Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A transplantable artificial tissue matrix structure containing viable cells which is suitable for insertion into the body is made by polymerizing precursors in an aqueous solution to form a shape retaining solid matrix comprising viable cells, matrix polymer and reversible gel polymer. The solution contains a matrix polymer precursor, a reversible gel polymer precursor, and viable cells. The reversible gel polymer is dissolved and removed to yield an insoluble, porous matrix containing viable cells. The conditions and reagents are selected to maintain the viability of the cells. The invention is particularly suitable for artificial transplant matrix tissue containing pancreatic islet cells.

Abstract: A transplantable artificial tissue matrix structure containing viable cells which is suitable for insertion into the body is made by polymerizing precursors in an aqueous solution to form a shape retaining solid matrix comprising viable cells, matrix polymer and reversible gel polymer. The solution contains a matrix polymer precursor, a reversible gel polymer precursor, and viable cells. The reversible gel polymer is dissolved and removed to yield an insoluble, porous matrix containing viable cells. The conditions and reagents are selected to maintain the viability of the cells. The invention is particularly suitable for artificial transplant matrix tissue containing pancreatic islet cells.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a method for determining ligands in test samples comprising intermixing with the test sample a ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate and a binding protein bindable to the ligand and the ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate and wherein the amount of ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate bound by the binding protein is related to the amount of ligand in the test sample, said binding protein inactivating the irreversible enzyme inhibitor when bound to the ligand analog portion of the conjugate; intermixing an enzyme which is irreversibly inhibited by the ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate unbound by the binding protein; and intermixing substrate to the enzyme and monitoring the enzyme substrate reaction.The invention also includes ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugates useful as reagents in practicing the method.

Abstract: This invention encompasses a method for measuring unsaturated thyroxine binding globulin in serum comprising intermixing with the serum:(i) thyroxine irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate which binds to the unsaturated thyroxine binding globulin thereby inactivating the irreversible enzyme inhibitor portion of the conjugate;(ii) an enzyme which is irreversibly inhibited by the thyroxine irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate unbound by the thyroxine binding globulin; and(iii) a substrate for the enzyme; and monitoring the enzyme substrate reaction.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a method for determining ligands in test samples comprising intermixing with the test sample a ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate and a binding protein bindable to the ligand and the ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate and wherein the amount of ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate bound by the binding protein is related to the amount of ligand in the test sample, said binding protein inactivating the irreversible enzyme inhibitor when bound to the ligand analog portion of the conjugate; intermixing an enzyme which is irreversibly inhibited by the ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugate unbound by the binding protein; and intermixing substrate to the enzyme and monitoring the enzyme substrate reaction.The invention also includes ligand analog-irreversible enzyme inhibitor conjugates useful as reagents in practicing the method.

Abstract: The present invention comprises compounds of the formula ##STR1## and the biologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof wherein R.sub.1 represents hydrogen, or lower alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents p-hydroxybenzyl or benzyl; R.sub.3 represents an alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 represents amino or guanidino; R.sub.5 represents p-nitrophenyl, methylnitrophenyl, dinitrophenyl, naphthyl, or nitronaphthyl; and n is 3 or 4.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses acid addition salts of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 represents phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, carbobenzoxy, and the halo, loweralkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, loweralkoxy having 1-3 carbon atoms, phenyl, or hydroxy substituted derivatives thereof; or alkanoyl having 2-12 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl having 2-6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5-7 carbon atoms, benzyl and the halo, loweralkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, loweralkoxy having 1-3 carbon atoms, carboxy, hydroxy, or substituted derivatives thereof; R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or guanyl, and m is 3 or 4.Compounds of the present invention are useful as analytical reagents. Enzymatic hydrolysis provides --S--R.sub.2 which can be further reacted with 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) to provide a colored product by which the enzyme concentration can be determined spectrophotometrically.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses the acid addition salts of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents phenylsulfonyl, benzoyl, carbobenzoxy, and the halo, loweralkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, loweralkoxy having 1-3 carbon atoms, phenyl, or hydroxy substituted derivatives thereof; or alkanoyl having 2-12 carbon atoms; and R.sub.2 represents alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, or alkoxyalkyl having 2-6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5-7 carbon atoms, or benzyl and the halo, loweralkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, loweralkoxy having 1-3 carbon atoms, hydroxy, carboxy, or phenyl substituted derivatives thereof.Compounds of the present invention are useful as analytical reagents. Enzymatic hydrolysis provides --S--R.sub.2 which can be further reacted with 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) to provide a colored product by which the enzyme concentration can be determined spectrophotometrically.