Abstract: A system and method is provided for the capture of bodily fluid upon lancing of a patient. In one embodiment, the fluid sample capture aperture mesh (320) ring is placed in the pathway of a finger penetrating member (340). The aperture mesh ring has a center clearance area that allows the penetrating member to pierce the skin unobstructed. The aperture mesh ring may contain a series of fluid sampling meshes as to allow the release bodily fluid to “wick” into the fluid sampling meshes for transport to the respective sensor. The invention may also relate to a method of improving the fluidic flow through a membrane mesh structure for the transportation of bodily fluids from a point of sampling to a point of measurement.

Abstract: An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages.

Abstract: An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for the capture of bodily fluid upon lancing of a patient. In one embodiment, the fluid sample capture aperture mesh (320) ring is placed in the pathway of a finger penetrating member (340). The aperture mesh ring has a center clearance area that allows the penetrating member to pierce the skin unobstructed. The aperture mesh ring may contain a series of fluid sampling meshes as to allow the release bodily fluid to “wick” into the fluid sampling meshes for transport to the respective sensor. The invention may also relate to a method of improving the fluidic flow through a membrane mesh structure for the transportation of bodily fluids from a point of sampling to a point of measurement.

Abstract: A plurality of Point-of-Care (POC) tests on a single cartridge (300) is provided such that sequential or nonsequential tests may be performed in an integrated fashion without changing the test cartridge. Each cartridge can contain a penetrating member sensor (302) combination in a radial disk format, interrogated and read by a single illumination/detection device. Alternatively a series of tests can be measured electrochemically and reported. Only those tests, which are required at the time, the sample is taken need to be reported, though all tests are carried out.

Abstract: A simple, miniaturized, disposable acquisition and test module for monitoring glucose or other analytes successively for multiple times is described. The apparatus is designed to collect and test small volumes of blood in a single step. Many samples can be acquired and analyzed using a single disposable sampling module, minimizing the number of disposables and improving ease of use of the system.

Abstract: A plurality of Point-of-Care (POC) tests on a single cartridge (300) is provided such that sequential or nonsequential tests may be performed in an integrated fashion without changing the test cartridge. Each cartridge can contain a penetrating member sensor (302) combination in a radial disk format, interrogated and read by a single illumination/detection device. Alternatively a series of tests can be measured electrochemically and reported. Only those tests, which are required at the time, the sample is taken need to be reported, though all tests are carried out.

Abstract: The method comprises providing a lancing device comprising a penetrating member (68) driver having a position sensor (74) and a processor (60) that can determine the relative position and velocity of the penetrating member (18, 72) based on measuring relative position of the penetrating member with respect to time; providing a predetermined velocity control trajectory based on a model of the driver (68) and a model of tissue to be contacted. Furthermore, a feedforward control is able to maintain penetrating member velocity along the trajectory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping and optionally mixing of small quantities of biological fluid wherein the pumping mechanism is segregated from the biological fluid being pumped. The micro-pump pushes the biological fluid by compressing a cartridge housing the blood and reagents with collapsible walls with a roller or ball bearing, synchronized perpendicular plungers, or an acutely-angled member to push the biological fluid by collapsing the walls of the cartridge in the direction of flow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for storing used and unused test strips in a desiccated environment. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing an analyte sampling device having a instrument housing and a cartridge having a plurality of penetrating members wherein the penetrating members are slidably movable to extend outward from lateral openings on the cartridge to penetrate tissue, where the sampling device include a plurality of analyte sensing members. The device is designed to use a cassette that will fit inside the device but also contain the cartridge in a desiccated environment. The user may open a lid or access door on the cassette to allow for lancing and sample capture. The lid is closed to re-establish a sealed condition inside the cassette once lancing is complete.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymeric film resistant to degradation during sterilization such as gamma irradiation is presented. The method includes the steps of minimizing the number of free radicals formed during sterilization through use of an inert gas and a reactant scavenger within a sterilization pouch, which reactant scavenger may be acid adsorbents which scavenge the acid by-products formed during irradiation. The films retain physical and mechanical properties with long-term storage. The films are particularly amenable for use as packaging laminates in pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor and medical device industries.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detection of a biopolymer. The biopolymer may include nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA that hybridize upon association with other molecules. The method of the invention teaches the steps of adding a metal to a biopolymer to form an initial complex and ramping a voltage through the initial complex to produce a detectable signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymeric film resistant to degradation during sterilization such as gamma irradiation is presented. The method includes the steps of minimizing the number of free radicals formed during sterilization through use of an inert gas and a reactant scavenger within a sterilization pouch, which reactant scavenger may be acid adsorbents which scavenge the acid by-products formed during irradiation. The films retain physical and mechanical properties with long-term storage. The films are particularly amenable for use as packaging laminates in pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor and medical device industries.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detection of a target molecule. The apparatus includes a probe labeled with a transition metal-ligand complex that hybridizes with the target to form an initial complex, a metal ion for doping the initial complex and forming a final complex, and a potential means for providing a potential to the final complex to produce a detectable signal indicating the presence of the target after redox reaction. The method of the invention teaches the steps of hybridizing a probe with an attached label to the target to produce an initial complex, adding a metal ion to the initial complex to form a final complex and applying a potential to the final complex to produce a measurable signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymeric film resistant to degradation during sterilization such as gamma irradiation is presented. The method includes the steps of minimizing the number of free radicals formed during sterilization through use of an inert gas and a reactant scavenger within a sterilization pouch, which reactant scavenger may be acid adsorbents which scavenge the acid by-products formed during irradiation. The films retain physical and mechanical properties with long-term storage. The films are particularly amenable for use as packaging laminates in pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor and medical device industries.

Abstract: A simple, miniaturized, disposable acquisition and test module for monitoring glucose or other analytes successively for multiple times is described. The apparatus is designed to collect and test small volumes of blood in a single step. Many samples can be acquired and analyzed using a single disposable sampling module, minimizing the number of disposables and improving ease of use of the system.

Abstract: A dimensionally-stable organosilicon material composition and method for producing the material composition including noncrosslinkable, continuous phase silicone with silica filler material dispersed therethorugh, and having dissolved therein a variably-radiative material (e.g., ruthenium dye) responsive to the concentration of a selected analyte (e.g., oxygen), and the products of a reaction between water and a modifier material selected for establishing the sensitivity of said variably-radiative material to the selected analyte.