Abstract: Chemical analysis of a sample with reagents spotted on a fibrous or porous medium employs a medium pretreated both with reagents and with conditioning agent. The conditioning agent increases the degree to which the liquid reactants wet the medium. One form of pretreated medium has different reagents located predominantly within different selected zones.Liquid is applied to the medium, typically as diluted sample, at a rate selected to enhance formation of repeatable spots. In one embodiment the liquid is applied by flowing it onto a wick element seated on the medium. The wick is disc-like and small relative to the spot which the reactants form on the medium. The disc can be pretreated to carry reagent, which the liquid transfers to the medium.The analysis instrument receives a reaction medium between selectively recessed upper and lower surfaces aligned in opposition at the reaction spot being analyzed.

Abstract: A one-stage prothrombin assay which measures the exponential rate of thrombin production in thromboplastin-treated, recalcified plasma. A serum reagent reduces the lag time before thrombin production substantially to zero for both normal and abnormal plasma, thus allowing measurements to be made in just a few minutes.

Abstract: In an arrangement for carrying out a radioimmunological method of determining both antigens and antibodies by examining samples of human body liquids by forming an antigen/antibody-complex with a radioactively labelled antibody, a micro-titer-plate is provided with recesses for accommodating a solution of said radioactively labelled antibody and to the sample to be examined. Carriers, in the form of elongated elements secured to a holding band, are loaded with unlabelled antigen and are contacted with the sample by being inserted in the recesses of the micro-titer-plate. The carrier is washed, and the radioactivity of the carrier is measured.

Abstract: The invention contemplates instrumentation to enable performance of a plurality of automatic photometric analyses upon liquid samples, as in different analyses of such body fluids as blood, urine, etc. Prior to photometric evaluation, the liquid samples are automatically subjected to controlled doses of one or more reagents, and dwell times, as appropriate to the analysis to be performed at any given time. The particular automatic performance of a given analysis is supplied from an insertably replaceable holder which contains the reagents, dosage devices, and program-control coding unique to the particular analysis. Upon inserted replacement of the holder with another selected holder which is suitably encoded and equipped with reagents, the same instrument will serve for the handling of liquid samples unique to a different biological analysis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring the corrosive effects of certain fluids by simulating the high temperature, high pressure, and flow conditions experienced in the production tubulars of oil and gas wells. A corrosion coupon constructed from an accurately machined tube is divided parallel to its axis and is held in place in a test chamber. A corrosive fluid is passed through the tube under simulated flow conditions at a controlled temperature and pressure. The tube is then dismantled for inspection so that loss of mass and the character of the loss from the divided sections due to corrosion may be determined.

Abstract: A system for automatically processing liquids in open-ended containers. The containers are moved past a plurality of operating stations that carry out the following operations: washing, reagent-adding, incubation, detection, and storage. The operating stations for washing and reagent-addition include vertically and horizontally movable assemblies for operating upon the containers. The containers are carried in groups in individual carrying blocks which are moved throughout the system.

Abstract: The measured values are calculated from the following equation: ##EQU1## in which X.sub.1, X.sub.i+1, X.sub.i+2 are three values of signals obtained from one electrode measured successively at equal intervals of time, namely after a latent time .tau. has elapsed.The time required for calibration and measurement in the course of a blood gas analysis can be substantially reduced by the consistent application of this procedure for obtaining the measured value for each calibration and measurement.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for measuring trace amounts of oxygen in an atmosphere is described. An oxygen free nitrogen gas is used as the carrier gas and nitrogen, ultra high purity, with approximately 10 ppm (parts per million) water is used as the reagent gas of an ionization source is operated at atmospheric pressure. A small electric field of approximately 200 volts per centimeter is applied across the length of the ionization chamber up to a pinhole entrance to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The voltage is biased to repel negative ions towards the quadrupole mass spectrometer. Measurement of the peak height of the m/e value of 52 in the mass spectrum are integrated over a period of time. The results of the integration are then compared to a calibration chart which indicates the amount of oxygen that is present in the atmosphere being measured.

Abstract: Sample cups containing serum are removably loaded in a plurality of annular holders flexibly connected to make up a slidable chain which is moved through a limited path and passes a sampling position. Ion-selecting electrodes and a reference electrode are slightly spaced from the sampling position. A predetermined amount of serum in the sample cup that has arrived at the sampling position is distributed to a measurement tank. The electromotive force based on the ion to be measured is detected, and the ion concentration is printed out on a printer on the basis of the detection result. Normally, samples sequentially arriving at the sampling position are distributed to the measurement tank for continual analysis. Upon receipt of an emergency sample, an interruption switch on the operation panel is depressed for transmitting an interruption measurement command to a control section.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an endosseous implant for use in dental and orthopedic treatment. The implant is a composite structure made of a combination of an outer ceramic member and an inner ceramic core member bonded together by glass cement. After being implanted, new bone tissue and new connective tissue penetrate into the outer member to form a net-like root structure therein, thereby increasing the stability of the implant and at the same time the outer member is reinforced by the inner core member.

