Abstract: A plurality of color sensing sections are attached to a toilet seat so as to test a health state or a fecal occult blood portion every time by capturing the feces surface color during defecation. Before feces which have been excreted from a body sink into a water-seal portion, the circumference of the feces is optically captured to detect the color of the surface of the feces. By monitoring changes in color, the health state of the defecator is monitored. In particular, by checking the presence/absence of an occult blood portion, the present invention assists in early detection of colorectal cancer and allows a fecal occult blood test to be performed in a hygienic manner without burdening the user.

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detection device includes a microfluidic opening and a sensor stack. The sensor stack includes an electrochemical electrode and a photodetector. The electrochemical electrode is formed of a conductive material that is transparent to a fluorescent emission, the electrochemical electrode including a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the first side is exposed to the microfluidic opening. The photodetector is positioned relative to the second side of the electrochemical electrode to optically receive the fluorescent emission when passed through the electrochemical electrode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photonic integrated chip that has an optical waveguide located on a photonic circuit substrate that includes a photonic circuit that is optically coupled to the waveguide. A microfluidic channel is in a silicon substrate and is attached to the photonic circuit substrate. The microfluidic channel is positioned over the optical waveguide such that its side surfaces and an outermost surface extend into the microfluidic channel. The microfluidic channel extends along a length of the optical waveguide, and nanoparticles are located on or adjacent the optical waveguide located within the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A diagnostic test system includes a housing, a reader, and a data analyzer. The housing includes a port constructed and arranged to receive a test strip that includes a flow path for a fluid sample, a sample receiving zone couple to the flow path, a label that specifically binds a target analyte, a detection zone coupled to the flow path and comprising a test region exposed for optical inspection and having an immobilized test reagent that specifically binds the target analyte, and at least one reference feature. The reader is operable to obtain light intensity measurements from exposed regions of the test strip when the test strip is loaded in the port.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlled temporal extraction of ingredients of a pharmaceutical dosage form is disclosed, which comprises at least one reservoir for storing a fluid comprising a solvent, a cell having at least one inlet port in fluid communication with said reservoir for receiving a flow of the fluid from the reservoir and an outlet port through which fluid can exit the cell, where the cell is configured to receive a pharmaceutical dosage form. The system can further include an in-line heater disposed in proximity of the inlet port of the cell for heating the fluid to an elevated temperature prior to entry thereof into the cell, and a pump for causing fluid circulation between said reservoir and said cell.

Abstract: There is provided a biofilm capacitance microbial electrochemical cell (MEC) sensor to measure organic carbon in water and wastewater rapidly and accurately, represented by the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). The MEC runs at charging (open circuit) and discharging (close circuit) conditions alternately to improve the sensitivity, response time and accuracy. The detectable BOD5 concentrations with the biofilm-capacitance MEC range from 5 to 250 mg/L (R2>0.9). The MEC sensor enables BOD5 measurements at every 2 minutes (1 minute charging and 1 minute discharging), indicating semi-continuous quantification of organic carbon in water and wastewater.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a docking station into which a test card can be inserted for rapid analyte detection and reporting. This docking station has portable capability and can include wire or wireless transmission to a local server or cloud-based server. A test card that has a test structure located on the test structure that includes a modified waveguide can be inserted into the and a docking station that includes a laser and interferometer provides for accurate and rapid detection of a test sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical measurement probe for the detection of measurement values correlating with a measurand of a measuring medium, including a probe housing having at least one immersion region structured to be immersed in the measuring medium, a radiation source arranged in the probe housing, a radiation receiver arranged in the probe housing, and an indicator chamber formed in the probe housing and sealed via a membrane arranged in the immersion region of the probe housing, wherein an indicator is contained in the indicator chamber, the indicator including an AIE-active substance dissolved in an indicator solution or in an indicator gel, which AIE-active substance is a substance formed from species, molecules, complexes or clusters whose luminescence efficiency is increased via formation of aggregates containing the species.

Abstract: Biosensor including a device base having a sensor array of light sensors and a guide array of light guides. The light guides have input regions that are configured to receive excitation light and light emissions generated by biological or chemical substances. The light guides extend into the device base toward corresponding light sensors and have a filter material. The device base includes device circuitry electrically coupled to the light sensors and configured to transmit data signals. A passivation layer extends over the device base and forms an array of reaction recesses above the light guides. The biosensor also includes peripheral crosstalk shields that at least partially surround corresponding light guides of the guide array to reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent light sensors.

Abstract: A biological sample collection system can include (i) a sample collection vessel having an opening for receiving a biological sample, (ii) a selectively movable valve comprising a core and a collar disposed about the core, and (iii) a sealing cap coupled to the collar and comprising a reagent chamber for storing a measure of sample preservation reagent. The sealing cap is configured to associate—and form a fluid tight connection—with the sample collection vessel such that associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel causes a physical rearrangement of the core relative to the collar such that a fluid vent associated with the core is moved into fluid communication with the reagent chamber, thereby permitting sample preservation reagent to pass from the regent chamber to the sample collection vessel.

