Abstract: To sample hot liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is cooled in a refrigerator and pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive the syringe needle in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe needle.

Abstract: A molecular sieve particle-based analytic chemistry system is disclosed in which populations of encoded molecular sieve particles carrying different chemical functionalities are distributed into wells etched in an optical fiber bundle. The chemical functionalities are encoded on separate shaped molecular sieve particles using luminescent dyes and/or molecular sieve particle shapes and thus, a single sensor array may carry thousands of chemistries. Such encoded molecular sieve particles can provide at least a five-fold enhancement in tunable parameters for increasing the encoding possibilities of high throughput screening assays relative to the present dye-modified polymeric microsphere standard.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling hardness in an industrial water system is described and claimed. The method requires the use of a Compound that develops a separate detectable fluorescent signal in the presence of soluble hardness. A fluorometer is used to detect this separate detectable fluorescent signal of the Compound. The separate detectable fluorescent signal is used to ascertain the amount of soluble hardness present in the industrial water system.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling hardness in an industrial water system is described and claimed. The method requires the use of a Compound that develops a separate detectable fluorescent signal in the presence of soluble hardness. A fluorometer is used to detect this separate detectable fluorescent signal of the Compound. The separate detectable fluorescent signal is used to ascertain the amount of soluble hardness present in the industrial water system. Another aspect of the instant claimed invention is the ability to determine whether the soluble hardness is calcium or magnesium based.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor material including at least a stimulus-responsive high polymer gel, a bio-substance-responsive material and a light modulation material. A sensor having at least the sensor material and an optical waveguide is also provided. Furthermore, provided are a detection method for a bio-substance using the sensor material in which a change in tone is detected on the basis of swelling or shrinking of the stimulus-responsive high polymer gel, and a detection method for transmitting light using a sensor material in which transmitting light is detected on the basis of swelling or shrinking of the stimulus-responsive high polymer gel.

Abstract: A device for detecting volatile chemical reagents based on fluorescence quenching analysis that is capable of detecting neutral electron acceptor molecules. The device includes a fluorescent material, a contact region, a light source, and an optical detector. The fluorescent material includes at least one polymer-surfactant complex. The polymer-surfactant complex is formed by combining a fluorescent ionic conjugated polymer with an oppositely charged surfactant. The polymer-surfactant complex may be formed in a polar solvent and included in the fluorescent material as a solution. Alternatively, the complex may be included in the fluorescent material as a thin film. The use of a polymer-surfactant complex in the fluorescent material allows the device to detect both neutral and ionic acceptor molecules. The use of a polymer-surfactant complex film allows the device and the fluorescent material to be reusable after exposing the fluorescent material to a vacuum for limited time.

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: An integrated optical waveguide sensor system includes: an optical waveguide having a monolithic and roughened metallic layer on which a self-assembled monolayer is formed; an optical energy source for generating an optical excitation signal; and a spectrometer for detecting spectra of optical energy emitted from the optical waveguide. The waveguide facilitates multiple SERS responses resulting from interactions between the optical excitation signal and an analyte of interest that may be present on the surface of the self-assembled monolayer. Thus, the sensor system provides a sensor for detecting organic contaminants with a sensitivity of ppm and even ppb in some cases.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining at least one parameter, e.g., concentration, of at least one analyte, e.g., urea, of a biological sample, e.g., urine. A biological sample particularly suitable for the apparatus and method of this invention is urine. In general, spectroscopic measurements can be used to quantify the concentrations of one or more analytes in a biological sample. In order to obtain concentration values of certain analytes, such as hemoglobin and bilirubin, visible light absorption spectroscopy can be used. In order to obtain concentration values of other analytes, such as urea, creatinine, glucose, ketones, and protein, infrared light absorption spectroscopy can be used. The apparatus and method of this invention utilize one or more mathematical techniques to improve the accuracy of measurement of parameters of analytes in a biological sample.

Abstract: A radioactive material such as an unstable isotopic gas is provided to a receiving chamber (1) directly from a source to form a purified or enriched bubble. The bubble is passed to a fluid handling set for preparation of the reagent or other delivery system. In an exemplary embodiment trace amounts of nitrogen-13 are concentrated in a receiving chamber and passed into a small bubble of carrier gas. The carrier gas is then delivered into a fluid handling set. The fluid handling set connects to a pressure syringe (50) and a passive syringe (60), and further includes a plurality of flushable valves (22-27) interconnected as a closed unit by tubing (21) to form a switchable or finite state flow network in which the pressure syringe may back flush the tubing, mix the isotope in a delivery liquid, and transfer the mixed liquid to an output for diagnostic imaging or other use.

