Abstract: Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source.

Abstract: Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source. In other aspects, the separator substance preferably includes a soft gel component (thixotropic gel), and a photocurable sealant component that is formulated to polymerize and form a solid barrier between fractions of a liquid.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for separating a sample of whole blood or bone marrow aspirate into a fraction rich in at least one of platelets and pluripotent cells are provided. A sample of whole blood can be centrifuged in a collection tube comprising a separator substance formulated to settle between the PRP fraction and the at least one other fraction. Preferably, centrifugation is completed without substantial activation of platelets. Optionally, the separator substance could be hardened to form a solid barrier that allows removal of all or substantially all of the platelets in the PRP fraction without remixing of the PRP fraction with the at least one other fraction. Transfer devices and methods are also provided in which a sterile sample can be transferred from a separation/preparation container (e.g., vacutainer) to a consumer or other container (e.g., dropper) while maintaining sterility of the sample.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for separating a sample of whole blood or bone marrow aspirate into a fraction rich in at least one of platelets and pluripotent cells are provided. A sample of whole blood can be centrifuged in a collection tube comprising a separator substance formulated to settle between the PRP fraction and the at least one other fraction. Preferably, centrifugation is completed without substantial activation of platelets. Optionally, the separator substance could be hardened to form a solid barrier that allows removal of all or substantially all of the platelets in the PRP fraction without remixing of the PRP fraction with the at least one other fraction. Transfer devices and methods are also provided in which a sterile sample can be transferred from a separation/preparation container (e.g., vacutainer) to a consumer or other container (e.g., dropper) while maintaining sterility of the sample.

Abstract: Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source.

Abstract: Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source. In other aspects, the separator substance preferably includes a soft gel component (thixotropic gel), and a photocurable sealant component that is formulated to polymerize and form a solid barrier between fractions of a liquid.

Abstract: Sterilizable separator tubes and methods of utilization of same are presented. Methods include providing a separator tube containing a separator substance that can be polymerized to a desired hardness following sterilization using radical generating radiation. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between that of the average densities of separable fractions derived from a sample fluid such as blood, and to be flowable. Upon centrifugation of a separator tube containing a fluid sample, the separator substance forms a barrier between the fractions. The barrier subsequently hardens to form a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.

Abstract: Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The tube and barrier maintain stability of one or more analyte levels, including potassium and glucose, within 10% of their initial values before centrifugation for at least four days.

Abstract: Contemplated compositions and methods allow for in-situ formation of a rigid seal layer in a blood collection tube between a cell-depleted phase and a cell-enriched phase. Preferably, the seal layer is formed upon brief UV irradiation and comprises an acrylate, a methacrylate, an epoxy, a urethane, and/or a thiol-ene polymer.

Abstract: Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The tube and barrier maintain stability of one or more analyte levels, including potassium and glucose, within 10% of their initial values before centrifugation for at least four days.

Abstract: Sterilizable separator tubes and methods of utilization of same are presented. Methods include providing a separator tube containing a separator substance that can be polymerized to a desired hardness following sterilization using radical generating radiation. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between that of the average densities of separable fractions derived from a sample fluid such as blood, and to be flowable. Upon centrifugation of a separator tube containing a fluid sample, the separator substance forms a barrier between the fractions. The barrier subsequently hardens to form a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.

Abstract: Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The barrier rapidly hardens forming a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.

Abstract: Micro-vesicles that become acoustically sensitive in the presence of a Radio Frequency (RF) Electromagnetic (EM) field are presented. The micro-vesicles can comprise a main body having one or more affinity ligands configured to preferentially bind to a target tissue. Once bound, the micro-vesicles and the target tissue can be bathed in an RF EM field, which induces the target tissue or micro-vesicles to generate an acoustic signal. The micro-vesicles can also become receptive to acoustic energy. An acoustic therapeutic signal can be directed toward the target tissue and micro-vesicles, which causes therapeutic excitation of the micro-vesicles. The therapeutic excitation can include heating the target tissue, releasing a drug formulation, or other excitation. The disclosed techniques can be used with a high degree of precision to activate micro-vesicles local to the target tissue.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, assays, and devices for assaying a sample to detect the presence, absence, or level of at least one analyte in a biological sample using a pan-antibody panel or multiplexed immunoassay, wherein at least one analyte is detected by two or more antibodies. Certain embodiments include the use of a microfluidic device in the immunoassay. Further embodiments of the invention include assays, methods, and devices to detect the presence, absence, or level of at least one analyte which is determined for a diagnostic or a scientific purpose. Still further embodiments of the invention include assays, methods, and devices to detect the presence, absence, or level of at least one analyte which is indicative of a condition or disease. Yet further embodiments of the invention include incorporating additional diagnostic techniques (e.g., PCR, RT-PCR, and DNA hybridization arrays) to the assays, device, and methods.

Abstract: A multi-mode Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Imaging (EMAI) system is disclosed. The EMAI system utilizes an electromagnetic energy source to induce multiple acoustic signals in surrounding objects including a target tissue area or a transducer. The induced acoustic signals can be collected and converted to imaging data, which can be used to display a tissue area image. The collected acoustic signals can be filtered or isolated based on one or more signal proprieties including frequency. A signal's frequency can indicate a property of the target tissue including the tissue's conductivity or its density.

Abstract: An Electro-Magnetic Imaging (EMAI) System is presented. EMAI systems can include induction elements (e.g., an induction coil) configured to induce a target tissue to generate internally sourced ultrasounds. The induction elements can be shielded by one or more shielding elements to shape, or otherwise alter, an imaging field while attenuating radiated fields in a far zone. EMAI systems can further include a shield tuner to adjust shield parameters to achieved desired imaging or radiated field properties. A shielding element can be placed approximately one induction coil radius away from the coil to achieve suitably strong imaging field magnitudes while also achieving suitably weak radiated field magnitudes in a far zone. In some embodiments, acoustic sensors lack substantial shielding from the fields generated by the induction elements.

Abstract: Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.

Abstract: Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.

Abstract: Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic method using systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and pulse frequency of a patient is provided to compute a normalized diastolic distensibility value and a normalized peripheral resistance value, and to automatically compute the product of the normalized diastolic distensibility value and the normalized peripheral resistance value to generate a first product value. The first product value is compared to a stored distribution of normalized diastolic distensibility and a normalized peripheral resistance values for comparable individuals to determine if the first product value is equivalent to a value determined to indicate an abnormal condition. Particular values of the computed parameters aid in determining the etiology of hypertension and direct selection of pharmacotherapy.