Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the determination of the parameters of a breath condensate using at least one sensor for the measurement of the parameters and an analysis unit with display for the measurement results. The at least one sensor (2) is positioned in a closed cassette (1), whereby the cassette includes storage containers (4, 5, 6) with flushing solutions and/or solutions for the conditioning of the at least one sensor and/or calibration solutions and/or compounds for the manufacture of a calibration solution and/or for the dilution of the sample solution and/or for elevation of the ion concentration or the conductivity of the sample solution. The storage containers (4, 5, 6) deliver their contents completely or in metered amounts into the cassette and/or onto the at least one sensor (2) under the action of means acting from the outside and through the cassette walls.

Abstract: A method and infrared sensing device for determining the concentration of alveolar alcohol in a breath sample exhaled by a subject into an infrared sensing device. The presence of alcohol from the upper respiratory tract of the subject is detected by continuously monitoring alcohol and carbon dioxide, normalizing alcohol values with respect to carbon dioxide, calculating a difference between normalized alcohol concentration and carbon dioxide concentration over time, integrating (summing) the difference, and comparing the integrated difference with a threshold. This technique accurately and consistently detects the presence of mouth alcohol in the sample before the presence of carbon dioxide which originates in deep lung breath.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in parallel reaction of materials. The apparatus includes a base having a plurality of reaction wells formed therein and a sealing device positioned over the reaction wells for individually sealing each of the reaction wells. One of the sealing device and the base having chamfered ridges extending generally around a periphery of each of said plurality of reaction wells. The other of the sealing device and the base having a contact surface formed of a material softer than the material of the chamfered ridges to create a knife-edge seal between the sealing device and the base when the sealing device and the base are forced into contact with one another.

Abstract: A chemical for dissolving a sample taken from the semiconductor device fabrication equipment for analyzing the contaminants attached thereon, and a method of analyzing the contaminants thereby. The chemical composition is made of equal ports of sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and nitric acid. The method includes a) immersing a sample taken from semiconductor device fabrication equipment in the chemical composition; b) dissolving the sample in the chemical composition; c) cooling the dissolved sample; d) diluting the dissolved sample with deionized water and e) analyzing the diluted sample using either Atomic Absorption Spectrometer or by Atomic Emission Spectroscopy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dry analytical element using a water-soluble indicator which improves measuring accuracy, which comprises a water-impermeable support, a water-permeable layer and a spreading layer having a function to spread a liquid uniformly, wherein a water-soluble indicator for colorimetry is incorporated into the s preading layer.

Abstract: A method of measuring an analyte, comprising a step of measuring a detectable substance by using a reaction system including a formation reaction of the detectable substance based on a chemical reaction of the analyte contained in a sample, wherein a layered inorganic compound is caused to exist in the reaction system including the formation reaction of the detectable substance, whereby high-sensitivity measurement is made possible, the detectable substance can be stabilized to improve accuracy of the measurement, a rate of a chemical reaction is increased to enable quick measurement, and high-sensitivity measurement is made possible even in a reaction system which forms an insoluble substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optochemical sensor functioning in accordance with the FRET-principle and exhibiting an acceptor (chromophore or luminophore) responsive to an analyte contained in a sample medium as well as a donor (luminophore), characterized in that acceptor and donor are located in separate chemical phases, whereby the phase containing the donor is essentially impermeable to the sample medium or to components of the sample medium affecting the luminescence characteristics of the luminophore. The invention further relates to a method for qualitative and/or quantitative determination of at least one analyte and/or component of a gaseous or liquid measuring medium according to the FRET-principle, characterized by the use of the sensor according to the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymeric sampling swab for obtaining samples of an analyte of interest from solid surfaces or from liquid substances. The polymeric material of which the swab is composed is characterized by a high resistance to chemical and mechanical degradation. The sampling swab of the present invention is further characterized by a high internal void volume and a high absorptive capacity for fluids. The swab of the present invention is particularly suited for obtaining samples for use in chemiluminescent assays for, among other analytes of interest, microbial contamination. Also disclosed is a polymeric disc for loading with reagent mixtures suitable for use in bioluminescent assay procedures. The reagent disc of the invention is characterized by high resistance to chemical and mechanical degradation. In addition, the disc has a high void volume and high absorptive capacity.

Abstract: Arrangements for the detection of the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample of bodily fluid include diffuse transmission, diffuse reflection and edge or waveguide illumination arrangements. A vertical flow assay arrangement and/or technique is also disclosed, and includes a detection component that can be in the form of an array of optical detection elements. A number of assay pad constructions are described which may include at least one or more of the following components: a prefilter component, a reflective component, a membrane component, a reagent component, a mesh component, and a component to prevent lateral spreading.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting organic molecules, especially biomolecules and polymers, in a probe substance, comprises a test system (300) comprising an array of test sites (T) to which the probe substance can be supplied, each test site having specific probe molecules (320), an illumination system (100) for optically illuminating a sub-array of test sites (T), and a detection system (400) for identifying those test sites (T) whose probe molecules (320) interact with the organic molecules (350) to be detected, the illumination system (100) comprising an array of independently addressable illumination sources (B) arranged such that to each test site (T) of the sub-array is assigned at least one illumination source (B) that illuminates substantially only it.