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: The present invention provides a fluorescent HPLC assay for detecting the presence and/or measuring the level of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and other P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid in a sample. P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid are first extracted from the sample and then labeled with 2-(2,3-naphthalimino)ethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. The labeling reaction is catalyzed by N,N-diisopropylethylamine. Next, the labeled P-450 metabolites are separated on a 4.5×250-mm, 5 &mgr;M particle size C18 reverse-phase HPLC column using a mobile phase of methanol:water:acetic acid (82:18:0.1, v/v/v) and an isocratic elution at a rate of about 1.3 ml per minute. Fluorescence intensities of the column eluent are monitored by a fluorescence detector. Quantitation of P-450 metabolites in a sample can be made by using an internal standard.

Abstract: The surface plasmon resonance apparatus (1) for detecting a soluble and/or particulate analyte comprises a prism sensor (2) providing a metallised sensor surface (3) capable of binding the analyte, and a laser (10) providing a beam (4) for direction at the sensor surface (3). A detector (5) is provided which is capable of detecting light (6), which is internally reflected from the sensor surface (3). Displacement means (7) comprising a vibrator (8) and mirror (9), is operable whereby the excitation beam (4) is displaced over an angular range (A) relative to the sensor surface (3). An analyte sample (15) is disposed on the metallic sensor (3). The detector (5) is used to interpret the light signals (6) internally reflected from the sensor surface (3) so that the sample (15) is analysed. A video camera system (16), which includes a mirror (17), microscope objective (18) and CCD (charge-coupled device) array (19), is used to detect the scattered light emitted from the upper face of the sensor surface (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to an SPR sensor array comprising a plurality of SPR sensor surface areas (120) arranged on a substrate (10, 20) in a two-dimensional matrix located in a plane to which the SPR sensor surface areas (120) are parallel and whereby radiation capable of exciting surface plasmons in the SPR sensor surface areas (120) under specific physical conditions can be guided through the substrate (10, 20) to be reflected from the SPR sensor surface areas, as well as separating means (110) for separating each SPR sensor surface area (120) from its neighboring SPR sensor surface area (120), wherein the separating means (110) and SPR sensor surface areas (120) are provided such that at least outside of surface plasmon resonance occurring in the SPR sensor surface areas (120) the radiation (40) guided through the substrate (10, 20) is reflected in the region of the separating means to a different degree than in the region of the SPR sensor surface areas (120) to create a contrast between the separating mea

Abstract: The invention presents a method designed to simultaneously measure certain unsaturated lipids and certain vitamins present either as single substances or in complex mixtures such as exist in serum and natural oils. Target lipids are free cholesterol, unsaturated cholesteryl esters; free polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their esters as triglycerides, and phospholipids. Distributions of these analytes over the broad range of serum lipoproteins from chylomicrons to high density fractions are determined using a procedure that involves a single step reaction in which the molecular unsaturations are subjected to non-enzymatic color inducing reagents. For natural oils and vitamins, the same method serves as a quality control procedure. Analytical detection is achieved using broad spectrum absorbance and/or fluorescence measurements. Measured spectra are aggregates of the absorbance contributions from each of the analytes. Data analyses follow two paths. One uses raw spectral data.

Abstract: An anodic double layer gasochromic sensor structure for optical detection of hydrogen in improved response time and with improved optical absorption real time constants, comprising: a glass substrate; a tungsten-doped nickel oxide layer coated on the glass substrate; and a palladium layer coated on the tungsten-doped nickel oxide layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determination of the total concentration of organic carbon compounds in aqueous process streams utilizing a pulsed-flow technique for irradiating a water sample in a chamber (3) with UV or similar wavelength radiation.

Abstract: An automated chemiluminescence analyzer. A multiport selection valve has a common aspiration port for carrier solvent, sample, and reagent. A bi-directional pump is connected to the selection valve. A chemiluminescence cell is positioned between the selection valve and a T-block. One end of the cell is connected to the common port of the selection valve, and the other end is connected to the T-block. The T-block has a port connected to the pump, another port which communicates with the detector, and a third port connected to the other end of the cell. This unique arrangement enables the chemiluminescence cell to function as a chemical reactor, thus eliminating any delay between initiation and detection of emitted radiation, so that very rapid reactions can be viewed and high sensitivity attained.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions between a plurality of reactants and in particular it is amenable to micro or nano scale operation and to the sequential chemical reactions required during such processes as construction or sequencing of proteins, oligonucleotides and polysaccharides. The present invention further relates to a capillary liquid chromatography system for high-sensitivity component separation and microsequencing for use in association with the methods and apparatus herein described.