Abstract: The present invention provides a method for capacitive detection of the presence of target sample on a substrate, which comprises the steps of: binding a target sample to selective binding sites on the substrate, the target sample being directly or indirectly labeled with conductive labels, and sensing the presence of the bound conductive labels to a binding site to thereby determine the presence of the target sample. The sensing step is carried out by a capacitive detection of the presence of the conductive labels. The present invention also provides a capacitive sensor device for determining the presence of a target sample. Conductive labels are directly or indirectly couplable to the target sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for capacitive detection of the presence of target sample on a substrate, which comprises the steps of: binding a target sample to selective binding sites on the substrate, the target sample being directly or indirectly labeled with conductive labels, and sensing the presence of the bound conductive labels to a binding site to thereby determine the presence of the target sample. The sensing step is carried out by a capacitive detection of the presence of the conductive labels. The present invention also provides a capacitive sensor device for determining the presence of a target sample. Conductive labels are directly or indirectly couplable to the target sample.

Abstract: According to the invention, a torque-transmitting assembly is described. A female coupling member defines a shape with a tapered bore. A radially flexible sleeve member has a wall with a tapered exterior surface, received within the bore, and an inner surface defining a through-bore. An elongated shaft member made of super-elastic alloy has an outer surface that is received within the through-bore. Relative motion among at least two of the members causes the inner surface to contact the outer surface, inducing a super-elastic activation in the shaft, simultaneously securing the members together in a fixed relative position. The radially flexible sleeve member has a plurality of collet fingers, which preferably contact the shaft at discrete locations. It is further preferred that the super-elastic activation in the shaft occurs as a result of the discrete contact thereby changing the cross-sectional shape of the shaft, which is generally non-circular, e.g., polygonal, in a further preferred form.

Abstract: According to the invention, a torque-transmitting assembly is described. A female coupling member defines a shape with a tapered bore. A radially flexible sleeve member has a wall with a tapered exterior surface, received within the bore, and an inner surface defining a through-bore. An elongated shaft member made of super-elastic alloy has an outer surface that is received within the through-bore. Relative motion among at least two of the members causes the inner surface to contact the outer surface, inducing a super-elastic activation in the shaft, simultaneously securing the members together in a fixed relative position. The radially flexible sleeve member has a plurality of collet fingers, which preferably contact the shaft at discrete locations. It is further preferred that the super-elastic activation in the shaft occurs as a result of the discrete contact thereby changing the cross-sectional shape of the shaft, which is generally non-circular, e.g., polygonal, in a further preferred form.