Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for controlling a fluid flow over a sensing surface within a flow cell The methods employ laminar flow techniques to position a fluid flow over one or more discrete sensing areas on the sensing surface of the flow cell. Such methods permit selective sensitization of the discrete sensing areas, and provide selective contact of the discrete sensing areas with a sample fluid flow. Immobilization of a ligand upon the discrete sensing area, followed by selective contact with an analyte contained within the sample fluid flow, allows analysis by a wide variety of techniques. Sensitized sensing surfaces, and sensor devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for packaging of or for attachment to products which are sensitive to aging and temperature, having a planar time-temperature integrator comprising a matrix and at least one reversible indicator embedded therein, which has photochromic properties on the basis of transfix reactions, arranged in the region of the substrate.

Abstract: A method, test reagent and device usable as a test strip for detecting toxic ammonia levels in water samples such as aquarium water. The volume of the water to be tested contacted with a soda lime reagent to raise the pH to at least 10, and simultaneously contacted with a hydrophobic barrier membrane capable of allowing only ammonia gas to pass through. The membrane is coated with a pH chromogenic indicator mixture which changes color if ammonia gas passes through. The color response of the sample is compared with standard color charts to determine the toxic ammonia potential.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for assaying an ore sample to determine the concentration of gold and PGMs therein. The method comprises the steps of separating an ore sample, combining the prepared ore sample with a lead-containing flux, inductively heating the combination (typically at a pre-determined reference temperature profile) to form a fusion of slag and lead containing the gold and PGMs in the sample and separating the lead from the slag. The invention also covers a receptacle for separating molten lead from slag. The receptacle includes a base with a side wall extending from the base, the side wall defining a top-opening into the receptacle, and the side wall having a collecting cavity set into the side wall, wherein the collecting cavity is sized to collect a pre-determined amount of molten lead.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support for substances for detection, an apparatus for processing same, a method of processing same, an apparatus for making same, and a method of making same. The object of the present invention is to provide a reliable and high quality technology that can perform a series of processes, consistently, automatically and easily. A support for substances for detection of the present invention is constructed so as to comprise a flexible base member formed to be slender like a thread, string or tape, a variety of substances for detection having predetermined chemical structures and being fixed side by side along the length of the base member, and a supporting member for supporting the base member in a manner that enables expansion, wherein a fixed location of each substance for detection corresponds with the chemical structure thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to take a sample of an emulsion circulating in a line. The emulsion is momentarily diverted from the main circulation line 1 thereof to a bypass line 2. By restoring circulation of the emulsion in main line 1, an emulsion sample still present in bypass line 2 is confined under pressure. The emulsion sample is then stabilized according to a well-known method. Since the size and the distribution of the drops no longer evolve with time, the sample can be observed and analyzed after sampling. The invention more particularly applies to the field of petroleum industry and it is notably intended to take a sample of a petroleum effluent in form of an emulsion at wellheads.

Abstract: A wicking material is disclosed that exhibits a horizontal wicking velocity of at least about 1.0 millimeter per second when contacted with a physiological fluid such as blood, lymph or cellular interstitial fluid. This high wicking rate is achieved by means of treatment of a fibrous wicking material candidate with a low temperature gas plasma, particularly a glow discharge gas plasma formed in a gaseous blend made up predominantly of a mixture of oxygen with a saturated alkane chosen from the group consisting of methane, ethane and propane. Diagnostic test strips made with the surface-modified wicking material, and containing an immobilized reagent means for analysis of an analyte in a physiological fluid, show improved performance in terms of increased accuracy, finer precision of analyses, reduced time of analysis, a smaller fluid sample size requirement, and improved compliance with manufacturing standards resulting in lower manufacturing costs blood sugar determinations.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for simultaneously moving a first sample plate into an analytical apparatus and a second sample plate from the analytical apparatus. The first sample plate is moved on an entry path which is vertically spaced apart from an exit path for the second sample plate. The transfer mechanism is disclosed in operation with a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A front-end system accepts samples and selectively provides aliquots of those samples to selected clinical chemistry analyzers coupled to the front-end system. The front-end system is coupled to an assembly of one or more clinical chemistry analyzers that might, for example, provide complementary analytical tools so that the overall system of front-end system and clinical chemistry analyzers provides a predetermined broad range of clinical analytical testing. The testing protocols for samples input to the overall system can be independently determined. Any sample may undergo a test within one or more of the clinical chemistry analyzers or a series of tests within a single or more typically within plural ones of the analyzers, depending upon the testing sequence defined in for that sample. The front-end system automatically identifies samples, draws aliquots, and transports the aliquots to the one or more clinical chemistry analyzers coupled to the front-end system.

