Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sensor unit (10) for measuring gas concentration, comprising: sensor means (12, 13) and first thermal insulation means (14, 16) at least partially surrounding said sensor means (12, 13). The sensor means (12,13) includes at least one sensing layer (12) adapted to be irradiated with a predetermined radiation (100), and at least one gas-permeable layer (13) adjacent to one side of the at least one sensing layer (12) and adapted to pass gas, which concentration is to measured, through the gas-permeable layer (13) towards the at least one sensing layer (12). The optical sensor unit (10) is adapted to measure an optical response of the at least one sensing layer (12), which optical response depends on the gas concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor system comprising a light source, a cartridge adapted to be illuminated by said light source, a light detector adapted for detecting a signal originating from the cartridge, an illumination control means adapted to vary the illumination of the cartridge between at least two different states, a means for generating a first oscillation with a first frequency, and a means for generating a second oscillation with a second frequency, wherein the frame rate of the light detector is triggered by the first oscillation and the illumination control means is triggered by the second oscillation.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of particles includes a biosensor cartridge having a sensor surface. A biosensor magnet assembly is disposed on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface. The biosensor magnet assembly includes at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap. A first optical detection system detects the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly and the first optical sensor are disposed such that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor system comprising a light source, a cartridge adapted to be illuminated by said light source, a light detector adapted for detecting a signal originating from the cartridge, an illumination control means adapted to vary the illumination of the cartridge between at least two different states, a means for generating a first oscillation with a first frequency, and a means for generating a second oscillation with a second frequency, wherein the frame rate of the light detector is triggered by the first oscillation and the illumination control means is triggered by the second oscillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining information from an amplification curve of a target nucleic acid sequence or sequences by defining at least one model function that describes the amplification curve and that contains at least one parameter that is related to a physical quantity that influences the signals recorded, fitting said model function to the amplification curve, and obtaining information with respect to said physical quantity by identifying the value of said parameter that results in the best fit of the model function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor system comprising a light source, a cartridge adapted to be illuminated by said light source, a light detector adapted for detecting a signal originating from the cartridge, an illumination control means adapted to vary the illumination of the cartridge between at least two different states, a means for generating a first oscillation with a first frequency, and a means for generating a second oscillation with a second frequency, wherein the frame rate of the light detector is triggered by the first oscillation and the illumination control means is triggered by the second oscillation.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of particles includes a biosensor cartridge having a sensor surface. A biosensor magnet assembly is disposed on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface. The biosensor magnet assembly includes at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap. A first optical detection system detects the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly and the first optical sensor are disposed such that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling actuation of label particles in a biosensor device, in particular a biosensor device using frustrated total internal reflection. By applying a predetermined actuation force on the label particles and determining the effect of the applied actuation force in a binding volume or surface of a sensor cartridge of the biosensor device, a feedback control of the actuation force is applied. Furthermore, a biosensor device is provided which is adapted for forming the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A sensor device (15) for detecting magnetic particles (13) has a binding surface (40) with binding sites thereon and includes at least one sensor element (23) for detecting the presence of magnetic particles (13), an element or elements for attracting magnetic structures having at least one magnetic particle (13) toward and onto the binding surface (40) of the sensor device (15), and an element or elements for re-arranging and randomizing the position of individual magnetic particles (13) with respect to the binding sites on the binding surface (40) to give binding sites on all individual particles (13) a substantial probability to have a contact time with binding sites on the binding surface (40). With such sensor device (15), the speed of detection of target molecules in a fluid is enhanced.

Abstract: A method for controlling actuation of label particles in a biosensor device, e.g., using frustrated total internal reflection, includes applying a predetermined actuation force on the label particles and determining the effect of the applied actuation force in a binding volume or surface of a sensor cartridge of the biosensor device. A feedback control of the actuation force is applied.

Abstract: A sensor device and a method for the determination of the amount of target particles at a contact surface adjacent to a sample chamber include detecting, by a detector, the target particles in the sample chamber by a sensor element, and providing at least one corresponding sensor signal. An evaluation unit determines the amount of target particles in a first zone at the contracts surface and in a second zone a distance away from the contact surface based on this sensor signal. In an optical measurement approach, frustrated total internal reflection taking place under different operating conditions, such as wavelength and/or angle of incidence, may be used to extract information about the first and second zones. In a magnetic measurement approach, different magnetic excitation fields may be used to excite magnetic target particles differently in the first and second zone.

