Abstract: An integrally built, linear array of cuvettes is made of a plastic material. Every cuvette of the array has the same shape and dimensions. Neighboring cuvettes are connected to each other by a single web. Each of the single webs has a curved shape and each cuvette has means forming integral part thereof and serving for accurately positioning the cuvette into an opening of a cuvette holder and means for removably connecting the cuvette to the cuvette holder. Each cuvette has an upper chamber and a lower chamber having a common symmetry axis passing through the centers of both chambers. Each of the upper and lower chambers has a substantially cylindrical shape. The cross-section of the upper chamber at the central part thereof is larger than the cross-section of the lower chamber. The lower chamber has an open lower end. The upper chamber has an open top end and an annular bottom wall having a central circular opening which connects the upper chamber with the lower chamber.

Abstract: A liquid-contained substance analysis device according to this invention comprises: a substrate 14, which is coated on the surface with PVA and which is mirror finished; a first light source 18 for illuminating light onto substrate 14; and light detector 30, which detects the scattered light due to a liquid or a trace of a liquid that exists on substrate 14, and the position of liquid L or trace of liquid L is detected based on the scattered light detected by light detector 30. By then illuminating excitation light from a second light source 20 onto the detected position, the substances contained in liquid L are analyzed.

Abstract: An assay device and method for measuring the concentration of HDL-associated cholesterol in a blood-fluid sample are described. The assay design is such that removal of non-HDL lipoproteins from a sample and assay of HDL cholesterol in the sample occur without interruption of the assay. The device also prevents interference by reagents used for the HDL assay with other assays carried out on the same sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homogeneous method for detecting and/or determining by fluorescence a chemical or physicochemical interaction in a measuring medium, in which a rare-earth metal cryptate comprising a substituent is used, characterized in that the variation of at least one fluorescence characteristic of the rare-earth metal cryptate, induced by the change in the physicochemical properties of the substituent resulting from said interaction, is measured.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for processing a sample for chemical and/or biological analysis, and detecting one or more target substances. A first system of microfabricated components includes at least a reservoir and a channel, and a second system of detection components including at least a lens. The lens is focused on a sensing platform of the first system. The sensing platform is coupled to the reservoir by the channel. Various types of detection systems can be utilized with the present invention including fluorescence detection systems with a laser that is positioned to illuminate a sample in the sensing platform. The microfabricated components include one or more pumps, valves, mixers, and filters. A thermoelectric cooler can be positioned to control the temperature of at least one of the microfabricated components. A variety of component configurations can be implemented, and a variety of different processes can be performed, depending on the configuration of components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a NOx-concentration measuring apparatus D for quantitatively analyzing the concentration of NOx contained in a sample gas. The measuring apparatus D comprises a sampling probe for obtaining the sample gas, a drain separator 2 for condensing moisture contained in the sample gas as a condensed water and separating the condensed water from the sample gas, an NO2 converter 3 for converting NO2 contained in the sample gas into NO, a secondary cooling device 7 for additionally cooling the sample gas, and an NO analyzer 1, arranged in this order with respect to a sample-gas line of the NOx-concentration measuring apparatus. The drain separator is a high-flow-velocity cooling type drain separator. Further, the sample-gas line between the sampling probe and the drain separator is heated and/or thermally insulated over the entire length thereof. The measuring apparatus can provide a high-precision measurement while suppressing NO2 loss.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product, for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate. The method uses a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid and a drop dispenser having a chamber into which the fluid is loaded and an orifice communicating with the chamber from which the fluid is dispensed. The method includes, when the chamber is loaded, applying a prime pressure to the fluid which varies over a range sufficient to move fluid within the drop dispenser but insufficient to cause fluid to be dispensed from the orifice. Drops are dispensed from the dispenser to the substrate so as to form the array.

Abstract: A laboratory device for jointly tempering reaction samples in at least two steps in respectively assigned, specified temperature ranges, which are carried out repeatedly and consecutively as sequences of steps, the laboratory tempering device, in one step of the sequences of steps, bringing several groups of samples, in each case containing at least one sample, to temperatures within the temperature range, which are constant within the groups and different between the groups, wherein the laboratory tempering device, in each step of the sequence, brings a different partial amount of the samples in groups to temperatures, which are the same within the groups and different between the groups, and brings the samples of the other partial amounts to a same temperature within the assigned temperature range.

Abstract: Provided are methods of screening and identification of bioactivities and bioactive molecules of interest using a capillary array system. More specifically, disclosed are methods of using optical detection and capillary array-based techniques for screening libraries and recovering bioactive molecules having a desired activity or a nucleic acid sequence encoding such bioactive molecules.

Abstract: A method of reading an array of moieties such as polynucleotides (for example, DNA) on at least a portion of a surface of a transparent slide which is opposite a first portion on the opposing surface, which array has been previously exposed to a sample. The method may include mounting the slide on a slide holder and retaining the slide thereon in a mounted position in which the holder does not contact the previously exposed array. The holder is then inserted into an array reader and the array read. A holder and slides which can be used in the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the luminescence emitted in a luminescent assay, which makes it possible to correct certain perturbations due to the measuring medium. The method comprises employing at least one luminescent tracer compound and a luminescent compound used as an internal reference, which, when exposed to the same excitation wavelength, are capable of emitting at different wavelengths, ?1 and ?2 respectively, either by direct luminescence or by the induction of a luminescent emission, and correcting the measurement of the luminescence emitted by the tracer compound at wavelength ?2 on the basis of the measurement of the luminescence emitted by the reference compound at wavelength ?1. The invention further relates to the use of the method in a homogeneous method of detecting and/or determining an analyte, and to a device for carrying it out.

