Abstract: A method for identifying an improved particle size distribution profile of a dispersion, the method including: (a) providing a dispersion comprising a liquid and particles dispersed in the liquid; (b) measuring a particle size distribution of the dispersion, resulting in a first particle size distribution profile; (c) adjusting at least one parameter associated with the dispersion; (d) measuring a dispersion characteristic, after adjustment of the at least one parameter; and (e) measuring the particle size distribution of the dispersion after adjustment of the at least one parameter, resulting in a second particle size distribution profile; wherein each of the first and second particle size distribution profiles comprises a plurality of data points of particle concentration values as a function of particle size.

Abstract: A method for identifying an improved particle size distribution profile of a dispersion, the method including: (a) providing a dispersion comprising a liquid and particles dispersed in the liquid; (b) measuring a particle size distribution of the dispersion, resulting in a first particle size distribution profile; (c) adjusting at least one parameter associated with the dispersion; (d) measuring a dispersion characteristic, after adjustment of the at least one parameter; and (e) measuring the particle size distribution of the dispersion after adjustment of the at least one parameter, resulting in a second particle size distribution profile; wherein each of the first and second particle size distribution profiles comprises a plurality of data points of particle concentration values as a function of particle size.

Abstract: A Drug/Adjuvant Delivery System (D/A DS), and associated method, are disclosed. An exemplary D/A DS system includes a liquid carrier; and a particle-size structured dispersion of solid and/or liquid particles suspended in the liquid carrier.

Abstract: A single-particle optical sensor, which has high sensitivity and responds to relatively concentrated suspensions, uses a relatively narrow light beam to illuminate an optical sensing zone nonuniformly. The zone is smaller than the flow channel so that the sensor responds to only a fraction of the total number of particles flowing through the channel, detecting a statistically significant number of particles of any relevant diameter. Because different particle trajectories flow through different parts of the zone illuminated at different intensities, it is necessary to deconvolute the result. Two methods of deconvolution are used: modified matrix inversion or successive subtraction. Both methods use a few basis vectors measured empirically or computed from a theoretical model, and the remaining basis vectors are derived from these few. The sensor is compensated for turbidity. Several embodiments are disclosed employing light-extinction or light-scattering detection, or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the stability of dispersions and emulsions accelerates the onset of significant particle agglomeration in a sample by stressing the sample by reducing the height of the interparticle potential energy barrier between the particles. This is achieved by adding one or more of three stress factors: changing the pH of the sample to reduce the surface charge on the particles; adding an adsorbing electrolyte so that ions of the appropriate charge are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the particles to reduce the net charge on the particles; and applying a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent salt to partially screen electrostatic repulsions between the charged particles. In a preferred embodiment, the increase in agglomeration is detected with single particle detection, such as SPOS, to generate a PSD from which a figure of merit is derived. Another embodiment detects turbidity or light scattering to generate a value X indicative of the extent of agglomeration.

Abstract: A single-particle optical sensor, which has high sensitivity and responds to relatively concentrated suspensions, uses a relatively narrow light beam to illuminate an optical sensing zone nonuniformly. The zone is smaller than the flow channel so that the sensor responds to only a fraction of the total number of particles flowing through the channel, detecting a statistically significant number of particles of any relevant diameter. Because different particle trajectories flow through different parts of the zone illuminated at different intensities, it is necessary to deconvolute the result. Two methods of deconvolution are used: modified matrix inversion or successive subtraction. Both methods use a few basis vectors measured empirically or computed from a theoretical model, and the remaining basis vectors are derived from these few. The sensor is compensated for turbidity. Several embodiments are disclosed employing light-extinction or light-scattering detection, or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the stability of dispersions and emulsions accelerates the onset of significant particle agglomeration in a sample by stressing the sample by reducing the height of the interparticle potential energy barrier between the particles. This is achieved by adding one or more of three stress factors: changing the pH of the sample to reduce the surface charge on the particles; adding an adsorbing electrolyte so that ions of the appropriate charge are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the particles to reduce the net charge on the particles; and applying a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent salt to partially screen electrostatic repulsions between the charged particles. In a preferred embodiment, the increase in agglomeration is detected with single particle detection, such as SPOS, to generate a PSD from which a figure of merit is derived. Another embodiment detects turbidity or light scattering to generate a value X indicative of the extent of agglomeration.

Abstract: A single-particle optical sensor, which has high sensitivity and responds to relatively concentrated suspensions, uses a relatively narrow light beam to illuminate an optical sensing zone nonuniformly. The zone is smaller than the flow channel so that the sensor responds to only a fraction of the total number of particles flowing through the channel, detecting a statistically significant number of particles of any relevant diameter. Because different particle trajectories flow through different parts of the zone illuminated at different intensities, it is necessary to deconvolute the result. Two methods of deconvolution are used: modified matrix inversion or successive subtraction. Both methods use a few basis vectors measured empirically or computed from a theoretical model, and the remaining basis vectors are derived from these few. The sensor is compensated for turbidity. Several embodiments are disclosed employing light-extinction or light-scattering detection, or both.

