Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises of a first sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart and a second sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The first and second sensor can be integrated in a multi-axes sensor which sense both the axes. The processor is configured to receive the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes an array unit and a nanostructure connected to the array unit, wherein the array unit comprises array cells with substances for a polymerase chain reaction. The array cells include nucleotides with stop properties according to the Sanger sequencing method and primers for an asymmetric polymerase chain reaction. The nanostructure is configured to determine lengths of nucleotide strands formed by the polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: A device for preparing sample material is designed as a rotary device by means of which a defined quantity of liquid can be drawn in into a sample receiving chamber for the sample material or can be expelled from the sample receiving chamber for the sample material, by means of a rotary motion.

Abstract: An apparatus to detect more than one analyte in a solution comprising at least one electrode in contact with the solution, at least two dyes including a first dye and a second dye, and an electrochemically active agent, where the solution has a pH, the electrode is configured to modulate the pH of the solution by oxidizing or reducing the electrochemically active agent, the first dye and the second dye fluoresce at different pH levels, fluorescence of the first dye is used to indicate the presence of a first analyte, and fluorescence of the second dye is used to indicate the presence of a second analyte. Methods of detecting multiple analytes in a solution are also provided.

Abstract: At least one electrode is integrated on a lab on a chip cartridge in a sample preparation chamber of the cartridge, a DNA hybridization chamber of the cartridge, a protein assay chamber of the cartridge, and/or a detection chamber of the cartridge, for example, where the electrode is used to generate pH electrochemically in order to activate, deactivate, or intermediately attenuate an enzyme's activity on demand, in order to increase the fidelity of analyte detection, for cell lysis, for protein extraction, for DNA dehybridization, for primer hybridization control, for sample pre concentration, and/or for washing to remove non target species.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensor for measuring electrical properties of the substrate. The substrate includes conductive elements to interface with a controller to measure the electrical properties. The controller operates the sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the electrical properties.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes an optical sensor that is configured to measure optical properties in the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the optical sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the optical properties measured by the optical sensor.

Abstract: A mold sensor include a housing that defines an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a substrate advancement mechanism that is configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a surface of the substrate within the chamber. The mold sensor includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth on the substrate within the chamber.

Abstract: A system for detecting mold includes a housing defining a chamber and an opening through a surface. The system includes a movable grate for selectively covering the opening. The system includes a substrate treated to promote mold growth. The system includes a mechanism for moving the substrate to move previously unexposed portions into the chamber. The system includes a thermal control system to maintain predetermined environmental conditions in the chamber. The system includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth in the chamber. The system includes a mold suppressor to kill mold in the chamber when activated. The system includes a controller to coordinate operation of the components to detect mold growth in an environment.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure a property of the substrate that corresponds to a pH value of the substrate. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber by estimating the pH value from the measured property.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure properties of pressure waves within the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the characteristics of the pressure wave response within the chamber.

Abstract: A device for etching a substrate includes a first reaction chamber into which a first gas is introduced; a second reaction chamber into which a second gas is introduced; and a coil device that generates an electromagnetic alternating field. At least one first reactive species is generated by applying the electromagnetic alternating field to the first gas and at least one second reactive species is generated by applying the electromagnetic alternating field to the second gas. The device further includes a separating device that prevents a direct gas exchange between the first and second reaction chambers; an etching chamber configured to receive the substrate to be anisotropically etched; and a mixing device configured such that the reactive species enter the mixing device, are mixed together, and in the mixed state act on the substrate so as to anisotropically etch the substrate in the etching chamber.

Abstract: A method for masking a surface, in particular a surface having silicon oxide, aluminum or silicon, includes providing a substrate having a surface to be masked, in particular having a surface having silicon oxide, aluminum or silicon; and producing a defined masking pattern by locally selective forming of colloidal silicon oxide on the surface. The method allows for the creating of an extremely stable masking in a simple and cost-effective manner, in contrast to a plurality of etching media, in particular in contrast to hydrofluoric acid, in order to thus create extremely accurate and defined structures such as by an etching process.

Abstract: An apparatus to detect more than one analyte in a solution comprising at least one electrode in contact with the solution, at least two dyes including a first dye and a second dye, and an electrochemically active agent, where the solution has a pH, the electrode is configured to modulate the pH of the solution by oxidizing or reducing the electrochemically active agent, the first dye and the second dye fluoresce at different pH levels, fluorescence of the first dye is used to indicate the presence of a first analyte, and fluorescence of the second dye is used to indicate the presence of a second analyte. Methods of detecting multiple analytes in a solution are also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a pneumatically actuatable microfluidic analysis cartridge includes closing a joining side of a fluidic part of the analysis cartridge with a first fluid-tight elastic membrane and/or closing a joining side of a pneumatic part of the analysis cartridge with a second membrane. The fluidic part is configured to perform fluidic basic operations of a biochemical analysis process, and the pneumatic part is configured to control the basic operations using air pressure. The joining side of the fluidic part and the joining side of the pneumatic part are aligned, and the fluidic part and the pneumatic part are connected to form the analysis cartridge.

Abstract: A device to electrochemically sequence DNA that includes a redox species includes at least one edge electrode, at least one stack of insulator material, and a pair of DNA translocation electrodes including a DNA translocation working electrode and a DNA translocation counter electrode, where the thickness of the at least one edge electrode is about 0.5 nanometers, and the thickness of the at least one stack of insulator material is about 10 nanometers. Methods of electrochemically sequencing a strand of DNA are also provided.

Abstract: At least one electrode is integrated on a lab on a chip cartridge in a sample preparation chamber of the cartridge, a DNA hybridization chamber of the cartridge, a protein assay chamber of the cartridge, and/or a detection chamber of the cartridge, for example, where the electrode is used to generate pH electrochemically in order to activate, deactivate, or intermediately attenuate an enzyme's activity on demand, in order to increase the fidelity of analyte detection, for cell lysis, for protein extraction, for DNA dehybridization, for primer hybridization control, for sample pre concentration, and/or for washing to remove non target species.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample of biological materials containing target cells and accompanying cells for extracting nucleic acids of the target cells includes accumulating the target cells of the sample by separating the target cells or the accompanying cells from the sample. The method also includes digesting the target cells via chemical and/or physical lysis in order to produce a target cell lysate containing the nucleic acids of the target cells. The method furthermore includes purifying the nucleic acids from the target cell lysate in order to extract the nucleic acids of the target cells.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structure includes a substrate, an epitaxial polysilicon cap located above the substrate, a first cavity portion defined between the substrate and the epitaxial polysilicon cap, and a first graphene component having at least one graphene surface immediately adjacent to the first cavity portion.

Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, processor, memory, communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises a first, second, and third sensor. The first sensor is located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart, and the second sensor is located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The processor is configured to receive the first waveform and the second waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first waveform and the second waveform.