Abstract: A method for measuring total antioxidant activity of antioxidants utilizes BODIPY dyes which fluoresce in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum as a fluorescent reporter.

Abstract: Optical chemical probes have layers of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes and one or more dyes incorporated into these layers. The probes are placed into the medium and the dye or dyes react in the presence of the corresponding chemical. Color changes may be observed manually or by a photo detector. A light source may be employed to increase the optical signal received from the probe. Further, a waveguide may be used to trap multiple optical signals. The invention is used for chemical analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field kit for the detection of analytes and to a method for using such a field kit. The field kit comprises a tray and lid adhered to the surface of the tray. Reaction-reagent compartments are formed by recesses in the tray when the tray is adhered to the lid. Probe compartments may also be included if desired. In operation, the tray and lid are bent at a score line to open the wells containing the reaction reagents. The lid is bent to form an A-shaped structure so that the kit may be placed in an upright position for use. A portion of the lid is peeled back from the tray to release probes and other, non-liquid components, if present.

Abstract: A compact optical instrument for performing various laboratory measurements utilizing different technologies of spectroscopy, i.e., photoluminescence, absorption and chemical luminescence, from liquid and solid samples. The measuring head of the instrument includes a continuous wave lamp unit (cw-lamp unit), a photometric detector unit and an emission unit and further includes an optomechanical coupling unit having at least one movable or replaceable mirror for allowing the optical path of the measurement or optimizing the optical path of the measurement. A controller including electronics and computer interface are also provided.

Abstract: Chemically sensitive sensors, suitable for detecting analytes in fluids (in gaseous or liquid phase), characterised in that the chemically sensitive sensors comprise a chemically sensitive probe, which comprises one or a blend of several arylene alkenylene oligomers.

Abstract: A polymeric gas sensor utilizes a variety of electrode geometries to generate varied responses to selective gases. The characteristic response to various gases of each electrode geometry permits the construction of a gas sensor having desirable and reproducible characteristic responses to specific gases. The gas sensor array of the invention produces characteristic responses from a plurality of sensors. These responses collectively produce a characteristic response pattern that can be used for the identification of specific gases with pattern recognition techniques.

Abstract: The improved fluorescence detector comprises a tubular electrophoretic device through which a sample labelled with four kinds of fluorescent dye is caused to migrate, illumination optics for illuminating the tubular electrophoretic device with exciting light and detection optics for detecting the fluorescence emitted from the sample illuminated with the exciting light and it is characterized in that a plurality of tubular electrophoretic devices (1) are arranged in a row, a plurality of graded-index lenses (9) are arranged parallel to and in the same number as said plurality of tubular electrophoretic devices (1), each lens array being composed of four vertically stacked graded-index lenses, a plurality of bandpass filter arrays (11) are also arranged parallel to and in the same number as said plurality of electrophoretic devices (1), each filter array being composed of four filters arranged vertically in a row, and a light-receiving element of a planar type (13) is provided at the back of the rows of said ba

Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring method most suitable for measuring the concentrations of specific constituents, especially urine protein level and sugar level. After a protein-contained liquid sample is opacified by heating or while the sample is being heated, a light is projected to the liquid sample. The concentration of protein is determined from the intensity of light transmitted through the sample or scattered from the sample. In a urinalysis, an angle of rotation of the sample is measured before the sample is opacified, and in addition, intensity of the transmitted light or scattered light of the opacified urine is measured, whereby the urine sugar and protein levels are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assay apparatus for that includes a temperature adjusting device for simultaneously heating a plurality of samples, and a receiving device for receiving spectral emission from the samples while the samples are being heated. In further aspects of the invention, the receiving device can be configured to receive fluorescent emission, ultraviolet light, and visible light. The receiving device 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 device can be configured with a temperature controller for changing temperature in accordance with a pre-determined profile.

Abstract: A method for the spectroscopic determination of a marker comprises:(a) contacting chelated lanthanide metal ions bound to a marker with a buffered solution comprising a detergent, an enhancer reagent and a polyanion, wherein the buffer maintains the pH of the solution within the range of about 3.5 to about 11.5 and the polyanion is present in sufficient concentration such that the lanthanide metal ion disassociates from the chelate complex and reassociates with the enhancer reagent, thereby transferring the lanthanide metal ion into fluorescent form; and(b) determining the amount of lanthanide metal ion liberated from the marker as a measure of the amount of marker present by subjecting the solution to a short radiation pulse and detecting the fluorescence of the lanthanide metal ion after the fluorescence from any background sources substantially has ceased.

Abstract: A method for the determination of liver function, comprises the steps of:(i)introducing an effective amount of a coloured or fluorescent bile acid derivative intravenously into a patient,(ii)collecting samples of blood which has passed through the liver of the patient at timed intervals after step (i), and(iii)assessing the colour or fluorescence of bile acid derivative in each sample.