Abstract: A system for making a biochemical assay of each of plurality of provided specimens, comprising: a plurality of receptacles, a sensor for providing a resistance, a mechanism and a controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and more particularly to compounds which are useful for the determination of bicarbonate and the delivery of bicarbonate to a non-aqueous solution. The invention further relates to an optical sensor for the determination of bicarbonate in a liquid sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the collection of optical signals comprises a waveguide, which comprises a structure in a channel adapted for the flow of assay fluid. In one embodiment, fluorophore is coupled to a surface of the structure, where the fluorophore has a receptor for an analyte (ligand) in the assay fluid and the structure is adapted to transmit optical signals from the fluorophore to a detector that is adapted to detect optical signals from the fluorophore coupled to the waveguide.

Abstract: A method of interrogating an addressable array unit having a transparent substrate with a back surface, and an array with a plurality of different chemical features on a front surface. The method may include illuminating the features while the array is dry, with an interrogating light which is directed through the substrate from the back surface and onto the chemical features on the front surface. The light emitted from respective features in response to the interrogating light may be detected, which detected light has passed from the front surface, through the substrate and out the back surface. In one arrangement the light is emitted from locations of the features which are spaced from the front surface a distance of less than one-eighth of the wavelength of the illuminating light in a gas or a vacuum which is in contact with the dry array. Other methods and a package containing an addressable array are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical flow cell device comprising an elongate flow cell having a first end and a second end, at least two ports at the first end and at least one port at the second end, comprises introducing a laminar flow of a first fluid at the first end of the flow cell, and a laminar counter flow of a second fluid at the second end. Each fluid flow is discharged at the first end or the second end, and the position of the interface between the first and second fluids in the longitudinal direction of the flow cell is adjusted by controlling the relative flow rates of the first and second fluids. Also disclosed are a method of analyzing a fluid sample for an analyte, a method of sensitizing a sensing surface, and a method of contacting a sensing surface with a test fluid.

Abstract: Light resulting from chemiluminescence inside a reaction chamber 4 is transmitted through a light transmitting window 3, a large part of the light is made incident on a photoelectric surface 71 of a photomultiplier tube 2 to generate photoelectrons, and these photoelectrons are successively multiplied by surfaces 79 at one side of dynodes 78a, 78, and 78b. Meanwhile, a part of the light that is not made incident on photoelectric surface 71 is made incident on and reflected by a surface 77 at the other side of dynode 78a, returned to reaction chamber 4 via light transmitting window 3, reflected further by light reflecting surfaces 40 and 41 inside reaction chamber 4, emitted again from light transmitting window 3, and made incident on photoelectric surface 71 of photomultiplier tube 2 to generate and multiply photoelectrons in the same manner as the above.

Abstract: A chemochromic sensor includes multiple bi-directional LEDs, each optically aligned with one or more test areas. Each LED is used as both a light emitter when driven in forward bias, and as a light detector when driven in reverse bias. By alternating the bias on the LEDs, multi-way light measurements of the test area can be obtained.

Abstract: A low-dispersion methodology for designing microfabricated conduction channels for on-chip electrokinetic-based systems is presented. The technique relies on trigonometric relations that apply for ideal electrokinetic flows, allowing faceted channels to be designed on chips using common drafting software and a hand calculator. Flows are rotated and stretched along the abrupt interface between adjacent regions with differing permeability. Regions bounded by interfaces form flow “prisms” that can be combined with other designed prisms to obtain a wide range of turning angles and expansion ratios while minimizing dispersion. Designs are demonstrated using two-dimensional numerical solutions of the Laplace equation.

Abstract: A volume-adjusting insert for sample vessels comprises an elongated body with a septum seal on one end and a seal surface on the outside of the body. A through-chamber in the body provides a receiving chamber for a hypodermic needle inserted into the septum. The seal surface of the insert defines a reduced-volume sample chamber comprising the through-chamber and the vessel chamber portion of the sample vessel below the insert, or alternatively, below the seal surface. Sample fluid injected into, or withdrawn from, the insert communicates with the through-chamber and the lower vessel chamber. The device is particularly useful in converting multi-well microplates to low sample-volume vessels for automated sampling and testing, and allows the hydraulic pressure generated by a hypodermic needle to transport the sample fluid through the sample vessel and out of a bottom-extraction element.