Abstract: Contamination between successive aqueous samples in a continuous-flow analytical system is eliminated by the careful and precise application of a thin, uniform film of immiscible fluid upon the outer surface of an aspirating probe of a metering system. The immiscible fluid is selected to preferentially wet the inner and outer probe surfaces and the inner wall surfaces of the conduits of such system, to the substantial exclusion of the aqueous samples. The immiscible fluid is aspirated, along with an air segment, between aspirations of successive samples, each aspirated air and sample segments are encapsulated by such immiscible fluid while passed through such system. A selective valve is utilized to isolate and transfer each fluid sample from the probe to such system.

Abstract: An automatic multichannel apparatus for performing analyses on fluids, comprising, in combination, an array of sample-holder test tubes, mounted on an intermittently indexed drum, a needle for sample withdrawal carried by a mobile arm and adapted to be successively introduced into the test tubes to aspirate samples to be analyzed, a distributor-mixer complex, for distributing the sample to be analyzed on many segments and adding the various reagents for the various analyses to the samples, means for measuring photometrically the samples and printout of the data related to the analyses.

Abstract: The invention deals with the determination of water content in many systems, as the basis for the method, as, for example, in oil- and water-containing emulsions, using adsorbent solids and the temperature rise caused upon adsorption of water thereby.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for gas-liquid equilibration (tonometry) in a transportable vessel. Specifically the method and device is concerned with tonometry of blood or buffer solution in a syringe. The compartment formed when a syringe plunger is partially inserted into a syringe barrel serves as a tonometer chamber where gas of known composition is bubbled through a liquid sample. Gas enters the chamber through small holes in the tip of the syringe plunger and bubbles upward through the sample. The syringe plunger itself is a second chamber which is used for heating and humidifying the gas prior to entering the tonometer chamber. The entire syringe is housed in a temperature controlled environment during equilibration. This environment allows observation of the entire tonometry process. After equilibration the syringe tonometer is easily removed from the heat controlled environment and is used as the sample's transport vessel. The syringe configuration allows easy entry of the sample into the target sytem, e.g.

Abstract: A control system controls the cupric ions content and the cuprous ions content of a copper liquor so as to control the strength of the copper liquor. The system includes a sensor sampling the copper liquor which provides a signal corresponding to the strength of the copper liquor. A network provides reference signals corresponding to an upper limit and a lower limit for the strength of the copper liquor. A comparison circuit compares the copper liquor strength signal with the reference signals and provides a signal corresponding to the comparison. Apparatus controls the addition of air to the copper liquor so as to control the cupric ion content and the cuprous ion content of the copper liquor in accordance with the comparison signal in the comparison circuit.

Abstract: A sample analyzing system features a number of discrete sample segments continuously conveyed along a conduit. Each sample segment receives a precise aliquot of one or more reagents on a selective basis, and in any particular sequence. Selective injection of the reagent into the moving stream of sample segments allows for an increase in the efficiency and throughput of the sample processing.

Abstract: Standards solutions and test samples are necessary for blood gas analyzers. Production of such standards and test samples has only been possible with relatively expensive apparatus. Such standards and test samples are provided herein by apparatus 10 which equilibrates a liquid 12 with a gas 14. The apparatus 10 includes a barrel 16 open at a first end 18 and at a second end 20. A piston 22 fits matingly reciprocally within the barrel 16. A flow control 26 allows the gas 14 to flow into the second end 20 of the barrel 16 and prevents the liquid 12 from flowing out of the second end 20 of the barrel 16. The gas 14 is allowed to flow out of the barrel 16 above a liquid level 44 therein. A method utilizing the apparatus 10 to prepare standard and test sample solutions is also set out.

Abstract: An electrochemical measuring system which effects, measures and sorts charge transfer reactions of selected substances in a sample solution is provided. The system includes a novel electrode which is adapted to measure simultaneously on at least two electrodes at least two electrolytic potentials with reference to a reference potential. In a preferred form the electrode comprises a hollow, cylindrical body formed of an electrically insulating material. The electrode is open at least at one end and has a generally smooth cylindrical inner surface. A plurality of electrically discrete active electrode segments are mounted on the inner surface of the electrode with their active surfaces substantially flush with the generally smooth cylindrical inner surface.

Abstract: A blood coagulation time measuring method comprising irradiating a mixture of blood plasma and reagent with a beam of specified amount of light, detecting changes in the amount of light scattered by the mixture, converting the resulting scattered light output signals to digital form at specified time interval, feeding the digital data to a computer, computing the difference between each input value and the input value immediately adjacent thereto with respect to time and storing the results, and determining the time, prior to the time at which a maximum difference value is obtained, at which a computed difference value corresponding to 1/n of the maximum difference value is obtained. The time thus determined is the end point of the coagulation time. A system for practicing this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A container for dispensing reagent slides into apparatus which uses the slides to carry out quantitative chemical analysis of fluid samples. The container is formed of a plurality of casing parts which, when joined together, for a generally rectangular housing with a chamber for receiving a stack of the slides. The container fits into a complementary shaped nest in the analysis apparatus and has discontinuity means for inhibiting improper orientation of the container in the nest. A notch code on the container cooperates with structure on the nest to inhibit placing into the nest a container carrying reagent slides improper for the analysis test to be conducted.