Abstract: A massively parallel electrophoresis system comprised of capillaries, with means for parallel imaging of the capillary ends. The capillaries are aligned with parallel longitudinal axes and a set of ends that are substantially coplanar. The electrophoresis system has a source of excitation radiation for illuminating the ends while an imaging optical arrangement places substantially coplanar loci, one per capillary, within a focal region of the imaging optical arrangement. A detector module receives electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by fluorophores within the capillaries upon excitation by the excitation radiation and transmitted to the detector module by way of the imaging optical arrangement.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a combination insulin pen and transmission device. In one specific embodiment an insulin injection device is provided, comprising: a container which holds the insulin; and a data transmitter, which data transmitter transmits data regarding injection of the insulin; wherein the data regarding injection of the insulin includes (but is not limited to), for at least one injection, at least one of a dosage amount, a time of injection and a date of injection.

Abstract: A calorimeter is provided for measuring a quantity of heat. The calorimeter has a liquid constrained so as to allow expansion of the liquid solely in one dimension along a single axis such that liquid expansion may be measured on the basis of light impinging along the single axis of liquid expansion by means of a non-contact displacement transducer. Interferometric optical means for remote measurement of multiple microcalorimeters permits parallel monitoring of multiple chemical reactions and the performance of parallel biochemical assays.

Abstract: An electromagnetic apparatus, comprises a conductive loop comprising two parallel conductive legs joined at a free end by a sample contacting member and a magnetic circuit that imposes a magnetic field in opposite directions across the respective legs. A method of mechanically characterizing a sample, comprises imposing a magnetic field in opposite directions in each of two parallel conductive legs of a conductive loop, the legs joined at a free end by a sample contacting member.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for improving the care of patients (e.g., chronically ill patients). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the invention may be designed to improve such care through real time output (e.g., periodic, such as hourly, daily, weekly or monthly) to deter development of co-morbidities associated with many chronic diseases. Various embodiments of the invention may improve the care of chronically ill patients by: easing data collection, simplifying data transmission, efficiently interpreting chronically ill patient information, providing time series to form the basis of subsequent analysis, expanding the ability of the chronically ill patient or other user of the invention to understand the relationship between the medical practice and the patient's own lifestyle and/or easing the workload of healthcare providers (such as the patient's physician).

Abstract: An injector includes a housing having a chamber for holding a liquid formulation of an active principle to be injected into a biological body and an output port in fluid communication with the chamber through which the liquid formulation is injected. A piston is positioned within the housing, and includes an end portion with substantially the same shape as the chamber. A magnetic force draws the piston and housing together to expel the liquid formulation out of the chamber through the output port.

Abstract: An data packet network telephony system provides identification information of an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to a call center terminal and provides a call center agent with the ability to cause an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to display selected web pages and or to synchronize displays between the agent and end user terminals. In one embodiment, customer identification information is provided in-band. In another embodiment, customer identification information is accomplished out of band, in some cases using an identifier of the PSTN gateway as an index into a table to identify an end user terminal. In another embodiment, an agent may enter DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency tones) to push web pages to an end user terminal. In still other embodiments, a second communications link between the end user terminal and the agent's terminal is established, allowing for data sharing/synchronization.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing and using an apparatus for manipulating and analyzing a large number of microscopic samples of a liquid or materials, including cells, in liquid suspension. Parallel through-holes are formed in a platen and loaded with a liquid. Loading may be performed in such a way as to create a gradient, with respect to the position of the through-holes, of the concentration of a particular substance or of another quantity. Mixing of the contents of through-holes may be obtained by bringing filled microwell arrays into contact with each other with registration of individual through-holes.

Abstract: A method and an array filling system for loading a plurality of disparate sample containers, the sample containers comprising an integral structure. Each receptacle is characterized by a hydrophilic surface, and the receptacles are separated by a hydrophobic surface. The system has a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid and adapted for motion to cause sequential communication of liquid held in the liquid transfer device with successive receptacles of the array by dragging the liquid across the hydrophobic surface.

Abstract: An endoscopic imaging system includes a reusable control cabinet having a number of actuators that control the orientation of a lightweight endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope is used with a single patient and is then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet. The endoscope is coated with a hydrophilic coating that reduces its coefficient of friction and because it is lightweight, requires less force to advance it to a desired location within a patient.

