Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including a metal anode as fuel and a biocompatible membrane.

Abstract: Still further provided is a fuel cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment comprising: in the anode compartment, an anode electrode and, integrated into biocompatible membrane tethered to the anode electrode, a redox enzyme that can receive electrons from an electron carrier; in the cathode compartment, a cathode electrode which, when a conductive pathway to the first electrode is formed, is effective to convey the electrons to an electron acceptor composition in the cathode compartment; and a barrier separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment but effective to convey protons from the anode compartment to the cathode compartment.

Abstract: An inhaler disc cartridge comprises a carrier disc with radially outwardly extending resilient fingers, each with a medicament powder dosage. A sealing disc and an indexing ring are bonded to the disc. A cam sequentially and manually deflects a selected finger causing it to snap against an anvil to release the dosage by momentum energy transfer. In other embodiments, a cassette includes a carrier substrate reel of deposited powder dosages with a dosage sealing tape. The substrate comprises a belt with a plurality of transversely extending triangular fingers, each finger tip with a dosage thereon. Each finger is snapped in sequence against an anvil while a clamp secures the belt as the fingers are deflected. The spring fingers are corrugated in one embodiment cooperating with an anvil having channels and a device for inducing agglomeration breakup air streams through the channels.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic sensing chuck for attracting particles to a portion of a particle contact surface near a deposition electrode, the electrostatic sensing chuck comprising a pixel comprising: a deposition electrode (DE) for selectively establishing an attraction field (Ea) at the particle contact surface; a shield electrode (SE) oppositely biased with respect to the deposition electrode; a charge sensing circuit to measure charge accumulated on each of the deposition electrode and the shield electrode, wherein the charge sensing circuit subtracts a second charge it senses at the shield electrode from a first charge it senses at the deposition electrode, thereby determining accumulated charge at the deposition electrode balanced by accumulated charge at the shield electrode.

Abstract: Provided is, among other things, and together with associated methods, a powder feed comprising: a venturi comprising an external gas inlet, a gas outlet through which gas flows at a rate amplified over a gas flow rate into the external gas inlet, and an internal gas inlet; and a cyclone with an intake port connected to the venturi gas outlet, a recycle outlet port, and a product port, wherein a gas flow rate FS into the venturi external gas inlet results in an enhanced flow rate into the cyclone intake port.

Abstract: Provided is, among other things, and together with associated methods, a powder feed comprising: a venturi comprising an external gas inlet, a gas outlet through which gas flows at a rate amplified over a gas flow rate into the external gas inlet, and an internal gas inlet; and a cyclone with an intake port connected to the venturi gas outlet, a recycle outlet port, and a product port, wherein a gas flow rate FS into the venturi external gas inlet results in an enhanced flow rate into the cyclone intake port.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic sensing chuck for attracting particles to a portion of a particle contact surface near a deposition electrode, the electrostatic sensing chuck comprising a pixel comprising: a deposition electrode (DE) for selectively establishing an attraction field (Ea) at the particle contact surface; a shield electrode (SE) oppositely biased with respect to the deposition electrode; a charge sensing circuit to measure charge accumulated on each of the deposition electrode and the shield electrode, wherein the charge sensing circuit subtracts a second charge it senses at the shield electrode from a first charge it senses at the deposition electrode, thereby determining accumulated charge at the deposition electrode balanced by accumulated charge at the shield electrode.

Abstract: AC waveforms biasing of bead transporter chucks and their accumulated charge sensing circuits tailored for low resistivity substrates and beads where if traditional DC quasi-static biasing potentials were used, the bead attraction potentials of the chuck would undergo rapid RC decay and cause the bead transporter chuck to stop working. Methods for selecting AC waveforms are given, including those that maximize the time average of the bead attraction potential at the bead collection zone of the bead contact surface.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic sensing chuck for attracting particles to a portion of a particle contact surface near a deposition electrode, the electrostatic sensing chuck comprising a pixel comprising: a deposition electrode (DE) for selectively establishing an attraction field (Ea) at the particle contact surface; a shield electrode (SE) oppositely biased with respect to the deposition electrode; a charge sensing circuit to measure charge accumulated on each of the deposition electrode and the shield electrode, wherein the charge sensing circuit subtracts a second charge it senses at the shield electrode from a first charge it senses at the deposition electrode, thereby determining accumulated charge at the deposition electrode balanced by accumulated charge at the shield electrode.

Abstract: AC waveforms biasing of bead transporter chucks and their accumulated charge sensing circuits tailored for low resistivity substrates and beads where if traditional DC quasi-static biasing potentials were used, the bead attraction potentials of the chuck would undergo rapid RC decay and cause the bead transporter chuck to stop working. Methods for selecting AC waveforms are given, including those that maximize the time average of the bead attraction potential at the bead collection zone of the bead contact surface.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a substrate having on a surface thereof two or more spatially-resolved regions, each with a defined amount or concentration of one of one or more chemical components, the method comprising: associating a chemical component with particles of 1 &mgr;m to 500 &mgr;m diameter; electrostatically depositing the particles on the appropriate regions; and if a said spatially-resolved region is to receive a second chemical component, repeating steps (a) and (b) for that chemical component and the appropriate regions.

Abstract: Provided is a method of moving a charged particle from a first position at which it is retained by a first electrode to a second position at which it is retained by a second electrode, the method comprising: applying a potential to the second electrode to attract the particle; and applying a potential to a guide electrode offset from the particle at the first position, wherein the applied potential is effective to reduce the attraction of the particle to the first position sufficiently to allow the potential applied at the second electrode to be effective to move the particle from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: AC waveforms biasing of bead transporter chucks and their accumulated charge sensing circuits tailored for low resistivity substrates and beads where if traditional DC quasi-static biasing potentials were used, the bead attraction potentials of the chuck would undergo rapid RC decay and cause the bead transporter chuck to stop working. Methods for selecting AC waveforms are given, including those that maximize the time average of the bead attraction potential at the bead collection zone of the bead contact surface.

Abstract: Acoustic bead charger/dispenser employs a bead dispersion plate (BDP) to align beads with, for example, bead collection zones of a bead transporter chuck, then propel or launch them toward the bead collection zones, using acoustic energy provided by a speaker. The bead dispersion plate can be configured so that the acoustic energy from the speaker may be directed so as to impart to the bead translational kinetic energy primarily in a direction toward the bead collection zone of the bead transporter chuck. The bead dispersion plate can comprise a conductive surface that can be used to accelerate the beads toward the bead transporter chuck. Using sufficient acoustic energy applied by the speaker, sufficient translational kinetic energy can be imparted to beads to remove them from the conductive surface when they are under the influence of an electrostatic image force.