Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor has a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a chamber therebetween for receiving the cells and the liquid medium. The bioreactor further has a barrier dividing the chamber into a first subchamber and a second subchamber, wherein the barrier has a porosity to allow the first subchamber and the second subchamber in fluid communication and allow at least one predetermined type of cells to permeate between the first subchamber and the second subchamber.

Abstract: A micro-mirror well. In one embodiment the micro-mirror well includes a plurality of planar mirrors arranged around an axis of symmetry and inclined to form a pyramid well, where each of the plurality of planar mirrors is capable of reflecting light emitting from an object of interest placed inside the pyramid well.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a channel for receiving cells and a liquid medium. In forming the bioreactor, the channel is sized to allow the growth of a layer of cells on a biocompatible coating layer and a flow of liquid in the channel. The flow of liquid is controlled so as to provide a known shear force to the layer of cells. The flow of liquid can be further controlled so as to provide an environment that simulates a vascular space in the channel.

Abstract: A device and methods for monitoring status of at least one cell, wherein the cell has a membrane forming a substantially enclosed structure and defining an intracellular space therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a second substrate supported by the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, a body portion between the first surface and the second surface, a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, wherein the body portion defines a first passage between the first side surface and the second side surface and an opening on the first surface of the second substrate and in fluid communication with the first passage, and sidewalls positioned above the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor has a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a chamber therebetween for receiving the cells and the liquid medium. The bioreactor further has a barrier dividing the chamber into a first subchamber and a second subchamber, wherein the barrier has a porosity to allow the first subchamber and the second subchamber in fluid communication and allow at least one predetermined type of cells to permeate between the first subchamber and the second subchamber.

Abstract: A bottomless micro-mirror well. In one embodiment, the bottomless micro-mirror well includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface defining a body portion between the first surface and the opposite, second surface, where the body portion defines an inverted pyramidal well having at least three side surfaces extending to each other and defining an opening between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the body portion, and where each of the at least three side surfaces is configured to reflect light emitting from an object of interest.

Abstract: A bioreactor with substance injection capability. In one embodiment, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a chamber for receiving cells and a liquid medium. A port is formed in the second substrate between the bottom surface and the first surface of the second substrate. As formed, the port is in fluid communication with the chamber to allow a stream of substance to be introduced into the chamber. The stream of substance is controlled so as to provide a gradient, or a concentration gradient of the substance, to the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing a housing defining a chamber, placing a plurality of cells in the chamber, and simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for monitoring the status of a cell that consumes oxygen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of confining the cell in a sensing volume, measuring dynamically intracellular or extracellular signaling of the cell, and determining the status of the cell from the measured intracellular or extracellular signaling of the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for monitoring the status of a cell that consumes oxygen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of confining the cell in a sensing volume, measuring dynamically intracellular or extracellular signaling of the cell, and determining the status of the cell from the measured intracellular or extracellular signaling of the cell.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a channel for receiving cells and a liquid medium. In forming the bioreactor, the channel is sized to allow the growth of a layer of cells on a biocompatible coating layer and a flow of liquid in the channel. The flow of liquid is controlled so as to provide a known shear force to the layer of cells. The flow of liquid can be further controlled so as to provide an environment that simulates a vascular space in the channel.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a channel for receiving cells and a liquid medium. In forming the bioreactor, the channel is sized to allow the growth of a layer of cells on a biocompatible coating layer and a flow of liquid in the channel. The flow of liquid is controlled so as to provide a known shear force to the layer of cells. The flow of liquid can be further controlled so as to provide an environment that simulates a vascular space in the channel.

Abstract: A device and methods for monitoring status of at least one cell, wherein the cell has a membrane forming a substantially enclosed structure and defining an intracellular space therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a second substrate supported by the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, a body portion between the first surface and the second surface, a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, wherein the body portion defines a first passage between the first side surface and the second side surface and an opening on the first surface of the second substrate and in fluid communication with the first passage, and sidewalls positioned above the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A device and methods for monitoring status of at least one cell, wherein the cell has a membrane forming a substantially enclosed structure and defining an intracellular space therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a second substrate supported by the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, a body portion between the first surface and the second surface, a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, wherein the body portion defines a first passage between the first side surface and the second side surface and an opening on the first surface of the second substrate and in fluid communication with the first passage, and sidewalls positioned above the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus performs high resolution imaging. The disclosed apparatus includes a low temperature SQUID sensor mounted in close proximity to a dewar thin window. A radiation shield has an extension surrounding the detection coil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for high resolution imaging. The disclosed apparatus includes a low temperature SQUID sensor mounted in close proximity to a dewar thin window. A radiation shield has an extension surrounding the detection coil.

Abstract: Intestinal ischemia is diagnosed non-invasively by scanning the abdomen externally with a SQUID magnetometer which measures the magnetic field produced by smooth muscle electrical activity. These measurements are processed to determine the basic electrical rhythm (BER) frequency at various locations along the intestine. A nominal value for the BER frequency is established at each location, and if the measured value falls below the associated nominal value by more than a predetermined margin, ischemia at that location is indicated. Ischemia is further indicated by an interval of arrhythmia in which the BER frequency increases to a range of about 24-180 cpm or at least about twice the nominal value. The BER frequency values are presented on a graphic display which provides an indication of the nominal value at an affected location from the gradient of the measured values at adjacent normal locations.

Abstract: A sheet inducer carrying a uniformly distributed ac current induces a sheet eddy current generally parallel to a generally smooth surface of an electrically conductive object. A magnetometer, preferably a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, detects the component of a magnetic field generally perpendicular to the generally smooth surface resulting from disturbances in the sheet eddy current caused by a flaw. Through appropriate selection of the phase angle between the detector signal and the applied current, the response can be adjusted to suppress surface flaws and enhance detection of flaws below the surface. The sheet eddy current is induced in multiple directions to detect flaws of all orientations and at multiple frequencies to refine determination of the size, shape, and depth of a flaw.

Abstract: Inclusions such as encysted parasites and spoilage in food products such as fish fillets are detected by immersing the food products in a bath of an electrolyte, such as a saline solution, having substantially the same electrical conductivity as the uncontaminated food product. An electrical current passed through the electrolyte also passes through the food product. Perturbations in the resulting magnetic field produced by the discontinuities in conductivity at the boundaries of the inclusions or of the spoiled article which have substantially different conductivities from that of the electrolyte and unspoiled food products, provide an indication of the presence of the contamination. Production line inspection rates are achieved by conveying the food products through a container filled with electrolyte and past an array of stationary magnetometers.

Abstract: A magnetometer includes a support. The support has two support surfaces that intersect each other along an intersection line. The intersection line is perpendicular to a reference axis of the support. The support surfaces are preferably perpendicular to each other and are each inclined at an angle of 45 degrees to the reference axis. A planar sensor/detector array is mounted on each support surface. Each array includes at least two pairs of magnetic field sensors and associated SQUID detectors arranged such that the magnetic field sensors lie on a line that is parallel to the intersection line of the two support surfaces. The magnetometer can be used adjacent to a surface to measure components and spatial variation of the magnetic field near the surface, with the measured components resolved into the magnetic field vectors parallel to and perpendicular to the surface.