Abstract: A system for measuring an analyte of interest in a biological fluid includes a test strip for receiving a sample of the biological fluid having multiple contacts formed thereon. A test device includes a circuit board having multiple conducting strips. A connector assembly is fixed to the circuit board and receives the test strip as the test strip moves in an insertion direction to a test position. The connector assembly includes a connector assembly body and multiple conductors. Each of the conductors includes a conductor contact body fixedly connected to the connector assembly body, and a contact arm integrally connected to the conductor contact body and freely extending entirely in the insertion direction. The contact arm is deflected when directly contacted by one of the multiple contacts of the test strip.

Abstract: Methods described herein may be useful in the fabrication and/or screening of devices (e.g., sensors, circuits, etc.) including conductive materials. In some embodiments, a conductive material is formed on a substrate using mechanical abrasion. The methods described herein may be useful in fabricating sensors, circuits, tags for remotely-monitored sensors or human/object labeling and tracking, among other devices. In some cases, devices for determining analytes are also provided.

Abstract: A device for sampling and transporting nano-objects for analysis thereof. A cassette portion of the device includes two parts with mutual assembly mechanisms between them including a clipping mechanism configured not to be accessible from outside in assembled position of the parts. Therefore, any inopportune opening of the cassette and thus extraction of the sampling filter accommodated in the cassette somewhere else than the place intended for the analysis are avoided.

Abstract: Devices and methods for preparing and assessing a liquid sample are described which include: a microfluidic microscopy device including an absorbent structure including at least one dry dye for a liquid and configured to convey a polar liquid from a first end of the absorbent structure through the at least one dry dye for a liquid to a second end of the absorbent structure, a support structure positioned adjacent to a first surface of the absorbent structure, a lid structure positioned adjacent to a second surface of the absorbent structure, and a clamping structure positioned to maintain a relative position of the support structure and the lid structure to form a tapered internal chamber adjacent to the second end of the absorbent structure.

Abstract: An analyzer with a combustion furnace includes a flow path of byproducts of combustion coupled to a bidirectional ballast chamber by valves which are sequentially actuated for alternately filling and exhausting byproducts of combustion from opposite sides of the chamber during combustion. Alternately, a plurality of low volume ballast chambers are employed. A method of determining the concentration of elements in a sample includes the steps of combusting a sample; and alternately collecting and exhausting the byproduct gases of combustion in opposite sides of a bidirectional ballast. The bidirectional ballast chamber has an outer wall defining a chamber with sealed enclosures at opposite ends of the wall, a movable piston positioned within the chamber, and gas ports associated with the chamber on opposite sides of the piston.

Abstract: A humidity determining device 20 includes first and second humidity determining sensors 17, 18 and a control unit 21. When the first and second humidity determining sensors 17, 18 react with a chemical substance, the humidity determining performance of the first humidity determining sensor 17 and the humidity determining performance of the second humidity determining sensor 18 change with time at different amounts of change. The control unit 21 computes a difference value between a first humidity value and a second humidity value determined by the first and second humidity determining sensors 17, 18. When the difference value is greater than a predetermined reference value, the control unit 21 outputs an anomaly signal indicating that the humidity determining performance of at least one of the first or second humidity determining sensors 17, 18 has been reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining when to replace a guard bed material used to remove one or more catalyst poisons from a feed based on a parameter change in a process. A guard bed having a guard bed material is in fluid communication with a catalyst bed having a catalyst. At least three monitors are positioned in said guard bed or said catalyst bed and at least one parameter of the guard bed or catalyst bed is monitored. A feed component comprising one or more catalyst poisons is supplied to said guard bed or said catalyst bed. The feed is contacted with said guard bed material or said catalyst to remove at least a portion of a catalyst poison and to form a product which produces an increase or a decrease in said parameter. The monitored parameters are compared to determine when to replace the guard bed material.

Abstract: An analytical test cartridge is provided. The analytical test cartridge can be used for medical analyses of liquid samples removed from a patient, for example blood. The analytical test cartridge is configured to provide for titration experiments. An example of a titration experiment that can be performed with the arrangement, is titration of heparin with protamine. Methods of assembly and use are provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting a concentration of one or more element in hydrocarbon and/or natural gas in an oil and gas field application. The device including a microstructure having a low thermal mass suspended within a channel, the microstructure includes a supporting layer and a insulating layer; a controllable thermal device in communication with the supporting layer of the microstructure, wherein the controllable thermal device is controllably heated to one or more release temperature of the one or more element; a sensing layer arranged on the insulating layer to absorb molecules of the one or more element from hydrocarbon and/or natural gas; a detecting and measuring resistance device in communication with the sensing layer for measuring the resistance changes caused by absorption of molecules of the one or more element onto the sensing layer at a first temperature and a second temperature, and storing the data on a processor.

