Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-vitro deposition evaluation method and an system for evaluating deposition of personal care compositions. The method comprises the steps of providing a microplate and at least one body that is capable of movement within the plurality of wells of the microplate. The method comprises the steps of providing a sample that comprises a personal care composition and depositing sufficient volume of sample to submerge a body within the wells of the microplate. The method comprises the steps of providing a skin mimic and contacting the skin mimic and the microplate such that the skin mimic is exposed to the sample and the body. The method comprises the steps of causing at least one body to move wherein a portion of the sample is transferred to the skin mimic and quantifying the amount of the sample that is transferred to the skin mimic.

Abstract: Microfluidic methods and devices for heterogeneous binding and agglutination assays are disclosed, with improvements relating to mixing and to reagent and sample manipulation in systems designed for safe handling of clinical test samples.

Abstract: A method for detecting sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) includes acquiring a time sequence of a physiological signal from an individual, wherein the time sequence of the physiological signal includes a oscillatory pattern, computing an oscillatory interval signal using the time sequence of the physiological signal, decomposing the oscillatory interval signal into a plurality of ensemble empirical modes, selecting one of the plurality of ensemble empirical modes, calculating at least one of average amplitude or standard deviation of the instantaneous frequency in the selected ensemble empirical mode; and identifying SDB using at least one of the average amplitude or the standard deviation of the instantaneous frequency.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detecting and/or measuring scattering effects due to the aggregating metallic nanostructures or the interaction of plasmonic emissions from approaching metallic nanoparticles. The scattering effects may be measured at different angles, different wavelengths, changes in absorption and/or changes in polarization relative to changes in the distances between nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated analyzer system for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays using changes/no changes in diffraction of light by the presence/absence of analytes which may or may not be present in a sample binding to their analyte specific receptors laid out in a preselected pattern in a disposable sensor. The analyzer is a modular, bench-top instrument that compactly integrates subsystems for sample dispensing, liquid handling, and optical generation of laser light beams and detectors for detecting for diffracted light. An internal processor is included for automating the instrument, and a user interface to provide communication with the operator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, at least in part, to methods for imagewise patterning of a surface. Such patterned surfaces can be used, e.g., in microfluidic devices. Accordingly, the present invention is also directed, at least in part, to nanopatterned devices which include a microchannel structure and methods for forming such devices.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic control chip, which includes a filter section having a filter to which anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, which are bound to endogenous antibodies in blood to thereby remove the endogenous antibodies, are immobilized, a first reaction section to which detection antibodies immobilized to fluorescent nano-particles are adsorbed, the detection antibodies being bound to proteins to be detected in blood which is introduced from the filter section with the endogenous antibodies removed therefrom, and a second reaction and detection section including capture antibodies immobilized thereto, binding the capture antibodies to the proteins, which are bound to the detection antibodies introduced from the first reaction section, and detecting a concentration of the proteins based on an intensity of fluorescent light. Thus, the microfluidic control chip can minimize interference of an immune response to maximize the immune response.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody displaying excellent specificity against heparan sulfate saccharide chains for the analysis of heparan sulfate saccharide chains specific to dentin. The invention also provides a method of evaluating reproductive dentin using the monoclonal antibody. The anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts against dentin-derived heparan sulfate and in particular the anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts strongly and specifically with uncalcified predentin regions. In the method of evaluating dentin, the antibody is reacted against an isolated dentin-derived sample and the reaction is used in order to evaluate the development of dentin.

Abstract: Hollow particles for use in various types of assay devices are provided. Due to their hollow or voided structure, the particles may exhibit a variety of beneficial properties. For instance, hollow particles are generally lightweight, and thus, relatively inexpensive in comparison to other types of particles. Hollow particles may also form a stable system without requiring refrigeration or rotation. In addition, hollow particles may possess enhanced light diffraction capabilities, which may be particularly beneficial in certain types of assay devices, e.g., diffraction-based assay devices.

Abstract: A sample collection apparatus which measures biological samples and can be used to provide the early detection of respiratory diseases, for example tuberculosis induced by the pathogen mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sample collection apparatus has a sample collection unit and a corresponding complementary reader unit. The collection unit collects a sample exhaled from the user through a collection vessel with an optical interrogation region. The sample is spread on the inside of the vessel over the interrogation region and subsequently analyzed. The test results are displayed via the reader unit.

