Abstract: A system for automatically testing a fluid specimen to indicate the presence of specified chemical components in the specimen. The system utilizes an assaying device having a collection cup and a cap that carries at least one test strip. The device includes an integrated aliquot delivery mechanism actuatable to wet the test strip with an aliquot delivered from the fluid specimen. The assaying device operates in conjunction with an electronic reader device capable of actuating the aliquot delivery mechanism and reading the reaction of the test strip. A reader device defines a keyed receptacle for accommodating a complementary shaped cup housing in a particular orientation. The reader device includes a camera for capturing the image of a test strip, an actuator for actuating an aliquot delivery mechanism, and a microprocessor/controller for (1) controlling the camera and actuator and (2) processing the image.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diagnostic tape unit with a test tape that can be wound onto a spool which comprises a transport tape and a plurality of test elements mounted thereon, where the test elements have an analytical reagent layer, a carrier foil supporting the reagent layer and a piece of adhesive tape connecting the carrier foil with the transport tape, and where the front side of the reagent layer facing away from the carrier foil is designed for the application of a sample substance. According to the invention it is proposed that the test elements in combination with the light transmitting transport tape in each case form an optical multi-layer system for a rear-side reflection-photometric measurement of the reagent layer.

Abstract: A portable chemical analytical apparatus to analyze a test swipe includes a heater to warm the test swipe to a predetermined temperature; a clamp to secure the test swipe to the heater; one or more pumps to dispense one or more chemicals onto the test swipe from a disposable cartridge; a fan to remove chemical vapors rising a predetermined distance from the test swipe; and a camera to capture an image of the test swipe for automated analysis.

Abstract: A reaction well, intended for use in an automatic analysis appliance and including an opening at its top end and one or two flaps for partially closing said opening, the flaps being separated by a slot enabling a liquid injection or sampling needle to pass through, and preventing stirrer means contained within the well from escaping.

Abstract: Integrated apparatus and method for hematological analyses, wherein the apparatus, comprises, arranged substantially in line and integrated substantially in a single machine, a device (14) of the optical type to detect substantially instantaneously the speed of blood sedimentation (ESR) by measuring the optical density, or absorbance, of the blood sample, and a measuring assembly (18) with a cell-counter function or suchlike.

Abstract: A microchip comprising therein a first channel which allows inflow of a first liquid selected from whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and a drug-treated liquid thereof, a second channel connected to the first channel, which allows inflow of a second liquid containing an agent that is reactive with the first liquid, and a merged channel extended from the connection portion of the first channel with the second channel, wherein, in the merged channel, a stirring section having a stirring bar for mixing the first liquid with the second liquid is provided; and a blood monitoring device using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid analysis device that comprises an analyzer and a system for supplying an instrumentation gas to said analyzer, characterized in that the supply system includes at least one mixer generating said instrumentation gas, and at least one purifier located downstream from said at least one mixer and upstream from said analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention provides biochips that include: (a) a plurality of cards, each card having a plurality of card apertures extending therethrough, each respective card aperture having one or more cross sectional areas; and (b) a plurality of gaskets, at least one gasket residing intermediate two neighboring cards, each gasket having a plurality of gasket apertures extending therethrough. At least some of the gasket apertures have an area that is greater than that of at least one adjacent card aperture. Different sets of the gasket apertures and card apertures define a plurality of fluidic flow channels. Also provided herein are methods of making and using biochips.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating a value indicative of the amount of an undesirable constituent of a volatile gas stream that is removed from the atmosphere. Data received at a higher sampling rate is subjected to a plurality of validation processes and data that is determined to be faulty is then quarantined. Quarantined data can be replaced, however, an audit trail is generated to indicate what data has been replaced and the underlying rationale for the replacement data.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a remote control method which allows a technician, etc. in a support center to remote-control a clinical specimen processing device, and a remote control system, a status informing device and a control apparatus used for such a method. The remote control method of the present invention, which is a remote control method for remote-controlling the clinical specimen processing device that processes a clinical specimen, is designed so that an image of the clinical specimen processing device is picked up by an image pickup device, and the image picked up by the image pickup device is supplied to a control apparatus located at a remote place from the clinical specimen processing device through a communication network so that the picked-up image is displayed on the control apparatus.

Abstract: A reagent container system for a reagent analyzer, in particular an automatic reagent analyzer, is disclosed. The system includes a first reagent container cassette provided with a first set of openings each being capable of containing a reagent therein, and a second reagent container cassette provided with a second set of openings each being capable of containing a reagent therein. The system provides the first and second reagent container cassettes at least in a storage configuration in which the container cassettes are joined together such that a longitudinal side of the first reagent container cassette is facing a longitudinal side of the second reagent container cassette. Wherein, by relative displacement, the first and second reagent container cassettes are displaceable between the storage configuration and a use configuration in which a transverse side of the first reagent container cassette is facing a transverse side of the second reagent container cassette.

