Abstract: In an unplumbed sterilizer, a measured quantity of liquid is introduced into a partially evacuated chamber in a dump period. The liquid quantity is automatically controlled by closing a valve in the additional conduit upon the occurrence of either (a) the chamber pressure attaining a preset value, or (b) elapsing of a preset time, whichever occurs first.

Abstract: A selective chemical species detector including a conductive polymer based sensing element having a detectable characteristic, for example, the polymer resistivity, permanently altered on exposure to a first chemical species and not permanently altered on exposure to a second chemical species. The detector then determines a permanent change in the detected characteristic and indicates the presence of a chemical species on detection of a such a permanent characteristic change. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating such a sensing element to achieve the desired selectivity.

Abstract: The method for acceleration of liquid and bulk materials comprises conversion of energy of the electromagnetic pulse of a radiator (1) into mechanical energy applied to the treated material by a plate element (3) of a conducting material having at least one degree of freedom in the direction of acceleration. The opposite surfaces of the place element (3) at the moment of emission of the electromagnetic pulse are brought in physical contact with the radiator and treated material, respectively.An apparatus for realization of the above method comprises a radiator (1) connected with a source (2) of electromagnetic pulses, a plate element (3) of a conducting material arranged loosely on the radiator (1), the surface of said element being intended for placement of the treated material.

Abstract: Compostions, and method useful for making such compositions and for using such compositions, which are useful to destroy hydrogen peroxide in a liquid aqueous medium, such as that used to disinfect contact lenses, are disclosed. The composition comprises at least one item containing a hydrogen peroxide destroying component, e.g., catalase, effective when released in a liquid aqueous medium to destroy or cause the destruction of hydrogen peroxide present in the liquid aqueous medium, and a barrier coating located on the at least one item and acting to substantially prevent the release of the hydrogen peroxide destroying component for a period of time after the composition is initially contacted with a hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid aqueous medium. The barrier coating comprises a water soluble coating component, e.g.

Abstract: A sensor for selective determination of gases includes an electric capacitor having a gas permeable zeolite layer between 2 and 500 micrometer thick and being composed of a dielectric crystalline structure with a crystal size from 0.1 micrometer to 80 micrometer and having primary pores resulting in an internal surface from 100 to 1500 m.sup.2 /g, the diameter of the pores being between 0.1 and 1.5 nm which corresponds at least in order to magnitude to the kinetic diameter of the molecules of the gas to be detected, so that these molecules penetrate deep into the layer and its pores thereby changing the dielectric constant of the layer.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus comprises a sample accommodating region, an accommodating region for a test film reacting with a liquid sample to give rise to a change, and a conveyor for sequentially pulling out the test film from the test film accommodating region. An applicator takes up the liquid sample from the sample accommodating region and applies it to the test film at the position to which the test film has been pulled out. An incubator incubates the sample-applied film portion for a predetermined time, and a measuring device measures the change at the sample-applied film portion during or after the passage of the predetermined time. Both the incubator and the measuring device are provided at the position where the sample application onto the test film is carried out by the sample application means.

Abstract: An apparatus for pushing a hose along a conduit includes a rotatable reel, a hose wound on the reel, and a driving arrangement for drawing the hose off the reel and for pushing the hose into and along a conduit. The apparatus can also include an arrangement attached to a leading end of the hose for permitting the leading end of the hose to roll along the interior surface of the conduit. Also, a guide can be positioned in the access opening to the conduit in order to permit the hose to move more easily through sharp turns.

Abstract: A compact apparatus having a gravity assisted, substantially linear, vertical fluid flow path through vertically aligned elements for the N-terminal and C-terminal sequencing of proteins and peptides is disclosed.

Abstract: A reaction chamber utilizes a sample carrier composed of a magnetic core and a surface coating effective to support sample of protein or peptide. The sample carrier is floated magnetically by means of electromagnets positioned within a reaction vessel. Edman reagnet is applied to the sample to effect amino acid sequence analysis of protein or peptide from amino-terminal. By such construction, reaction efficiency of repeated production of thiazolinon amino-acid derivatives is increased so as to increase number of identified amino acids, thereby enabling microanalysis of sample.

