Abstract: In a multitube reactor gas and liquid are allowed to pass through reactor tubes, effluents are removed from the lower ends of the reactor tubes, and heat-exchange fluid is passed along the outer surfaces of the reactor tubes. To obtain a uniform distribution of liquid to the upper ends of the reactor tubes, the liquid is supplied to a plurality of adjacent trays which are in fluid communication with the reactor tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for centering the open end of tubes prior to the insertion of a probe is described. The tube aligning means has a frustoconical inner surface to gather the tube mouth held loosely in a tube rack. The tube is centered relative to the probe. The aligning means is caused to move along the probe shaft axis by cooperation of an outer probe surface and an inner female surface for receiving the probe. In the preferred embodiment, a spool-like cylindrical member is positioned within the arms of a U-shaped bracket which limits the vertical and restricts the rotational movement of the aligning member.

Abstract: Automatic titration analysis apparatus includes a sampling mechanism, a titration mechanism, an analysis mechanism and a control mechanism. The sampling mechanism takes a prescribed quantity of a sample for analysis in accordance with a first signal. The titration mechanism titrates a prescribed quantity of a reagent for analysis of the sample and provides a titer at an end point of the titration according to second signals. The analysis mechanism receives the sample from the sampling mechanism, analyzes the sample and converts a change in the physical properties of the sample caused by the titration into an electrical quantity.

Abstract: A reactor for carrying out polymerizations in systems with high concentration of polymer is constituted by a cylindrical body having vertical axis with upper and lower heads; in correspondence of a generatrix of the cylinder an opening with vertical-axis is provided, which puts the interior of the cylinder in communication with the body of an extruder, it too with vertical axis, and solid with the reactor.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is described incorporating a sensing electrode, a reference electrode, a solid matrix containing an alkali salt, a potentiostat and a heater. The invention overcomes the problem of a liquid electrolyte which may operate over limited environmental conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for assessing the high temperature antioxidant capabilities of engine oils, base oils and engine oil additives under oxidative conditions simulating those encountered in an operating internal combustion engine. In particular, the method of this invention evaluates the above materials under conditions of a continuous influx of free radicals or materials capable of breaking down into free radicals and at elevated temperatures, i.e., similar to engine oil operational temperatures.

Abstract: Agglutination assays, particularly latex agglutination assays, for simultaneous testing for a multiplicity of ligands. The reagents for use in the assays comprise two or more insoluble colored substances, each substance being adapted to form a distinctively colored agglutinate in the presence of a specific ligand or specific group of ligands.

Abstract: A method of performing medical analysis on a liquid sample makes use of a container (1) made from a single plastics molding, the container is compartmented so as to include a sample storage chamber (4), a calibrated cell (6), and a plurality of storage chambers (40, 50, 60) for liquid reagents. Various centrifuging operations are performed to cause the sample and the reagents to pass successively into an analysis vat (11).

Abstract: A device for carrying out chemical or clinical testing of a liquid sample, for example a urine sample, by a specific binding assay, said device comprising a test component (2) which has a sensitized solid surface (2a) carrying an immobilized component of a specific binding pair relevant to the assay, and a handling piece (1), and characterized in that the test component (2) bearing the sensitized surface (2a) is removably mounted in spaced relationship with a removably mounted accessory component (4) carrying an accessory solid surface (5), and in that there is a space (4a) between the sensitized surface (2a) and the removable accessory component (4) to act as a container for sample liquid, so that when the device is contacted with a sample liquid source or immersed in liquid which is to provide the test sample, liquid of the sample can enter the space (4a) to contact the sensitized surface (2a), and the accessory surface (5) acts to retain and contain sample liquid in contact with the sensitized surface (2a)

Abstract: Inert gas is supplied to a closed reagent reservoir for reagent dosing in producing gaseous measuring samples according to the "hydride method". Thereby, reagent is pressed into a sample vessel through a reagent dosing conduit. A manometric switch is provided at the inert gas connecting conduit to produce a defined reagent flow, by means of which manometric switch a valve located in the connecting conduit is driven into its closed position, if a preset pressure has been reached.

Abstract: An automatic dyeing apparatus has a casing, a plurality of vessels arranged in the casing, a specimen cage transporting mechanism and a controller capable of moving each cage with a plurality of pieces of slide glass to a predetermined position whereby various dyeing operations can be carried out at the same time.