Abstract: Biofilm and debris can be removed from the interior and exterior surfaces of small bore tubing by passing an aqueous cleaning solution of water, one or more surfactants and preferably a source of hydrogen peroxide, optionally including small inert solid particles, together with a gas under pressure, to create a turbulent flow within the tubing that loosens the biofilm and debris so that they can be flushed from the tubing. When the exterior surfaces of tubing are to be cleaned, the tubing is inserted in a sleeve fitted with an adaptor that provides a pressure-tight seal between the tubing and the sleeve.

Abstract: A process is provided for evaluating the global capacity of urine to form chalky renal calculus, the process comprising the steps of pouring a sample of a recently discharged urine into a container plate bearing, on its inner bottom portion, a cup containing a reaction substrate capable of initiating crystallization of calcium in the sample, allowing the sample to rest; discarding the sample from the container plate, washing the container plate with bidistilled water and discarding the water, adding a diluted HCl solution (2.3N) and spreading it over the entire surface of the substrate contained in the cup, adding an aqueous sodium acetate solution (5% w/v) and an indicating solution of ARSENAZO III (0.1% w/v) and mixing the acetate solution and the indicating solution for 15 seconds, to obtain a stained reaction mixture which can be qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. A kit for carrying out this process is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a single test system and method for determining the integrated glycemic condition of a subject by measuring the concentration of glucose and the level of protein-bound glucose in a subject's body fluid, such as whole blood. The glucose concentration is indicative of the subject's immediate glycemic condition, whereas the protein-bound glucose concentration is indicative of either intermediate or long-term glycemic condition. Optionally, other analytes indicative of glycemic condition, such as ketone bodies or fatty acid derivatives, can also be measured. The present invention also provides a method of diagnosing diabetes. The invention additionally provides a method for analyzing the concentration of fructosamine in less than or equal to five minutes without the use of a reaction accelerator.

Abstract: In a biosensor system for detecting trace compounds resulting from a fire or from plants damaged by destructive insects, a live chemoreceptor is provided for sensing the trace compounds, and a semiconductor component is connected to the chemoreceptor for providing sensor signals when the chemoreceptor senses the presence of trace compounds.

Abstract: A scanning head assembly is provided, the scanning head suited for use with instruments that characterize the absorption, fluorescence, and/or luminescence properties of one or more samples contained within a sample plate or microplate. The scanning head assembly is coupled to a pair of scanning mechanisms, thereby allowing the head assembly to be raster scanned along both the x- and y-axis. Although the scanning preferably follows a serpentine pattern, other scan patterns can be utilized. Single or multiple measurements can be made per sample well, multiple measurements either being reported individually or averaged together. Although the scanning head assembly can utilize a variety of configurations, in the preferred embodiment the scanning head assembly has a C-shape with the light source and associated optics mounted in the lower arm of the assembly and the detector and associated optics mounted in the upper arm.

Abstract: An integrated biochemical sensor (200) for detecting the presence of one or more specific samples (240) having a device platform (355) with a light absorbing upper surface and input/output pins (375) is disclosed. An encapsulating housing (357) provides an optical transmissive enclosure which covers the platform (355) and has a layer of fluorescence chemistry on its outer surface (360). The fluorophore is chosen for its molecular properties in the presence of the sample analyte (240). The detector (370), light sources (365, 367, 407, 409) are all coupled to the platform (355) and encapsulated within the housing (357). A filter (375) element is used to block out unwanted light and increase the detector's (370) ability to resolve wanted emission light.

Abstract: The detection of a chemical specie of interest is accomplished by immobilizing sensing molecules on the inner wall of a liquid core optical waveguide, the waveguide comprising a capillary tube and the sensing molecules being selected to interact with the specie of interest carried by the liquid which forms the waveguide core. The interaction produces a change in an optical characteristic of the waveguide which may be detected by illuminating the waveguide with analysis light.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection capillary array electrophoresis analyzer comprising a capillary array holder holding a plurality of capillary array units and a transferring unit for transferring in turn the capillary array units held by the capillary array holder to a sample injection station, a fluorescence detection station or a gel refresh station, which reduces the time required for pre-electrophoresis and replacement of a used gel by fresh gel, and conducts efficient and automatic analysis. Furthermore, the analyzer automatically discharges residual samples remaining in the capillaries, and hence automatically analyzes a large number of samples by electrophoresis.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for precisely measuring the concentration of a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous alkaline solution. The process comprises extracting the surfactant into an organic solvent, separating the solvent and forming a colored complex that can be quantitatively measured to give the actual concentration of the surfactant.