Abstract: A method of performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on a sample uses a reader device that mounts on a mobile phone having a camera. A microtiter plate containing wells preloaded with the bacteria-containing sample, growth medium, and drugs of differing concentrations is loaded into the reader device. The wells are illuminated using an array of illumination sources contained in the reader device. Images of the wells are acquired with the camera of the mobile phone. In one embodiment, the images are transmitted to a separate computing device for processing to classify each well as turbid or not turbid and generating MIC values and a susceptibility characterization for each drug in the panel based on the turbidity classification of the array of wells. The MIC values and the susceptibility characterizations for each drug are transmitted or returned to the mobile phone for display thereon.

Abstract: As a standard solution for evaluating a scattered light measuring optical system mounted on an automated analyzer, a standard solution containing an insoluble carrier at a concentration, at which transmittance is in a range of 10% to 50%, is used, and a light quantity of a light source is adjusted such that a scattered light detector outputs a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filtration assembly (1) for microbiological testing and a method of using the filtration assembly for that purpose. The filtration assembly (1) comprises a ring-like membrane support (10) holding a filtration membrane (11), a cylindrical reservoir (20) of which opposite axial ends have openings and one axial opening is removably and fluid-tightly attachable to the membrane support (10) to define a sample volume adjacent to the filtration membrane (11) on one axial side of the membrane support (10); and a drain member (30) removably and fluid tightly attachable to the membrane support (10) to define a drain channel space adjacent to the filtration membrane (11) on an opposite axial side of the membrane support (10).

Abstract: An optical measurement device is provided. The device includes first and second optical fibers; first and second reaction vessels, and a light guide stage coupled to the first and second optical fibers. The light guide stage is driven to simultaneously optically connect the first and second optical fibers with the first and second reaction vessels. The device includes a measurement device for receiving emissions from the first and second reaction vessels, and a connecting end arranging body that supports the first and second optical fibers along a path. The arranging body is driven along the path between a first position, in which the first optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the first reaction vessel, and a second position, in which the second optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the second reaction vessel.

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to position the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

Abstract: A sample dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a sample and a reagent to the reaction vessel at a first dispensing position and the reaction cell positioned at a second dispensing position; a second reagent vessel disposed on a track of the sample dispensing mechanism; and a control unit configured to control the sample dispensing mechanism, in which the control unit is configured to, based on information on presence or absence of incubation of an analysis item, control the sample dispensing mechanism to dispense a sample and a reagent to the reaction vessel positioned at the first dispensing position in a case where the incubation is not required by the analysis item, and control the sample dispensing mechanism to dispense a sample to the reaction cell positioned at the second dispensing position in a case where the incubation is required by the analysis item.

Abstract: A device for luminescent imaging includes an array of imaging pixels, a photonic structure over the array of imaging pixels, and an array of features over the photonic structure. A first feature of the array of features is over a first pixel of the array of imaging pixels, and a second feature of the array of features is over the first pixel and spatially displaced from the first feature. A first luminophore is within or over the first feature, and a second luminophore is within or over the second feature. The device includes a radiation source to generate first photons having a first characteristic at a first time, and generate second photons having a second characteristic at a second time. The first pixel selectively receives luminescence emitted by the first and second luminophores responsive to the first photons at the first time and second photons at the second time, respectively.

Abstract: A CuInS2@ZnS nanomaterial synthesized with thiosalicylic acid and sodium citrate as dual-stabilizers is taken as a chemiluminescent luminophore, and Tris buffer containing both N2H4.H2O and H2O2 is taken as the triggering solution; introducing the H2O2 into the triggering solution can bring out greatly enhanced CL emission and obviously shortened CL process, enable the CuInS2@ZnS nanomaterial with strong flash-type and near-infrared CL; the luminophore of CuInS2@ZnS nanomaterial is synthesized by a one-pot method; compared with acridinium ester (a classical flash-type chemiluminescent substance), the CuInS2@ZnS nanomaterial is simple in synthesis method, mild in conditions and short in the required time, the synthesized CuInS2@ZnS nanomaterial is not easy to decompose under light, and the CL waveband is in the near-infrared region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for tissue processing and imaging including a counterintuitive inverse relationship between protein dye concentration and tissue sample protein content. Varying dye concentration in such a manner affords higher quality fluorescent imaging at depth in tissue when using optical sectioning microscopy or second harmonic generation (SHG) analysis. Methods of the invention thereby provide more usable histopathology images while reducing waste and reagent costs and are of particular utility in combination assays that include simultaneous protein and nuclear staining and SHG analysis.