Abstract: An analysis system of the concurrent type has a multicuvette unit supply station, a loading station, an analysis station, and transport mechanism for transporting cuvette units in correlated orientation between the several stations. Each cuvette unit includes mechanical interlock structure that cooperates with orientation structure at each of the several stations and with orientation structure carried by the transport mechanism so that continuity of cuvette orientation information is maintained throughout loading and concurrent analysis of the several samples in the cuvette unit.

Abstract: The phial or vial holding for a capillary tube is internally subdivided into an external chamber having annular cross-section and an internal chamber having circular cross-section. The outer wall of the chamber of annular cross-section carries a capillary hole and the inner tubular wall separating the two chambers has a hole in alignment with that of the outer wall and of larger diameter. In the hollow space of annular cross-section, a slight entrained flow through the hole of the inner wall and consequently a fast removal of the sample liquid which has passed through the capillary hole takes place. This is without backward flow in the direction of the capillary hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a signal modulating component related to an analyte of interest at an assay site by measuring light modulated by the component. A light source uniformly illuminates the assay site and a reference site. The light is directed from the sites onto a group of memory cells on the surface of a random access memory. The memory cells will decay from a logical 1 to a logical 0 due to the light over a period of time which is a function of the intensity of the light and the reference voltage of the memory cells marking the difference between a 1 and a 0. The digital state of each of the memory cells in the group is measured a predetermined exposure time. The measured states of a group of memory cells corresponding to the assay site are compared to the memory cell states for a reference group. The measured states are then analyzed to determine a characteristic of the analyte.

Abstract: An optrode is provided for sensing dissolved gases or volatile components of a solution. A fiber optic is provided through which light from an associated light source is transmitted from a first end to a second end. A bubble forming means, such as a tube, is attached to the second end of the fiber optic, and an indicator material is disposed in cooperation with the bubble forming means adjacent to the second end of the fiber optic such that it is illuminated by light emanating from the second end. The bubble forming means causes a gas bubble to form whenever the optrode is immersed in the fluid. The gas bubble separates the indicator material from the fluid. Gases, or other volatile components, of the fluid are sensed as they diffuse across the gas bubble from the fluid to the indicator material.

Abstract: A microtiter plate is made of a light-transmitting antistatic resin and defines at least one well. The bottom wall of the well is centrally equipped with a flat portion having a diameter of at least 1 mm and is preferably connected continuously to the corresponding peripheral wall by way of a rising part. The minimum radius of curvature of the inner wall of said well, said inner wall including said rising part, is preferably at least 0.5 mm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a chemical manipulator adapted to automate analysis of liquids of .mu.l unit such as DNA sample. Within the body frame are arranged a sample supply and discharging station, a mixing station, a separating station, and a drying station, each station being provided with a positioning device and a temperature control such as a thermostatic tank if necessary. Reaction containers are accommodated within a bucket which can accommodate a plurality of reaction containers. The bucket is automatically transported between the stations by means of a head element of a manipulator which may be moved in three directions of x, y and z.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring metabolites contained in human expired air and for measuring metabolites contained in human urine and for extracting a correlation between the metabolite data in the expired air and the metabolite data in the urine is suitable for parallel analysis of the metabolites in human urine and expired air. An atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer is suitable for measuring metabolites in the expired air. By storing reference data showing the relation between the metabolites in the expired air and those in the urine and, by comparing such data with a subject's metabolite data in the expired air and the metabolite data in the urine, abnormality of a subject can be detected.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for carrying out continuous demonomerization and postpolymerization of Polyamide 6 melts and a reactor for carrying out this process. The reactor of this invention has a cylinder with a horizontal axis around which an interior rotor shaped like a cage rotates. The reactor can be partially filled with polymer melt. There is a multitude of elements along the periphery of the rotor which partly dip into the melt and serve to convey the melt through the reactor, generate new surfaces and mix and homogenize the melt as the polymer melt undergoes demonomerization and postpolymerization under vacuum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the photometric determination of prekallikrein in plasma, wherein plasma is incubated with a surface activator, the extinction obtained is measured, a chromogenic thrombin substrate is then added thereto, the optically determinable group liberated therefrom is measured at short time intervals or continuously and the gradient of the linear part of the curve obtained by plotting the time against the extinction is determined as a measure of the prekallikrein content. The partial thromboplastin time of plasma is simultaneously determined by carrying out the incubation in the presence of calcium ions and a phospholipid and measuring the time it takes the extinction to reach a predetermined level.