Abstract: Method and device for storing and/or delivering fluids, wherein at least a first and a second fluid, such as chemical or biochemical reagents or rinse solutions, are maintained separately from each other in a common vessel and transferred in series from the vessel to a reaction site to carry out a predetermined chemical or biochemical reaction. Separation may be achieved by interposing a third fluid, e.g., a gaseous fluid plug, between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A system and method for recognition of images may include the use of alignment markers. The image recognized may be a pattern from an array, a character, a number, a shape, and/or irregular shapes. The pattern may be formed by elements in an array such as an identification marking and/or a sensor array. More particularly, the system and method relate to discriminating between images by accounting for the orientation of the image. The size and/or location of alignment markers may provide information about the orientation of an image. Information about the orientation of an image may reduce false recognitions. The system and method of image recognition may be used with identification markings, biosensors, micro-fluidic arrays, and/or optical character recognition systems.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow real-time detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications. In particular, the medical device reduces interference with an optical signal which is indicative of the presence of an analyte in a bodily sample.

Abstract: A nonhemolytic sensor for determination of analytes in erythrocyte-containing biological fluids is disclosed that comprises an optical material having a deposit on a surface thereof, where this deposit includes an analyte-reactive reagent and a particulate means for suppressing hemolysis of erythrocytes in an erythrocyte-containing biological fluid, such as whole blood. Thus, a porous array of negatively charged particles, e.g., polymeric beads having a plurality of carboxylate surface groups, are disposed on a sampling surface of an optical sensor, and suppress hemolysis of erythrocytes coming into contact with the sampling surface. In the case of an optical sensor, such particles can simultaneously enhance reflectance of a light beam transmitted through the optical material to the sampling surface site.

Abstract: Activation of an enzyme in a bodily fluid is detected based on the amount of cleavage of a substrate for the enzyme. The substrate is tagged with two fluorescent dyes—a donor and an acceptor. The tagged substrate is presented to the bodily fluid. A device emits energy at a first wavelength into the bodily fluid, and detects energy at second and third wavelengths emitted by the dyes in response to the energy at the first wavelength. Prior to enzymatic cleavage of the substrate, the acceptor emits energy at the third wavelength in response to energy at the second wavelength received through fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) from the donor. After enzymatic cleavage of the substrate, the donor emits energy at the second wavelength. The device can determine the concentration of activated enzyme within the bodily fluid based on the relative intensities of energy, at the second and third wavelengths.

Abstract: Ultrasound-assisted particle agglutination assay methods and apparatuses are described based on first providing a standing wave ultrasound field at a resonance frequency of a test liquid in a resonator cell containing microparticles covered with a binding agent with high affinity to an analyte sought to be detected by the assay test. Formation of the specifically-bound and nonspecifically-bound aggregates of these microparticles is then followed by effective stirring of the liquid with swept-frequency sonication causing disintegration of nonspecifically-bound aggregates and leaving specifically-bound aggregates in place for further detection and measurement. The methods and devices of the invention allow significant improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of agglutination tests and are advantageously applicable to detecting various proteins, DNA, RNA and other biologically active substances. Specific examples are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a class of semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks that include a linear polymer molecule functionalized with a bioactive moiety. The linear polymer is physically entangled within a matrix based upon a thermo-responsive polymer. The bioactive moiety is, e.g., a therapeutic moiety or a moiety that enhances the interaction of a cell with the polymer network. The polymer networks of the invention are flowable at room temperature, becoming solid or semi-solid at elevated temperatures (e.g., body temperature). The polymer networks are of use as drug delivery vehicles and as matrices for tissue engineering.

Abstract: An alloyed semiconductor quantum dot comprising an alloy of at least two semiconductors, wherein the quantum dot has a homogeneous composition and is characterized by a band gap energy that is non-linearly related to the molar ratio of the at least two semiconductors; a series of alloyed semiconductor quantum dots related thereto; a concentration-gradient quantum dot comprising an alloy of a first semiconductor and a second semiconductor, wherein the concentration of the first semiconductor gradually increases from the core of the quantum dot to the surface of the quantum dot and the concentration of the second semiconductor gradually decreases from the core of the quantum dot to the surface of the quantum dot; a series of concentration-gradient quantum dots related thereto; in vitro and in vivo methods of use; and methods of producing the alloyed semiconductor and concentration-gradient quantum dots and the series of quantum dots related thereto.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for identifying small superparamagnetic particles bonded to a substrate contains a regular orthogonal array of MTJ cells formed beneath that substrate. A magnetic field imposed on the particle, perpendicular to the substrate, induces a magnetic field that has a component within the MTJ cells that is along the plane of the MTJ free layer. If that free layer has a low switching threshold, the induced field of the particle will create resistance changes in a group of MTJ cells that lie beneath it. These resistance changes will be distributed in a characteristic formation or signature that will indicate the presence of the particle. If the particle's field is insufficient to produce the free layer switching, then a biasing field can be added in the direction of the hard axis and the combination of this field and the induced field allows the presence of the particle to be determined.