Abstract: A single-particle optical sensor, which has high sensitivity and responds to relatively concentrated suspensions, uses a relatively narrow light beam to illuminate an optical sensing zone nonuniformly. The zone is smaller than the flow channel so that the sensor responds to only a fraction of the total number of particles flowing through the channel, detecting a statistically significant number of particles of any relevant diameter. Because different particle trajectories flow through different parts of the zone illuminated at different intensities, it is necessary to deconvolute the result. Two methods of deconvolution are used: modified matrix inversion or successive subtraction. Both methods use a few basis vectors measured empirically or computed from a theoretical model, and the remaining basis vectors are derived from these few. The sensor is compensated for turbidity. Several embodiments are disclosed employing light-extinction or light-scattering detection, or both.

Abstract: An automatic dilution system and method provides optimal dilution factor DF for a sample suspension containing particles mixed with a diluent. A diluent flows into a mixing chamber, and the sample is injected into the chamber. A sensor, such as a single particle optical sensor (SPOS), measures the value of a particular characteristic, which characteristic Rmax(0) is the initial rate of increase of a quantity related to particle concentration. A CPU/Controller calculates from Rmax(0) the optimal value of DF, and develops a control signal which adjusts the flow of the sample to provide the optimal value of DF. In a first embodiment, all of the diluted sample passes through the sensor. In a second embodiment, only a portion of the sample is directed through the sensor to shorten the time to reach equilibrium. The time to reach equilibrium is further reduced in a third embodiment in which the mixing means is a static mixer, having relatively small volume, inserted in series with a diluent flow tube.

Abstract: An optical sensor for counting and sizing particles, including a light extinction (LE) signal representative of the particles, and a light scattering (LS) signal representative of the particles. The light scattering signal and the light extinction signal are combined to form a single composite signal. The single composite signal has a substantially similar output to the light extinction (LE) signal for particle sizes in an upper range of particle sizes typically measured by the light extinction sensor. The single composite signal has a substantially similar output to the light scattering (LS) signal for particle sizes in a lower range of particle sizes typically measured by the light scattering sensor. The single composite signal has an output representing the combined light extinction (LE) signal and light scattering (LS) signal for particle sizes in a middle range of particle sizes.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for an automatic dilution system for providing a variable dilution of an unknown sample material, including a mixing chamber having at least one input and output, sample material and diluent. Injecting a quantity of the sample material into the input of the mixing chamber. Providing a flow of the diluent into the input of the mixing chamber to mix with the sample material and to continuously dilute the concentration of the sample material within the mixing chamber and flowing out of the mixing chamber to provide a variable dilution. Providing a measurement of a particular characteristic of the continuously variable diluted sample material, and controlling the flow of diluent in accordance with an optimal measurement of the particular characteristic.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing an optical detection of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand, including, a pattern formed by a spatial array of microscopic dimensions of antiligand material, ligand material interacting with the antiligand material to produce a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the pattern, a source of optical radiation including energy at at least one wavelength directed to the pattern at a particular incidence angle to produce scattering of the energy from the pattern in accordance with the binding reaction and with a strong scattering intensity at one or more Bragg scattering angles, and at least one optical detector located relative to the pattern and aligned with a Bragg scattering angle to detect the strong scattering intensity at the Bragg scattering angle to produce a signal representative of the binding reaction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for an immunoassay of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand which are typically an antigen and an antibody, including a spatial pattern formed by a spatial array of separate regions of antiligand material, and ligand material dispersed to interact with the spatial array of separate regions of antiligand material for producing a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the spatial patterns and with the bound complexes labeled with a particular physical characteristic. A source of input energy and with the input energy at a particular spectrum for interacting with particular physical characteristic of the labeled binding reaction.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: A correlator for producing a correlation function by processing input data over a large number of coefficients of the correlation function by time sharing a smaller number of correlation channels, including a temporary storage device for receiving input data and for providing the input data as output data at particular successive time delay intervals relative to the input data, a group channel correlator responsive to the output data from the temporary storage device and to additional data for correlating the group of channels of data and for providing output sums representing coefficients of the correlation function, and means coupled to the temporary storage device and the group channel correlator for controlling the coupling of the output data from the temporary storage device to the group channel correlator to have the output data at the successive time delay intervals coupled to the group channel correlator to have the group channel correlator repetitively correlate successive groups of channels for prov

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing an optical detection of a binding reaction between a ligand and an antiligand, including, a pattern formed by a spatial array of microscopic dimensions of antiligand material, ligand material interacting with the antiligand material to produce a binding reaction between the ligand and the antiligand in the pattern, a source of optical radiation including energy at at least one wavelength directed to the pattern at a particular incidence angle to produce scattering of the energy from the pattern in accordance with the binding reaction and with a strong scattering intensity at one or more Bragg scattering angles, and at least one optical detector located relative to the pattern and aligned with a Bragg scattering angle to detect the strong scattering intensity at the Bragg scattering angle to produce a signal representative of the binding reaction.