Abstract: Methods for loading a plurality of liquid samples into a through-hole array. Each transfer member of an array of transfer members is positioned for drawing a liquid sample from a distinct well of a microtiter plate. Liquid samples are drawn from wells of the microtiter plate and the array of transfer members is registered with a subset of through-holes of a through-hole array. The liquid samples are then dispensed from the transfer members into through-holes of the through-hole array.

Abstract: A system and method for high throughput screening of fluid samples. A reduced pressure is applied, via an injection valve, to a sample aspiration tube. A first fluid and a second fluid are alternatively aspirated, via the sample aspiration tube, the first fluid for filling a sample loop with samples, the second fluid for flushing the sample aspiration tube. Excess fluid aspirated from the first fluid source and all fluid aspirated from the second fluid source is captured in an inline trap.

Abstract: A method of producing filters using lower unloaded Q factor components than filters with the same performance characteristics but requiring higher unloaded Q factor components is disclosed. The method includes the steps of defining a desired filter characteristic and applying an algorithm which provides a filter having infinite Q factor elements and having a theoretical characteristic corresponding to the desired characteristic transformed to a compensate for the difference between finite Q factor and infinite Q factor elements.

Abstract: An data packet network telephony system provides identification information of an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to a call center terminal and provides a call center agent with the ability to cause an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to display selected web pages and or to synchronize displays between the agent and end user terminals. In one embodiment, customer identification information is provided in-band. In another embodiment, customer identification information is accomplished out of band, in some cases using an identifier of the PSTN gateway as an index into a table to identify an end user terminal. In another embodiment, an agent may enter DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency tones) to push web pages to an end user terminal. In still other embodiments, a second communications link between the end user terminal and the agent's terminal is established, allowing for data sharing/synchronization.

Abstract: A microwave frequency composite resonator comprising a metal housing having an internal surface and defining a resonator cavity, a dielectric member having a top face and a bottom face and a conducting plate. The dielectric member is located within the resonator cavity and the bottom face of the dielectric member directly abuts the internal surface of the metal housing and the conducting plate directly abuts the top face of the dielectric member.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a hinged lid which covers an opening in the top of a rail wagon when it is in a closed position. The apparatus includes a rod rotatably mounted to the top of the wagon along at least part of a free side of the lid opposite or adjacent a hinged side of the lid. An arm is mounted to such rod which bears on the lid and thereby secures the lid in such closed position. There is a rotation device for rotating the rod. The rotation device is operable to rotate the rod and thereby rotate the arm away from the lid so that the lid may be opened.

Abstract: A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets. The droplets are dispensed onto a moving surface and delayed in a delay line in which the droplets hang from the moving surface for at least a specified minimum period of time. A laminate may be spooled onto the moving surface and each droplet may be dispensed onto the laminate. At least one operation is performed on each droplet from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing. The laminate may then, in certain embodiments, be spooled off the moving surface, processed, and reused.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing and using an apparatus for manipulating and analyzing a large number of microscopic samples of a liquid or materials, including cells, in liquid suspension. Parallel through-holes are formed in a platen and loaded with a liquid. Loading may be performed in such a way as to create a gradient, with respect to the position of the through-holes, of the concentration of a particular substance or of another quantity. Mixing of the contents of through-holes may be obtained by bringing filled microwell arrays into contact with each other with registration of individual through-holes.

Abstract: A method of producing filters using lower unloaded Q factor components than filters with the same performance characteristics but requiring higher unloaded Q factor components is disclosed. The method includes the steps of defining a desired filter characteristic and applying an algorithm which provides a filter having infinite Q factor elements and having a theoretical characteristic corresponding to the desired characteristic transformed to a compensate for the difference between finite Q factor and infinite Q factor elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing synchronization of a transaction in a data processing system where the transaction involves a plurality of agents participating in the transaction and one coordinator for coordinating the transaction. The agents include at least a middleman which coordinates a set of at least one of the agents. A vote is sent indicating the availability or non-availability to commit from each of the agents to the coordinator. The coordinator determines a commit or backout decision when all the votes are received. A Not Known decision message is sent from the middleman to each of the agents in the set available to commit if the decision is not available at the middleman because of a failure. The Not Known decision message stops resynchronization of each of the available agents. If the middleman has responsibility for resynchronization then, on availability of the decision at the middleman, a resynchronization message is sent to each of the available agents.