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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: A method of fabricating polymer single nanowires, comprising the steps of: spin coating a polymethylmethacrylate resist onto a silicon wafer patterned with at least one gold electrode pair; creating a nanochannel using e-beam lithography between each pair of the at least one gold electrode pairs; placing the silicon wafer into an aniline monomer polymerization solution; reacting the polymerization solution to give a coated wafer and a polyaniline film; and cleaning the coated wafer of polymethylmethacrylate resist and polyaniline film to give at least one gold electrode pair with a connecting polymer single nanowire.

Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an examination element that includes an antenna; a hygroscopic portion that absorbs a specimen; a reagent portion that reacts with the specimen; and a chip including a semiconductor device capable of wireless communication and a photo sensor that detects a change in a color of the reagent portion. A change in the reagent portion is detected by the photo sensor, the detected data is stored in the semiconductor device capable of wireless communication, and the data is transmitted to an external database.

Abstract: A biosample autoanalyzer including: a sample supply unit having a plurality of biosamples; a first measuring unit fitted with a first optical measuring device; a sample transport capable of transporting the biosamples from the sample supply unit to the reaction cuvettes on the first measuring unit; a second measuring unit fitted with a second optical measuring device; a cuvette transfer device capable of transferring the reaction cuvettes to the second measuring unit; a reagent supply unit having reagents; and (7) a reagent transport device capable of transporting reaction reagents to the reaction cuvettes. The analyzer is operated wherein the reaction cuvettes on the second measuring unit are dispensed with the biosamples on the first measuring unit, subsequently transferred from the first measuring unit to the second measuring unit by the cuvette transfer device, such that different measurements are carried out by the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micro-fluidic system including a lower substrate, an upper substrate formed opposite to the lower substrate and formed with an air injection path, and a micro-fluidic device interposed between the upper and lower substrates, wherein the micro-fluidic chamber includes a fluid chamber filled with a fluid and the fluidic chamber is physically connected to the air injection path.

Abstract: Salivary diagnostic systems are provided for improved disease diagnosis and overall health care. Salivary diagnostic systems are provided for the plurality of steps required in salivary diagnostic processes. The salivary diagnostic systems are interchangeably coupled by various methods and steps and include a collection system, a filter system, an evaluation system, and a reporting system. One or more salivary diagnostic systems are comprised in at least one salivary diagnostic device. Salivary diagnostic devices include a toothbrush, an implement, and a stand-alone system. The systems provide for the collection, filtration, and evaluation of saliva samples and the reporting of diagnostic data derived from the evaluation of saliva samples.

Abstract: A device is presented having reversibly changeable and optically readable optical properties. The device comprises a substrate having an electrically conductive surface and carrying a redox-active layer structure. The redox-active layer structure may be a monolayer or a multi-layer structure and is configured to have at least one predetermined electronic property including at least one of electrodensity and oxidation state. The electronic property of the layer structure defines an optical property of the structure thereby determining an optical response of the structure to certain incident light. This at least one electronic property is changeable by subjecting the redox-active layer structure to an electric field or to a redox-active material. The device thus enables effecting a change in said electronic property that results in a detectable change in the optical response of the layer structure.

Abstract: A specified gas concentration sensor includes a thin film thermally separated from a substrate, which is provided by a heater, a temperature sensor and an absorbing substance of a specified gas, and temperature change accompanied by heat generation while absorbing the specified gas in an ambient gas being capable of measuring by the temperature sensor. The absorbed specified gas is released from the absorbing substance by heating with the heater, and after stopping heating with the heater, the specified gas concentration in the ambient gas is obtained by utilizing an output of the temperature sensor at a time passing a predetermined time which is a thermal time constant of the thin film or longer at which the specified gas is absent from the heater. An optional heat conductive type sensor having no absorbing substance of the specified gas can broaden the measurable range of the specified gas concentration.