Abstract: A structure for a chemical sensing device, the structure comprising at least one electrically conductive element located in, and protruding from, at least one recess. A method of manufacturing the structure includes: (a) providing a template comprising at least one recess having a recess depth; (b) providing an electrically conductive material in the at least one recess; and (c) removing part of the template to decrease the recess depth of the at least one recess, thereby forming said protruding at least one electrically conductive element.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a first chromatographic column fluidically coupled to a source of sample and a source of a first chromatographic mobile phase solvent; a second chromatographic column fluidically coupled to the first column; a source of a second mobile phase solvent fluidically coupled between the first and second columns; and a detector, the first chromatographic column being configurable to receive, in a trapping step, the first solvent and sample and to retain a first portion of a plurality of analytes therein and to pass a second portion of the plurality of analytes therethrough, the second chromatographic column being configurable, in the trapping step, to receive the second portion of the plurality of analytes and the first and second solvents and to retain the second portion of the plurality of analytes therein, the detector being arranged to receive the second and first portions in respective first and second elution steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipetting apparatus, for pipetting a fluid sample in accordance with at least one mode of operation of the pipetting apparatus, which is controlled by an operating parameter set, which is associated with a corresponding mode of operation, wherein the electric control device of the pipetting apparatus is designed to automatically store the at least one parameter value set determined by the user to be the at least one historic parameter value set for this mode of operation in the memory device, and is designed to provide, after the operating parameter set for this mode of operation has changed, the at least one automatically stored historic parameter value set for this mode of operation again for the subsequent control of the at least one, same, pipetting process. The invention also relates to a method for operating the pipetting apparatus.

Abstract: A system for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant parts has an extraction vessel supported by an upright stand, a separator vessel mounted below the extraction vessel, and an expansion filter vessel mounted downstream from the separator vessel. A source of hydrocarbon solvent supplies liquid gas to the top of the extraction vessel, while a recycling pump connected to the separator vessel facilitates transport of the solvent through the plant material in the extraction vessel. The solvent is recovered and re-circulated, while extracted oil is removed from the separator. A thermal jacket is mounted on each of the separator vessel and the expansion filter vessel; the thermal jackets supplying heat and cold to the interior of the separator vessel and the expansion filter vessel and help evaporate and condense the solvent.

Abstract: A blood coagulation analyzer that realizes both securement of a wide dynamic range and enhancement of sensitivity in blood coagulation analysis by selecting an appropriate angle of detection depending on the intensity of scattered light from each specimen without causing complexity of the analyzer. The analyzer has a reaction container. A storage unit is provided which takes in and stores multiple pieces of chronological light intensity variation data acquired from detectors arranged around a reaction container. A judgment unit selects light intensity variation data to be used for calculation of a blood coagulation time from the multiple pieces of light intensity variation data stored in the storage unit based on the amount of light intensity variation. A calculation unit calculates the blood coagulation time from the light intensity variation data selected by the judgment unit.

Abstract: Detection units and methods for detecting one or more target analytes in a sample are disclosed. The detection unit provides a first and second surface connected by a filament which is capable of binding the target analyte in the sample. The methods provide for the detection of the target analyte through the generation of a detectable signal following the binding of the target analyte to the filament.

Abstract: An integrated microelectronic sensor is provided in a disposable flow membrane sensing device. The integrated sensors detect electromagnetic effect labels in flow detection zones above the sensor in the membrane. The labels are small particles that give off a detectable electromagnetic signal. They are commonly used for isolating and quantifying biochemical targets of interest. The sensors are fabricated using planar integrated circuit technologies. Sensors can detect labels of several types including magnetic, electric, and photonic. These types all have in common the fact that the sensor detects the label at a distance. Magnetoresistive sensors for detecting magnetic labels, and photodiodes for detecting photonic labels are described. A system for using the sensors is described. There are disposable cartridges with a backing that supports the sensors and membrane is described. The integrated sensor in the cartridge is designed to be discarded after use. Also, label excitation sources are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment system (3) for a transfer system (1) in an in-vitro diagnostics system. The adjustment system comprises a contact element (4), which is arranged on a movable element (2) of the transfer system (1). The contact element (4) is arranged on the movable element (2) by means of a joint element (5), wherein the joint element (5) has a self-resetting design and wherein a distance measuring sensor (7, 8) is associated with a distance between the contact element (4) and the movable element (2). The adjustment system enables a quick automated adjustment.

Abstract: A sample cartridge for measuring the electrical characteristics of a liquid sample, which is made by forming an insulating material into a tubular body and is capable of holding the liquid sample in a region that is constituted by the surfaces of electrodes that are respectively inserted from openings of both ends into an inner cavity and the surface of the inner cavity, and in which a narrowing portion located between two facing electrodes and having a narrowed inner cavity is provided in the region.

Abstract: Described is a personal device and methods for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample of gas. The device and method may utilize a chemically selective sensor element with low power consumption integrated with circuitry that enables wireless communication between the sensor and any suitable electronic readout such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In preferred form, the sensor circuitry relies upon the quantum capacitance effect of graphene as a transduction mechanism. Also in preferred form, the device and method employ the functionalization of the graphene-based sensor to determine the concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled breath.

Abstract: Process for metering lead in a sample of original water, in which is placed a sample of the water of which at least a substantial portion of the colloidal and organic material is passed in solution (sample of pretreated water), having: a first stage, starting from a sample of pretreated water with an adjusted pH, the lead is concentrated and the other parasitic ions are at least partially eliminated to obtain a sample of water that is concentrated with lead and substantially lacking in other parasitic ions (sample of lead-concentrated water); and a second stage in which, starting from the sample of lead-concentrated water, the sample of lead-concentrated water is mixed with a selective, lead-sensitive fluorescent probe whose fluorescence intensity/lead metering function is known; then, the thus produced water/fluorescent probe mixture is excited by the light, and the fluorescence intensity of the thus excited water/fluorescent probe mixture is collected optically; finally, starting from the thus detected fluo