Abstract: The present invention provides self-contained systems, apparatus and methods for determining a chemical state, the system includes a stationary cartridge for performing the assay therein, the cartridge adapted to house at least one reagent adapted to react with a sample; and at least one reporter functionality adapted to report a reaction of the at least one reagent with the sample to report a result of the assay, a mechanical controller including a first urging means adapted to apply a force externally onto the cartridge to release the at least one reagent; and at least one second urging means adapted to apply a removable force to induce fluidic movement in a first direction in the cartridge and upon removal of the force causing fluidic movement in an opposite direction to the first direction, an optical reader adapted to detect the reaction and a processor adapted to receive data from the optical reader and to process the data to determine said chemical state.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits, apparatus and methods for determining a biological condition in a mammalian subject, the method includes incubating a specimen from a patient with at least one composition in a kit for a predetermined period of time to form at least one reaction product, when the subject has said biological condition, and receiving an indication of the at least one reaction product responsive to at least one reporter element in the kit thereby providing the indication of the biological condition in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits, apparatus and methods for determining a biological condition in a mammalian subject, the method includes incubating a specimen from a patient with at least one composition in a kit for a predetermined period of time to form at least one reaction product, when the subject has said biological condition, and receiving an indication of the at least one reaction product responsive to at least one reporter element in the kit thereby providing the indication of the biological condition in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits, apparatus and methods for determining a biological condition in a mammalian subject, the method includes incubating a specimen from a patient with at least one composition in a kit for a predetermined period of time to form at least one reaction product, when the subject has said biological condition, and receiving an indication of the at least one reaction product responsive to at least one reporter element in the kit thereby providing the indication of the biological condition in the subject.

Abstract: Determining a biological condition in a mammal by using a cartridge, having fluidic open channels, sealable after receiving a fluid specimen, passing any of the specimen through any of the channels, contacting any reagent stored in a chamber with the specimen in a reaction chamber inducing a reaction and forming a reaction product, a mechanical controller including first urging means applying a force externally onto the chamber to release the reagent, second urging means applying a removable force onto the channels thereby inducing fluidic movement in a first direction in the channels and upon removal of the force causing fluidic movement in an opposite direction, alignment means aligning a reading channel on the cartridge for a detection to take place, an optical reader detecting the reaction product in the reading channel, and a processor receiving data from the optical reader and processing the data to determine the biological condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits, apparatus and methods for determining a biological condition in a mammalian subject, the method includes incubating a specimen from a patient with at least one composition in a kit for a predetermined period of time to form at least one reaction product, when the subject has said biological condition, and receiving an indication of the at least one reaction product responsive to at least one reporter element in the kit thereby providing the indication of the biological condition in the subject.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for determination of a medical condition, the system including a disposable cartridge adapted to receive a volume of a body fluid, the cartridge comprising a plurality of sections, at least one of the sections adapted to react at least one reactant with the bodily fluid to form a pretreated sample; and an optics unit comprising at least one excitation illumination adapted to convey radiation to the pre-treated sample, at least one multi-spectral emission detector and at least one of a photon counter and an integrator, wherein the at least one excitation illumination and the at least one multi-spectral emission detector are disposed on the same side of the cartridge; and wherein the optics unit is adapted to detect a plurality of spectrally distinct signals generated by interaction of the radiation and the pre-treated sample in the cartridge, thereby determining said medical condition.

Abstract: A fluid sample contains a plurality of different types of particles of interest. The method sets a limit for the maximum volume of the fluid sample to be analyzed, a limit for each of the different plurality of particle types, and a limit for the maximum number of particles to be analyzed with the maximum number being less than the sum of the limits for each of the different types. In the method, an aliquot of the fluid sample including the particles therein are analyzed to determine the type of the particles. The total volume of aliquots analyzed is counted. The method is stopped in the event the total of aliquots counted equals or exceeds the limit for the maximum value. For each type of particle in the fluid sample determined, a test is made if the total number of particles determined equals or exceeds the limit for each particle type. If the number does not exceed the individual type, the number of particles for that type is added and is counted. The total number of particles for all the types is counted.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for analyzing particles in a fluid sample is accomplished by distributing the sample over an extended area. A plurality of optical still images is taken of the sample, with each image representing a different portion of the area. Each optical image is converted into an electronic image, with the images of the particles in the electronic images. Each electronic image is classified into one of a plurality of classifications of visually discernible characteristics. For each classification, the percentage of the total number of particles classified is determined. The images of the particles are extracted from the electronic images. The images of the particles are displayed in an ordered array by the classification with the number of particles within each classification so displayed being proportional to the percentage determined of the total number of particles displayed.

Abstract: A technique is provided for analyzing the shape of the amplitude envelope of a diffraction pattern's first order side lobe resulting from passing coherent light through a fabric material. The light intensity of the lobe is scanned from one side of the lobe to the other by a linear photo-diode array to provide successive voltage signals whose respective voltage values are a function of the light intensity at successively spaced increments from one side of the lobe to the other. Each of these successive voltage signals are compared with a series of reference voltages of substantially less number than the number of spaced increments, each reference voltage having a value greater than the value of the preceding reference voltage in the series to define a voltage range encompassing the highest voltage in the series of voltage signals.

Abstract: Rather than counting nulls in the diffraction pattern generated by a very narrow line or gap in order to measure its width, the diffraction pattern is optically detected and converted to an analog electrical signal constituting a function of the detected intensities in the diffraction pattern. This function is then converted to a digital form, stored, and then passed to a computer electrically computing the Fourier transform to provide an autocorrelation wave form. This wave form is then plotted in an orthogonal X-Y coordinate system and the break point or extension of a linear segment of the autocorrelation curve relative to the X-axis used to provide a precise measurement of the given width.