Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for the effect of a test agent on a population of biological specimens, preferably insects, comprising the steps of providing a population of specimens, administering at least one test agent to the population, creating a digitized movie showing the movements of members of the population, measuring at least one trait of members of the population, and correlating the traits of the population with the effect of the test agent. The invention also provides a method for preparing a medicament useful for the treatment of a mammalian disease.

Abstract: A centrifuge has a bucket for receiving the product to be centrifuged, and a support which is configured to be inserted in the bucket and receive microtiter plates and the like. The support has substantial stability and comprises a generally planar base and four upstanding lateral walls which are integrally formed with the base and which are coupled together at their upper edges to form a substantially self-contained enclosure.

Abstract: A method of system is provided for assaying specimens. In connection with such system or method, plural multi-pixel target images of a field of view are obtained at different corresponding points in time over a given sample period. A background image is obtained using a plural set of the plural target images. For a range of points in time, the background image is removed from the target images to produce corresponding background-removed target images. Analysis is performed using at least a portion of the corresponding background-removed target images to identify visible features of the specimens. A holding structure is provided to hold a set of discrete specimen containers. A positioning mechanism is provided to position a plural subset of the containers to place the moving specimens within the plural subset of the containers within a field of view of the camera.

Abstract: A centrifuge has a bucket for receiving the product to be centrifuged, and a support which is configured to be inserted in the bucket and receive microtiter plates and the like. The support has substantial stability and comprises a generally planar base and four upstanding lateral walls which are integrally formed with the base and which are coupled together at their upper edges to form a substantially self-contained enclosure.

Abstract: A device for analysing manual thumps, applied to simulate pre-cordial thumps for the treatment of a dysrhythmia of the heart of a patient, has an array of force-detecting, proportional sensors having a frequency response of at least 1 kHz, usually 10 kHz or more. A preferred form of sensor has a key for receiving an applied force mounted for movement relative to a support with a spring having a preselected spring constant coupled therebetween. An optical sensor and grating detect the displacement of the key relative to the support. This sensor provides advantages of being fast, accurate and truly proportional. The device has an electronic circuit for receiving the output signal of each sensor and outputting the output signals to an external computer running a program to analyse and display the output signals. The device may be used to study the biophysical parameters of a pre-cordial thump or as a teaching tool to train users in the correct application of a pre-cordial thump.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for the effect of a test agent on a population of biological specimens, preferably insects, comprising the steps of providing a population of specimens, administering at least one test agent to the population, creating a digitized movie showing the movements of members of the population, measuring at least one trait of members of the population, and correlating the traits of the population with the effect of the test agent. The invention also provides a method for preparing a medicament useful for the treatment of a mammalian disease.

Abstract: A method of system is provided for assaying specimens. In connection with such system or method, plural multi-pixel target images of a field of view are obtained at different corresponding points in time over a given sample period. A background image is obtained using a plural set of the plural target images. For a range of points in time, the background image is removed from the target images to produce corresponding background-removed target images. Analysis is performed using at least a portion of the corresponding background-removed target images to identify visible features of the specimens. A holding structure is provided to hold a set of discrete specimen containers. A positioning mechanism is provided to position a plural subset of the containers to place the moving specimens within the plural subset of the containers within a field of view of the camera.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for the effect of a test agent on a population of biological specimens, preferably insects, comprising the steps of providing a population of specimens, administering at least one test agent to the population, creating a digitized movie showing the movements of members of the population, measuring at least one trait of members of the population, and correlating the traits of the population with the effect of the test agent. The invention also provides a method for preparing a medicament useful for the treatment of a mammalian disease.

Abstract: Tools are provided for obtaining and assessing data concerning the physical or behavioral traits of an biological specimen population for the purpose of identifying, treating, or gathering intelligence on the condition of the specimen population. In one aspect, a computer system is provided to assess a condition of a biological specimen by studying the physical traits of a sample that comprises a number of specimens. The condition may comprise a human central nervous system condition. A user interface is provided that comprises a computer screen, an input interface portion, and a processing mechanism. The user interface may further comprise a specimen information input mechanism. The specimen information input mechanism may comprise a specimen type input that allows the user to specify, through the computer screen input, the type of specimen to be studied.