Abstract: A homogeneous method of determining inhibitors of proteolytically active coagulation factors (anticoagulants) in a sample, in particular direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, and also a test kit to be used in such a method. Use is made of ligands which bind to the proteolytically active coagulation factor but are not cleaved by the latter and compete with the anticoagulant to be determined.

Abstract: A method for determining the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor in a sample may include (a) providing and incubating a reaction mixture comprising (i) the sample, (ii) an agent for direct or indirect activation of the proteolytic coagulation factor in the sample, (iii) a cleavable substrate which has at least one cleavage site for the activated coagulation factor, (iv) a solid phase to which the cleavable substrate is bound or becomes bound during the incubation; (b) separating off the solid phase; and (c) determining the amount of solid-phase-bound, uncleaved substrate, wherein the determined amount of solid-phase-bound, uncleaved substrate indicates a quantitative measure of the activity of the proteolytic coagulation factor in the sample.

Abstract: A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via an approximately square shear-flexible and torsion-proof frame structure, the drive ring being arranged inside said frame. The drive according to the invention is compact, the frame and the drive ring being configured as a single injection-molded drive module.

Abstract: A motor which includes two drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. Diagonally opposite securing elements are provided on the drive ring and are used to flexibly suspend the drive ring via respective articulated corner elements on respective fixing elements that are diagonally opposite the respective securing elements. The drive according to the invention is compact, having actuators that are non-radially hinged to the drive ring.

Abstract: A solid state actuator arrangement comprising an actuator which is configured as a solid state bending actuator and which has a first and a second end section opposite each other, a fastening device for fastening the first end section of the actuator in such a manner that it can still be adjusted, and connections for applying a driver signal to the actuator for adjusting the second end section by bending the actuator between at least two positions, an extension element being fastened to the free second end section of the actuator.

Abstract: A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via a torsion-proof, nested frame-type complex structure (drive module) including an interior drive ring, a frame and a U-shaped outer frame. The drive is compact and, the drive module is configured as a single injection-molded structure.

Abstract: A method for determining the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor in a sample may include (a) providing and incubating a reaction mixture comprising (i) the sample, (ii) an agent for direct or indirect activation of the proteolytic coagulation factor in the sample, (iii) a cleavable substrate which has at least one cleavage site for the activated coagulation factor, (iv) a solid phase to which the cleavable substrate is bound or becomes bound during the incubation; (b) separating off the solid phase; and (c) determining the amount of solid-phase-bound, uncleaved substrate, wherein the determined amount of solid-phase-bound, uncleaved substrate indicates a quantitative measure of the activity of the proteolytic coagulation factor in the sample.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively analyzing an anticoagulant in a sample may include: (a) providing and incubating a reaction mixture comprising (i) the sample, (ii) a defined amount of an activated coagulation factor whose activity is directly or indirectly influenceable by the anticoagulant to be determined, wherein the activated coagulation factor is present in a separate reagent which is added to the reaction mixture, (iii) a cleavable substrate which has at least one cleavage site for the activated coagulation factor, and (iv) a solid phase to which the cleavable substrate is bound or becomes bound during the incubation; (b) separating the solid phase; and (c) determining the amount of solid-phase-bound, uncleaved substrate, wherein the determined amount of the solid-phase-bound uncleaved substrate is proportional to an amount or activity of the anticoagulant in the sample.

Abstract: Multi-leaf collimators have a guide frame (1) with a plurality of metal plates (3) arranged in a displaceable fashion, by which each individual metal plate can be displaced by an electric motor (M), with the electric motor (M) being a rotary electromechanical motor (M), which operates according to the form-fit principle, with electromechanical actuators.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for determining the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade in a body fluid such as whole blood or plasma. A combination is provided in a reaction mixture. The combination comprises the sample and an activation agent for activating a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade or for activating the blood coagulation cascade. The effect of the activating on a reagent system comprising a cleavable moiety is evaluated. The cleavable moiety is or becomes bound to a chemiluminescent agent or a sensitizer agent or both. The chemiluminescent agent and the sensitizer agent are related in that, when in close proximity, energization of the sensitizer agent results in energization of the chemiluminescent agent. The effect of the activating is related to the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade wherein the effect is the extent of cleavage of the cleavable moiety.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of in-vitro diagnostics and relates to a method of determining the blood-clotting factor XIII (factor XIII, F XIII) with the aid of plasma-based reference material, and a test kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of in-vitro diagnostics and relates to a photometric method for determining the blood-clotting factor XIII (factor XIII, F XIII) with the aid of NAD(P)H analogues, and a test kit for carrying out the method. The invention is in the field of in-vitro diagnostics and relates to a photometric method for determining the blood-clotting factor XIII (factor XIII, F XIII) with the aid of NAD(P)H analogues, and a test kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An information converter has at least two material layers having polygonal base surfaces, which are connected to each other in a shear-rigid way, wherein at least in one material layer a change of length can be induced. The polygonal base surface has at least two different interior angles.

Abstract: A homogeneous method of determining inhibitors of proteolytically active coagulation factors (anticoagulants) in a sample, in particular direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, and also a test kit to be used in such a method. Use is made of ligands which bind to the proteolytically active coagulation factor but are not cleaved by the latter and compete with the anticoagulant to be determined.

Abstract: A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other, These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via an approximately square shear-flexible and torsion-proof frame structure, the drive ring being arranged inside said frame. The drive according to the invention is compact, the frame and the drive ring being configured as a single injection-molded drive module.

Abstract: A motor which includes two drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. Diagonally opposite securing elements are provided on the drive ring and are used to flexibly suspend the drive ring via respective articulated corner elements on respective fixing elements that are diagonally opposite the respective securing elements. The drive according to the invention is compact, having actuators that are non-radially hinged to the drive ring.

Abstract: A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via a torsion-proof, nested frame-type complex structure (drive module) including an interior drive ring, a frame and a U-shaped outer frame. The drive according to the invention is compact and, the drive module being is configured as a single injection-molded structure.

Abstract: A metering device has an actuating unit within a housing in which an actuator is inserted and a hydraulic compensating element. The hydraulic compensating element is connected to the actuator and can be filled with a fluid when subjected to pressure. A first end of the actuator is provided with a first end cap. The metering device further has a stop that is disposed on the housing in the form of a seat, faces the first end cap, and defines a stopping position for the first end cap. The stop maintains a maximum distance between a sealing element and the end cap, the distance being smaller than the actuator traveling distance such that the actuator stroke beyond the end cap is sufficient for opening the valve. The first end cap hits the stop when moving in the direction of the hydraulic compensating element such that the movement is blocked.

Abstract: A motor which includes two drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. Two tension-compression bars, which are parallel to an effective direction, are connected to the drive ring, have respective joints at their ends and are connected to the ends of a diagonal bar, relative to which the ring can be displaced in the other effective direction. The diagonal bar itself can be displaced relative to fixing elements to an effective direction via a diagonal suspension. The drive is compact, having actuators that are non-radially hinged to the ring.

Abstract: Within the field of coagulation diagnostics, in heterogeneous methods for determining the activity of blood coagulation factors and also in heterogeneous methods for determining anticoagulants which inhibit the activity of blood coagulation factors, a sample is contacted with a cleavable substrate, and the amount of uncleaved substrate is subsequently determined.