Abstract: Determining a substance to be measured in a liquid sample by measuring the degree of coloring obtained when the substance is subjected to coloring reaction in terms of reflectance. Polymer beads embedding light reflective particles are contained in a reagent layer of the dry measuring test device, or a light blocking layer containing light blocking particles, preferably polymer beads embedding the light blocking particles, is laminated on the reagent layer of the dry measuring test device. The reagent layer comprises a reagent containing a chromogen and a matrix which retains the reagent in the form of a layer, for determining the substance to be measured in the liquid sample by measuring the degree of coloring of the chromogen generated through the reaction between the substance and the reagent in terms of reflectance of light entered into the reagent layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a bismuth molybdate precursor solution using a metallorganic decomposition (MOD) process consisting of the formation of a precursor sol of hexanoates of Bismuth (Bi) and Molybdenum (Mo). The precursor solution is used to make thin film of Bismuth molybdate by spin coating and spray pyrolysis. The bismuth molybdate films have the useful alpha and gamma phases having high sensitivity to ethanol gas, the detection of the ethanol gas is based upon the change of electrical conductivity of a thick film of the semiconductor oxide sensing element resulting from the ethanol gas in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. When the drying is effected by spray pyrolysis, quite thick films with high adhesion have been produced over different substrates, including quartz. The thin film of the present invention made by spray pyrolysis has a very fast response to ethanol detection eg typically 5 seconds.

Abstract: For tubing/casing annulus plug treatment to plug a well, a tubing/casing annulus plug additive including a dry mixture of water soluble crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a reinforcing material of fibers and/or comminuted plant materials. The method of forming a tubing/casing annulus plug fluid includes contacting the additive with water or an aqueous solution, with a method of plugging the tubing/casing annulus of a well further including the step of injecting the fluid into the annulus.

Abstract: An irreversible temperature indicating paint comprises 29 wt % to 37 wt % cobalt chromite spinel, alumina, gold purple and frit, 35 wt % to 45 wt % acrylic resin and 20 wt % to 30 wt % silicone resin excluding solvent. The solvent comprises a mixture of 80% 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 20% dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether. A particular irreversible temperature indicating paint comprises 34.9 wt % cobalt chromite spinel, alumina, gold purple and frit, 42.5 wt % acrylic resin and 22.6 wt % silicone resin excluding solvent. The irreversible temperature indicating paint has four or more colour changes in the temperature range 500° C. to 900° C. The irreversible temperature indicating paint is used to determine the temperatures to which various parts of turbine blades, turbine vanes or other component are subjected in operation of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An irreversible temperature indicating paint comprises 29 wt % to 37 wt % cobalt aluminium spinel and glass, 35 wt % to 45 wt % acrylic resin and 20 wt % to 30 wt % silicone resin excluding solvent. The solvent comprises a mixture of 80% 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 20% dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether. A particular irreversible temperature indicating paint comprises 34.9 wt % cobalt aluminium spinel and glass, 42.5 wt % acrylic resin and 22.6 wt % silicone resin excluding solvent. The irreversible temperature indicating paint has four or more colour changes in the temperature range 500° C. to 900° C. The irreversible temperature indicating paint is used to determine the temperatures to which various parts of turbine blades, turbine vanes or other components are subjected in operation of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles.

Abstract: A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles.

Abstract: A pipette assembly (10) having a suction device (12 or 52) and a small volume disposable tip (14) having a capacity with a range of 0.1 &mgr;l to 2.0 &mgr;l, the disposable tip being removably secured to the suction device. The suction device is provided with a female tip receiver (38.2 or 78.1) which receives a disposable male tip (14). The tip is in the form of a short piece of extruded tubing. The tubing has a very small i.d., for example 0.3 mm. It is preferably formed of Teflon®, or another hydrophobic material.

Abstract: A sterilization system uses a sterilization process monitoring device which is capable of indicating the efficacy of the sterilization process. To enhance accuracy of the monitoring function, the monitoring device is located in such a fashion that an antimicrobial agent used in the process can only reach the monitor through an area containing the article to be sterilized.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with a vessel capable of receiving fluid specimens for clinical analysis and diagnosis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between the fluid specimen and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device, and may include a plurality of striations which were discovered to further improve penetrability of the cap. In this way, substances can be dispensed into or withdrawn from the vessel without having to physically separate the cap from the vessel. Also featured are fluid transfer devices and caps having surface ribs and/or grooves which aid in creating passageways for venting displaced air from a penetrated collection device.