Abstract: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) uses nanoscale metal particles (SERS-active particles) or surface roughness to enhance the Raman signal of Raman-active analytes contacting the surface. SERS sandwich particles contain SERS-active particles sandwiching a Raman-active substance and serve as optical tags. Preferably, the particles are rod-shaped, with each layer (SERS-active and Raman-active) formed as a distinct stripe of the particle. These freestanding particles can be derivatized with surface ligands capable of associating with analytes of interest in, for example, a biological sample. The acquired Raman spectrum of the particle encodes the identity of the ligand. Because of the simplicity and intensity of Raman spectra, highly multiplexed assays are capable using SERS particles with different Raman-active species.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assay apparatus for that includes a temperature adjusting means for simultaneously heating a plurality of samples, and a receiving means for receiving spectral emission from the samples while the samples are being heated. In further aspects of the invention, the receiving means can be configured to receive fluorescent emission, ultraviolet light, and visible light. The receiving means can be configured to receive spectral emission from the samples in a variety of ways, e.g., one sample at a time, simultaneously from more than one sample, or simultaneously from all of the samples. The temperature adjusting means can be configured with a temperature controller for changing temperature in accordance with a predetermined profile.

Abstract: An analyte detection system utilizing a combination of fluorescent labels for labeling particles and an analyte specific fluorescent analyte detection dye. The particles contain a combination of fluorescent labels for coding the particles and an analyte specific fluorescent dye. The particles can be used to identify and quantify analytes in an analytical sample by reaction of the analytical sample with the particles. An analytical device can identify the particles according to the combination of fluorescent labels. The device can then correlate the identified particle with the analyte specific fluorescent analyte detection dye. Multiple subpopulations of particles can be used to identify and quantify multi-analytes in a single analytical sample. Near infrared (NIR) fluorescent labels useful in the detection system are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing calorimetry. The apparatus include optical devices for detecting thermal processes and multiwell sample plates for supporting samples for use with such optical devices. The methods include measurement strategies and data processing techniques for reducing noise in measurements of thermal processes. The apparatus and methods may be particularly suitable for extracting thermal data from small differential measurements made using an infrared camera and for monitoring chemical and physiological processes.

Abstract: A measurement cell for analyzer for carrying out qualitative and/or quantitative analysis for one or more substances by an optical means, which is planar and has sample-holding portions, the contact angle between said sample-holding portion and water being 30° or less, and the contact angle between the other portion of said plane and water being 100° or more, permits a plurality of measurements with a single cell for the same one sample, repeated use and reduction of the amount of sample than before.

Abstract: A device and method for determining analyte concentrations within a material sample are provided. A modulating temperature gradient is induced in the sample and resultant, emitted infrared radiation is measured at selected analyte absorbance peaks and reference wavelengths. The modulating temperature gradient is controlled by a surface temperature modulation. A transfer function relating the surface temperature modulation to a modulation of the measured infrared radiation is provided. Phase and magnitude differences in the transfer function are detected. These phase and magnitude differences, having a relationship to analyte concentration, are measured, correlated and processed to determine analyte concentration in the material sample. A method for adjusting an analyte measurement is provided. The method provides a hydration correction process for calibration and correction whereby analyte concentrations within the material sample may be determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing calorimetry. The apparatus include optical devices for detecting thermal processes and multiwell sample plates for supporting samples for use with such optical devices. The methods include measurement strategies and data processing techniques for reducing noise in measurements of thermal processes. The apparatus and methods may be particularly suitable for extracting thermal data from small differential measurements made using an infrared camera and for monitoring chemical and physiological processes.

Abstract: Described is a new approach to fluorescence sensing based on a mixture of fluorophores, one of which is sensitive to the desired analyte. If a long lifetime analyte-insensitive fluorophore is mixed with a short lifetime analyte-sensitive fluorophore, the modulation of the emission at conveniently low frequencies becomes equal to the fractional fluorescence intensity of the sensing fluorophore. Under these conditions the modulation can be used to determine the analyte concentration. This can be used with any fluorophore which changes intensity in response to analyte, and does not require the sensing fluorophore to display a change in lifetime. The feasibility of modulation-based sensing was demonstrated using mixtures of 6-carboxyfluorescein and [Ru2,2′(bipyridyl)3]2+ as a pH sensor and of the calcium probe Fluo-3 and [Ru2,2′(bipyridyl)3]2+ as a calcium sensor.

Abstract: A system for detecting and analyzing patient sample quality and/or analytes, while the sample is in the metering tip used to aspirate the sample liquid from an original patient sample container, and also to dispense the liquid onto a slide test element. Spectrophotometric analysis may be done on the sample liquid while it is still in the tip which has been converted into a cuvette. One technique for such analysis is by scanning the cuvette for transmittance in a light-tight enclosure. Near-infrared and adjacent visible radiation may be used, and the absorption spectra of the liquid detected and analyzed. A possible aspect of the present invention relates to enhancing throughput of an analyzer by conducting a sample quality measurement in a process that is parallel to the main analyzer timing cycle.