Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke types and transient ischemic attacks, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for cerebral vasospasm. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. In a particular aspect, patient samples are analyzed for the presence or amount of a panel of markers comprising one or more specific markers for cerebral injury and one or more non-specific markers for cerebral injury. In an alternative aspect, samples are analyzed for B-type natriuretic peptide. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke types and transient ischemic attacks, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for cerebral vasospasm. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the identification and use of diagnostic markers for differential diagnosis of diseases. In various aspects, the invention relates to methods and compositions able to determine the presence or absence of one, and preferably a plurality, of diseases that exhibit one or more similar or identical symptoms. Such methods and compositions can be used to provide assays and assay devices for use in determining the disease underlying one or more non-specific symptoms exhibited in a clinical setting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke types and transient ischemic attacks, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for cerebral vasospasm. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and system for the diagnosis diseases or conditions. In a particular aspect, a disclosed method for determining a panel includes calculating a panel response for each patient in a set of diseased patients and in a set of non-diseased patients. The panel response is a function of the value of each of a plurality of markers in a panel of markers. The method also includes calculating a value for an objective function. The objective function is indicative of the effectiveness of the panel. The steps of calculating a panel response for each patient and calculating a value for an objective function are iterated by varying at least one of the parameters relating to the panel response function and a sense of each marker to facilitate optimization of the objective function. The objective function may be a measure of an overlap of panel responses of diseased patients and panel responses of non-diseased patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and system for the diagnosis diseases or conditions. In a particular aspect, a disclosed method for determining a panel includes calculating a panel response for each patient in a set of diseased patients and in a set of non-diseased patients. The panel response is a function of the value of each of a plurality of markers in a panel of markers. The method also includes calculating a value for an objective function. The objective function is indicative of the effectiveness of the panel. The steps of calculating a panel response for each patient and calculating a value for an objective function are iterated by varying at least one of the parameters relating to the panel response function and a sense of each marker to facilitate optimization of the objective function. The objective function may be a measure of an overlap of panel responses of diseased patients and panel responses of non-diseased patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke types and transient ischemic attacks, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for cerebral vasospasm. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. In a particular aspect, patient samples are analyzed for the presence or amount of a panel of markers comprising one or more specific markers for cerebral injury and one or more non-specific markers for cerebral injury. In an alternative aspect, samples are analyzed for B-type natriuretic peptide. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke types and transient ischemic attacks, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for cerebral vasospasm. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of acute coronary syndromes. In particular, patient test samples are analyzed for the presence and amount of members of a panel of markers comprising one or more specific markers for myocardial injury and one or more non-specific markers for myocardial injury. A variety of markers are disclosed for assembling a panel of markers for such diagnosis and evaluation. In various aspects, the invention provides methods for the early detection and differentiation of stable angina, unstable angina, and myocardial infarction. Invention methods provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays that can greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial treatment and therapy, reduce the costs associated with incorrect diagnosis, and provide important information about the prognosis of the patient.

Abstract: A filtration device, apparatus, and method of filtration useful for filtering liquid samples are disclosed wherein filtration occurs opposite the direction of centrifugal force. The filtration device is placed within a container that contains the liquid sample to be filtered. Together, the filtration device and the container comprise the filtration apparatus. Centrifugation forces the liquid sample present in the container to enter the filtration device, thereby effecting filtration. The vertical position of the filtration device is fixed within this container during filtration.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling resuspension wash and magnetic localization of sample components bound to particles with magnetic properties in reaction vessels during separation and wash for enhanced chemiluminescent signal generation in biomedical assays. The assays involve moving reaction vessels past magnetic arrays that partially localized the particles prior to passing a gap where washing occurs, with or without resuspension, after separating out the unbound components and liquid. The band of particles is further localized by a focusing magnet at the end of the array prior to dosing the vessel with acid for chemiluminescent purposes. A block of soft magnetic material is employed in place of a magnet in the gap to minimize magnetic strength at the gap. Trimmed magnets adjacent the gap cause left, then right, particle shifting that localizes the magnetizable particles. The gap enables improved resuspension by wash, whereas the localized particles enable more efficient resuspension by reagent.