Abstract: An automatic medical sampling device comprises a vacuum breaking needle for connecting the inside of a vacuum blood gathering tube with the air. An inserting needle has a length sufficient to be located at a position slightly below the lower end of the vacuum breaking needle at the highest position of the vacuum breaking needle. A container holder or maintainer has a botom slope or projections for supporting a container, and a stirring device stops reciprocation of the stirring bar by detecting the position of the bar.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting a specific substance in a solution, based on optical changes, includes a substrate and a thin membrane formed on the substrate. The membrane is formed of an ion complex material of an ionic amphipathic compound with a polymer having ionic groups of the opposite electrical charge, a potential-sensitive dye and a substance-selective compound.

Abstract: A titrating system includes a pulse length modulator for controlling a drive train including a DC drive motor to supply a given dosage of a titrating agent to a specimen. The pulse length modulator is so designed that the drive motor is supplied with DC-current pulses having a constant amplitude, the lengths of the pulses being a function of the start-up characteristic of the drive apparatus. In order to produce the simultaneous dosing of two different titration agents, at least two dosing arrangements and at least two drive trains are provided, thereby affording a joint control-train pair for the alternate selection of the drives. By virtue of the combination of several control-train pairs, a large number of simultaneously selectable pairs of supply devices can be provided. In a preferred embodiment, the pulse length modulator supplies to the electromechanical drive apparatus DC voltage pulses having a generally constant amplitude.

Abstract: An automatic chemistry system having a wheel for mounting reaction vessels is provided with a programmable permanent magnet which is selectively positioned adjacent a reaction vessel to separate magnetizable particles in the vessel from the vessels liquid contents. This facilitates performing heterogeneous immunoassays.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing a liquid packaging sleeve-like blank having two open ends and made of a laminated material including a paper layer, includes the steps of sterilizing the blanks by circulating a circulating unit holding a large number of blanks in a sterilizing tank which contains a sterilizing agent, to dip the blanks in the sterilizing agent, and removing the sterilizing agent by circulating another circulating unit holding the large number of blanks in a hot air drying tank in which hot air is blowed, to dry the blanks.

Abstract: A chemical analyzer in which the measurement of the change in attenuation of RF radiation propagated through a sample is used as the basis for calculating the change in concentration of a given chemical in the sample. Also disclosed are various probe and system designs which facilitate the use of RF attenuation as a basis for measurement of certain chemical characteristics of a sample.

Abstract: A superfusion apparatus for the controlled reaction of a sample within a test chamber through controlled exposure to a series of reagents in a set test sequence is provided for electrical or chemical stimulation to determine if a receptor binding compound is an agonist or antagonist. The superfusion apparatus provides a mass production but meticulously controlled sample environment for controlling temperature, quantity and arrangement of reagents and wash fluids to provide a high reproducability of results which may be compuer assisted. The device has a fully automated mode or a manually operated mode. The fully automated mode allows for the storage and execution of a number of different tests to be performed on the samples due to the provision of desired sequences of test parameters.

Abstract: In a method for preserving umbilical cord blood, a severed umbilical cord is provided which has at least one tubular blood vessel closed at opposite ends to maintain fluid in the vessel. An anticoagulant is added to blood fluids in the vessel, and the blood fluid is moved in the vessel to distribute the anticoagulant throughout the blood. An associated apparatus comprises a container, a support within the container for supporting an umbilical cord, an injector or other fluid adding device engageable with the umbilical cord in the container for introducing an anticoagulant into at least one tubular vessel in the umbilical cord, and a fluid moving device at least partially inside the container for moving blood fluid contained in the tubular vessel.

Abstract: A polynucleotide synthesizer comprises a supply mechanism for supplying a) liquid reactants for synthesizing peptides or polynucleotides, b) liquid reagents that assist in the synthesis, and c) a wash liquid; a reactor column; a connecting device for fluidly connecting the supply mechanism with the column; apparatus for positively displacing with gas pressure, liquid reactants and reagents, and wash liquid from the supply mechanism into the connecting device; and a controller connected to the column for allowing liquid to flow under the force of the gas pressure and at a controlled rate, into a temporary storage chamber and for thereafter emptying the chamber.

Abstract: In an apparatus for treating aggressive, explosive, radioactive or toxic material or solid suspensions within a container and having a rotatable shaft supported in a housing and having one end projecting into the container and another end acted upon by a drive element, an arrangement for sealing the support and the drive element of the shaft includes a mechanical seal arranged between the shaft and the housing in the area of the container, and a static, hermetically closing sealing element arranged in the area of the drive element between the shaft and the drive element, on the one hand, and the housing, on the other hand. The interior space of the housing is filled with a lubricant which is maintained at a pressure corresponding or exceeding the pressure in the container.