Abstract: A blood glucose test instrument kit having modular component parts capable of being assembled into a plurality of different handheld blood glucose test instruments is disclosed. The kit comprises the combination of an interconnection platform adapted to connect to a collection of interoperable modules. The collection of interoperable modules including: a plurality of different measurement engine modules, at least one user interface module, at least one power supply module. A handheld blood glucose test instrument is assembled by the interconnection to the interconnection platform of at least one measurement engine module, at least one user interface module, and at least one power supply module. The inter-module communication among the modules connected thereto to achieve enhanced glucose test instrument reliability by effecting at least one reliability protocol selected from a group of reliability protocols.

Abstract: A glucose monitor having only a test strip reader and wireless transmission to a remote hand held calculation processor. All glucose data processing occurs in a remote hand held calculator processor with the glucose monitor providing only sensing and wireless transfer of data. In an embodiment, the glucose monitor includes a button for use in wirelessly pairing the monitor to a smart phone for data communication with a non-proprietary communication protocol, and a light source to communicate the progress of the pairing. In a further embodiment, the glucose monitor includes a switch coupled to the strip reader such that power is applied to the monitor when a test strip is inserted and power is removed with the withdrawal of the test strip. In another embodiment, inserting the test strip and activating the switch also places the glucose monitor into the pairing search mode to communication with a host remote processor.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring thrombus formation wherein anticoagulated blood is flown through a channel simulating a blood vessel while releasing the anticoagulant treatment or promoting blood coagulation to thereby monitor thrombus formation. This apparatus for monitoring thrombus formation comprises: a thrombus formation chamber in at least a part of which a thrombus formation inducer inducing thrombus formation is provided; an inlet tube which is connected to the thrombus formation chamber and through which blood is flown into the thrombus formation chamber; and a drug tube which is connected to the inlet tube and through which a drug releasing the anticoagulant treatment or a drug promoting blood coagulation is supplied.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a cassette and a measuring apparatus that can filter a sample for the optical measurement of an optically active substance and clean a sample flow channel by using a simple configuration. More specifically, the invention is directed to a cassette which includes a filter for filtering out a measurement interfering component from a sample, a container containing the filter, a cleaning liquid or cleaning agent for cleaning a sample flow channel, and a storage tank for storing the cleaning liquid or cleaning agent, and to a measuring apparatus having such a cassette.

Abstract: A method for producing an image of an object within a chamber of a microfluidic device includes providing the microfluidic device having x, y, and z dimensions and a chamber depth center point located along the z dimension. The chamber depth center point is located a known z dimension distance from a fiducial marking embedded within the microfluidic device. The method also includes placing the microfluidic device within an imaging system that includes an optical device capable of detecting the fiducial marking. The optical device defines an optical path axially aligned with the z dimension and has a focal plane perpendicular to the optical path. When the focal plane is moved along the optical path, the fiducial marking is maximally detected when the focal plane is at the z depth in comparison to when the focal plane is not substantially in-plane with the z depth.

Abstract: A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a closure for a container comprises at least two closure members. The relative position of the closure members with respect to each other is altered upon mating of the closure and container. The alteration of the relative position of the closure members may result in one or more of the members approaching the container more closely. The alteration may result in one or more of the members pressing against the container. The pressing may take place in such a way that exit paths for vapor from fluid in the container would require passage through the pressed surfaces.

Abstract: An ultraviolet sensor arrangement detects the amount of sulfur in a fuel of an internal combustion engine by emitting an ultraviolet light field in the presence of the fuel. A detector is disposed to detect a responsive amount of fluorescent light and provide a sensing signal indicative of the amount of sulfur in the fuel. A filter (or filters) receives the sensing signal and provides a filtered sensing signal to a sensing circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor for measuring the amount of an analyte to be detected in human interstitial fluid, comprising a micro-cantilever sensing unit which includes: a first substrate; a micro-cantilever which is substantially in parallel with the first substrate and one end of which is supported onto the first substrate; a gold film formed onto at least one side of the micro-cantilever; a protein layer formed on the gold film, the protein layer being used to adsorb, at a surface thereof, the analyte to be detected in human interstitial fluid; a driving electrode provided on the first substrate; a micro-cantilever electrode which is provided on the first substrate at a position where the micro-cantilever is supported, and which is cooperated with the driving electrode so as to drive the micro-cantilever to produce resonance in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate; and a detecting electrode which is provided on the first substrate and which is cooperated with the micro-cantilever electrode so as to d