of the glycosylated hemoglobins. A method for measuring the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin A.sub.1c in a blood sample involves the use of the eliminating agent, the reagent comprising the eliminating agent and the hemolysis agent, and/or the eluent.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing stable humus from a batch of organic waste material. The apparatus has an elongated drum-like reactor vessel and a prime mover operatively connected thereto to rotate the reactor vessel about its axis. At least one non-rotating sensor wand within the reactor vessel for sensing temperature and collecting gas samples within and substantially across the volume of the reactor vessel and within and substantially across the volume of the waste material. The sensor wand is connected to a gas analyzer and a temperature monitor. The reactor vessel has affixed to its inside surface a longitudinal manifold, with pairs of aeration pipes extending to other side thereof and evenly spaced therealong. A variable speed blower has an outlet operatively connected to the manifold. A process control computer has inputs from the gas analyzer and the temperature monitor and outputs to control the prime mover and the variable speed blower.

Abstract: An automated patient sample analysis instrument uses assay cartridges which are pre-loaded with all reactants needed to perform an assay. Photometric measurements are performed on the cartridges while spinning at variable speeds in a centrifuge. Both axial and transverse measurements can be made on the cartridges. Multiple optical channels can be read by single detector. The instrument is well suited for low volume and for use by unskilled individuals. The photometric measurements are made by dividing the width of a measurement window into n intervals, measuring an optical result in one of the n intervals in each of n rotations of the cartridge, repeating the measurement process x times, summing or averaging the x results for each of the n intervals and selecting y of the largest resultant averaged or summed measurements as representative of the maximum measurement for the window.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for continuously coating particulate material, such as seeds. The apparatus includes a frame, a cylindrical drum rotatable about an axis tilted with respect to a horizontal plane, and a series of spray nozzles extending into the drum so as to spray one or more coating solutions onto the particulate material which tumbles within the rotating drum. The drum includes a rifling with flighting which carries the material upwardly from approximately a 6 o'clock position to a 9 o'clock position, wherein the material falls from the flighting in a curtain spaced apart from the sidewall of the drum. Perforations in the sidewall of the drum allow a flow of air through the drum and curtain of material so as to dry the coating solution on the material substantially instantaneously as the material is coated with solution in the drum. The drum is maintained at a negative pressure during the coating process.

Abstract: An automated microscope-slide-staining apparatus, having a supporting framework; an arm moveable in three dimensions attached to the framework; apparatus for moving the arm; a hollow tip head located on the arm; apparatus for alternatively supplying positive or negative gas pressure to the hollow tip head; a removable wash/blow tip having an exit slit, the wash/blow tip being adapted to be removably attached to the hollow tip head by a preselected movement of the arm; a wash/blow tip holder at a first fixed location on the framework; a reagent application tip holder at a second fixed location on the framework for holding a reagent application tip, the reagent application tip being adapted to be removably attached to the hollow tip head by a preselected movement of the arm; a reagent container holder at a third fixed location on the framework; a microscope slide holder at a fourth fixed location on the framework, the microscope slide holder being adapted to removably contain the microscope slide; and control a

Abstract: A sterilization biological test pack includes a first plurality of apertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper disposed to form a stack. Each of the sheets defines a generally centrally disposed aperture, the apertures operatively defining together a single cavity extending through the stack. Second and third pluralities of unapertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper are disposed on opposed sides of the stack and aligned therewith to close the stack cavity at either end thereof and define a chamber about the cavity configured and dimensioned to receive a biological indicator. The first, second and third pluralities together define a sheet pad. A tray formed of unapertured gas-inhibiting material, has a base coextensive and aligned with the exposed side of the third plurality and four sidewalls transverse to the base together substantially covering the exposed edges of the pad. The tray and the pad together define an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chromatography analysis method and a system employing the same which are capable of automatically determining an constituents to be detected contained in the unknown sample based on results on measuring a standard sample. The standard sample is first separated to obtain its chromatogram. The system extracts the necessary information from the chromatogram to identify the peaks corresponding to the constituents to be detected to set widths of time windows for the peaks. Then, the time windows thus set are applied to the chromatograms obtained by the separation of the unknown sample to identify the constituents contained in the unknown sample. By employing the present invention, it is unnecessary for an operator to input the retention time of each constituent to the system.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection container comprising a cup member, a lid assembly removably mounted to the cup member having a housing with a downwardly extending cylindrical skirt, a luer lock with a throughgoing bore extending from one side of the lid housing. A hollow tube extends from the other side of the lid housing adjacent the luer lock and is axially aligned with the throughgoing bore of the luer lock. The hollow tube is provided with a plurality of throughgoing holes leading into its lumen along its surface to provide for a sampling along various liquid level layers of the biological fluid specimen collected in the cup member so that when the biological fluid specimen is removed from the cup member a representative sampling is obtained.

Abstract: A method of determining acid value with high accuracy, using an infrared spectrometer is provided, in which the absorbance is determined attributable to carboxylic group based on an infrared absorption spectrum at wave numbers around 3300 cm.sup.-1.

Abstract: A plastic autoclave enclosure for retaining and storing medical instruments and apparata which must be autoclaved includes a molded tray, a molded lid and a pair of oppositely disposed slide latches which are used to secure the molded lid to the molded tray. The molded tray has an outwardly extending flange and disposed therein a pair of spaced-apart keyhole slots. The slide latches are attached to opposite ends of the molded lid and include a protruding pin portion from each latch which has an enlarged head and this enlarged head is received by the corresponding keyhole slot. The base of the molded tray is configured with two spaced-apart ribs and the molded lid has a pair of spaced-apart ribs which define the top surface into three generally rectangular areas. The spacing and length dimension of the tray ribs is such that the base of the tray may be stacked onto the top of the lid thereby allowing a plurality of autoclave enclosures to be stacked one on top of the other.