Abstract: A sensor chip (1030) for gas has cells (200) for emitting and receiving ultrasound and is configured for a sufficiently large frequency range and for measuring concentration of at least one of the gas components based on at least two responses within the range. The frequency range can be achieved by varying the size of cell membranes (230), varying bias voltages, and/or varying air pressure for an array (205) of cMUTs or MEMS microphones. The sensor chip can be applied in, for example, capnography. A measurement air chamber (515) is implemented in the respiratory pathway (400), and it and/or the pathway may be designed to reduce turbulence in the exhaled breath (120) subject to ultrasound interrogation. The chip (1030) can be implemented as self-contained in the monitoring of parameters, obviating the need for off-chip sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus generates outgoing data to be provided on an optical disk in a burst cutting area. The burst cutting area further comprises markings which cause a marking frequency spectrum when reading out the burst cutting area. The apparatus comprises a channel coder which receives processed data and supplies the outgoing data having an outgoing data frequency spectrum with suppressed DC-content. The apparatus further comprises a data processing device which generates the processed data to obtain an outgoing frequency spectrum wherein a frequency component causing interference with a low frequent component of the markings is suppressed or not present.

Abstract: An apparatus generates outgoing data (OD) to be provided on an optical disk (1) in a burst cutting area (2). The burst cutting area (2) further comprises markings (3) which cause a marking frequency spectrum (MFS) when reading out the burst cutting area (2). The apparatus comprises a channel coder (4) which receives processed data (PD) and supplies the outgoing data (OD) having an outgoing data frequency spectrum (DFS) with suppressed DC-content. The apparatus further comprises a data processing device (5) which generates the processed data (PD) to obtain an outgoing frequency spectrum (DFS) wherein a frequency component causing interference with a low frequent component of the markings (3) is suppressed or not present.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an oxygen sensor comprises a giant magnetoresistance device (10), and a magnetic field generator (14, 14a, 14b) arranged to generate a magnetic field (12, 12a, 12b) overlapping the giant magnetoresistance device and an examination region (20). A component (Bx) of the magnetic field detected by the giant magnetoresistance device is dependent upon an oxygen concentration in the examination region. In an embodiment, a chip (40) includes one or more electrically conductive traces (14a, 14b) disposed on or in the chip and a giant magnetoresistance device (10) disposed on or in the chip such that electrical current flowing in the trace or traces generates a magnetic field (12a, 12b) that overlaps the magnetic field sensor, said magnetic field being perturbed (Bx) by ambient oxygen (24) such that a signal output by the magnetic field sensor indicates ambient oxygen concentration.

Abstract: A digital image processing device processes digital images provided by a camera of biosensor reader. The device includes a pixel processing unit for evaluating a stream of image values with respect to a given set of processing spots in the image area, thus determining characteristic parameters like the integral of pixel values in the processing spots. The pixel processing unit communicates with a higher-level digital control unit that sets the processing spots to be evaluated and that reads out and post-processes the results of the pixel processing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for the examination of target particles (1) that are bound to binding sites (3) at the binding surface (12) of a carrier (11). In a preferred embodiment, an input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier (11), where a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) takes place at the binding surface (12). The amount of light in a resulting output light beam (L2) is detected by a light detector (31) and provides information about the presence of target particles at the binding surface. Moreover, an actuation unit (50) induces movements of the bound target particles (1) by an interaction with a magnetic field (B) or an electric field, particularly with a given modulation frequency (COIn), such that by a demodulation of the detector signal (S) effects of the target particles can be distinguished from background.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a sensing signal is generated depending on the bound particles. Binding events indicating a binding of a particle on the binding surface (30) are determined from the generated sensing signal, and the substance within the fluid is determined based on the determined binding events. During a procedure of determining a substance within a fluid, particles may bind to the binding surface and may leave the binding surface. Therefore, during this procedure a number of binding events can be determined being much larger than the number of bound particles. The determination of the substance within the fluid can therefore be based on a very large amount of data, thereby increasing the accuracy of determining the substance within the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for detecting particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) of a carrier (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a microscope (50) for imaging bound particles (MP) onto an image sensor (53). In order to increase the spatial resolution of the microscope(50), a displacement unit (60,70,80) is provided that can displace the carrier (11) relative to the image sensor (53). The distance of a bound particle (MP) from the binding surface (12) and/or its lateral displacement in reaction to forces can thus be determine with high accuracy. This allows to discriminate specific bindings of large magnetic particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) via smaller target particles from nonspecific direct bindings.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a biosensor system for the detection of particles comprising: a biosensor cartridge comprising a sensor surface, a biosensor magnet assembly on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface, the first biosensor magnet assembly comprising at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap, a first optical detection system for detecting the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly, whereas the magnet assembly is designed in a way that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.