Abstract: The present invention provides a mouthwash composition comprising a heterogeneous gel, wherein said heterogeneous gel comprises at least two gelling agents and two or more active ingredients, and wherein the composition provides the differential release of the active ingredients over a period of time.

Abstract: We describe a method of predicting the response of a patient to a medical procedure, the method comprising: inputting acute phase response (APR) biomarker data defining a level of an acute phase response (APR) biomarker in said patient at a succession of biomarker measurement times following said medical procedure, said APR biomarker data defining a biomarker time course representing an evolution over time of said acute phase response; and processing said APR biomarker data to determine a derivative with respect to time of said time course from said APR biomarker data to provide APR time series data; determining a prediction of the response of said patient to said medical procedure from said APR time series data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mouthwash composition comprising a heterogeneous gel, wherein said heterogeneous gel comprises at least two gelling agents and two or more active ingredients, and wherein the composition provides the differential release of the active ingredients over a period of time.

Abstract: We describe a system/method for predicting the outcome of a medical procedure on a patient. The system/method uses using complement cascade data representing levels of a set of complement cascade markers in the patient at a succession of peri-operative time intervals, determining deviations from a model of the response to provide a pre-symptomatic prediction of the outcome. In embodiments the complement cascade pathways include the lytic pathway and at least one of the lectin pathway, the classical pathway and the alternative pathway, and the biomarkers include at least C3. The system may include an electroluminescence or plasmon-resonance multianalyte detector to analyze a blood sample from the patient.

Abstract: We describe a method of predicting the response of a patient to a medical procedure, the method comprising: inputting acute phase response (APR) biomarker data defining a level of an acute phase response (APR) biomarker in said patient at a succession of biomarker measurement times following said medical procedure, said APR biomarker data defining a biomarker time course representing an evolution over time of said acute phase response; and processing said APR biomarker data to determine a derivative with respect to time of said time course from said APR biomarker data to provide APR time series data; determining a prediction of the response of said patient to said medical procedure from said APR time series data.

Abstract: We describe a system/method for predicting the outcome of a medical procedure on a patient. The system/method uses using complement cascade data representing levels of a set of complement cascade markers in the patient at a succession of peri-operative time intervals, determining deviations from a model of the response to provide a pre-symptomatic prediction of the outcome. In embodiments the complement cascade pathways include the lytic pathway and at least one of the lectin pathway, the classical pathway and the alternative pathway, and the biomarkers include at least C3. The system may include an electroluminescence or plasmon-resonance multianalyte detector to analyse a blood sample from the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the fabrication of photonic biosensor arrays and applications of arrays produced by the method in the biomedical field.

Abstract: This invention relates to photonic biosensor arrays in particular employing plasmon resonance based sensing, and to methods and apparatus for reading such arrays. A biosensor array for plasmon resonance-based sensing of a plurality of different biological targets simultaneously, the array comprising a transparent substrate having a surface bearing a plurality of assay spots for plasmon resonance sensing, each of said assay spots comprising a discrete metallic island, a said metallic island comprising a plurality of metallic nanoparticles to which are attached functionalizing molecules for binding to a said biological target, different said islands bearing different said functionalizing molecules for binding to different ones of said biological targets, and wherein total internal reflection of light at said surface at a wavelength at or near a said plasmon resonance results in scattering of said light away from said surface, said scattering being modulated by said binding of said biological targets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the fabrication of photonic biosensor arrays and applications of arrays produced by the method in the biomedical field.

Abstract: The invention is generally concerned with apparatus and methods for monitoring fluids, in particular critical fluids such as lubricants, in particular oil, based upon evanescent wave techniques. We describe an oil sensor module for use with attenuated total internal (ATIR) reflection apparatus for optically determining the condition of the oil. The sensor module comprises an evanescent wave sensor, preferable in the form of a tapered optical fibre with a high reflectivity mirror at one or both ends; a module housing for said sensor; and an optical connector for connecting said sensor to the ATIR apparatus. Preferably the sensor module is in the form of a dipstick.

Abstract: This invention relates to photonic biosensor arrays in particular employing plasmon resonance based sensing, and to methods and apparatus for reading such arrays. A biosensor array for plasmon resonance-based sensing of a plurality of different biological targets simultaneously, the array comprising a transparent substrate having a surface bearing a plurality of assay spots for plasmon resonance sensing, each of said assay spots comprising a discrete metallic island, a said metallic island comprising a plurality of metallic nanoparticles to which are attached functionalising molecules for binding to a said biological target, different said islands bearing different said functionalising molecules for binding to different ones of said biological targets, and wherein total internal reflection of light at said surface at a wavelength at or near a said plasmon resonance results in scattering of said light away from said surface, said scattering being modulated by said binding of said biological targets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the fabrication of photonic biosensor arrays and applications of arrays produced by the method in the biomedical field.

Abstract: We describe a fuel monitoring system, comprising: an evanescent wave fuel sensor for monitoring said fuel, the sensor comprising a light source and a transducer for providing an electrical signal in response to light from said light source, and having a light path between said light source and said transducer including an evanescent wave sensing region; and a processor coupled to said fuel sensor, for converting said electrical signal from said transducer into a signal characterising said monitored fuel; and an output coupled to said processor, for outputting a signal responsive to said fuel characterising signal. We further describe apparatus for jointly determining depth of fluid in a tank and characterising the fluid according to depth, and a fluid storage tank having a three dimensional structure for containing fluid, and a three-dimensional array of fibre-optic sensors integrated into said tank structure. Embodiments may use cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with apparatus, methods and computer program code for sensing a target substance using one or more very high sensitivity optical sensors such as sensors employing evanescent waves and/or cavity ring-down techniques. The methods and apparatus we describe are particularly useful in reducing false alarm rates. A method of detecting a target substance using an optical sensor, the method comprising: repeatedly measuring a level of said target, with said optical sensor to provide a time series of target levels; determining a first derivative of said target level time series with respect to time and outputting a target detection signal responsive to a profile of said first derivative time series data.

Abstract: We describe sensing apparatus using evanescent-wave based optical cavity ring-down plasmon resonance techniques. An optical cavity is formed by a pair of highly reflective surfaces, said an optical path between said surfaces including a reflection from a totally internally reflecting (TIR) surface, the reflection from said TIR surface generating an evanescent wave. The TIR surface is provided with electrically conducting material such that the evanescent wave excites a plasmon within the material. A change in absorption of evanescent wave due to a change in said plasmon excitation is detectable to provide a sensing function. Advantageously light of two different wavelengths straddling the plasmon excitation is employed. Preferably the sensor is a fibre-optic evanescent wave surface plasmon sensor.

Abstract: We describe an evanescent wave cavity-based optical sensor. The sensor comprises an optical cavity formed by a pair of highly reflective surfaces and including a totally internally reflecting (TIR) surface generating an evanescent wave to provide a sensing function. The TIR surface is provided with a functionalising material over at least part of said TIR surface such that said evanescent wave interacts with said material, and whereby an interaction between said functionalising material and a target to be sensed is detectable as a change in absorption of said evanescent wave. The technique is extremely sensitive and thus in a gas sensor the evanescent wave TIR surface is provided with a solvating medium, and in other configurations a partition or atrium is provided for the evanescent wave sensing region.