Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for determining the kinetic parameters of a reaction between an analyte and ligands which are attached to a test surface of a flow cell, the method comprising the steps of, (a) flowing a first volume of sample fluid (V1), which contains said analyte, over the test surface, between a first point in time (t1) to a second point in time (t2); (b) flowing a first volume of buffer fluid (Vb1), which is without analyte, over the test surface, between a third point in time (t3) to a fourth point in time (t4); (c) flowing at least a second volume of sample fluid (V2), which contains said analyte, over the test surface, between a fifth point in time (t5) to a sixth point in time (t6); (d) flowing at least a second volume of buffer fluid (Vb2), which is without analyte, over the test surface, between a seventh point in time (t7) to a eight point in time (t8); (e) using a sensor to measure the binding of analyte to ligands on the test surface to obtain a bindi

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising, a needle unit comprising n hollow needles wherein n is greater than one, and wherein each hollow needle can receive a respective sample fluid; a flow cell unit comprising m flow cells wherein m is greater than one, each flow cell having an input and an output, and a test surface on which ligands can be provided located between the input, and output; a means for consecutively moving sample fluids, from each of said n hollow needles respectively, into all said m flow cells, so that said sample fluids flow consecutively through the same flow cells. There is further provided a corresponding method of screening a sample fluid for molecules which can bind to predefined ligands.

Abstract: There is provided an assembly, useable to screen sample fluids for predefined molecules, the comprising, a needle unit comprising n hollow needles, wherein n is greater than one; a flow cell unit comprising m flow cells, wherein m is greater than one, each flow cell having an input and an output, and a test surface on which ligands can be provided; a first selector valve unit which is fluidly connected between the needle unit and flow cell unit, which is operable to selectively fluidly connect any one of the n hollow needles with the m flow cells in the flow cell unit; a pumping means which is selectively operable to provide negative pressure; a second selector valve unit which is fluidly connected between the pumping means and the output of each flow cell. There are further provided methods of screening sample fluids for predefined molecule.

Abstract: Methods for screening a plurality of sample fluids for molecules which can bind to predefined ligands, comprising, selecting one of a plurality of flow cell groups by fluidly connecting the selected flow cell group to a sample delivery unit; injecting a sample fluid to be screened from the sample delivery unit into the flow cells in the selected flow cell group; for each flow cell in the selected flow cell group, recording a signal using a sensor which represents the binding and/or the dissociation of molecules of the sample fluid to/from ligands on the test surface of that flow cell; carrying out a damage assessment step using said recorded signals; if it is determined that the test surface of a flow cell in the selected flow cell group is damaged, then fluidly connecting the other flow cell group to the sample delivery unit. There is further provided assemblies which can be used to implement the afore-mentioned methods.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for determining kinetic parameters of a reaction between analyte and ligands, the method comprising the steps of, a) flowing a first volume of sample fluid (V1), which has a concentration (co) of analytes, over a test surface (3) of a flow cell (2) which has first ligands (4) attached thereto, for a first time period (tia); b) flowing a first volume of buffer solution (X/?) over the test surface (3) of the flow cell (2), for a first time period (tib); c) flowing at least a second volume of sample fluid (V2), over the test surface, for a second time period (t2a); wherein the second time period (t2a) is greater than the first time period (tia) and wherein the second volume of sample fluid (V2) has the same concentration (c0) of analytes as the concentration (c0) of analytes in the first volume of sample fluid (V2); d) flowing a second volume of buffer solution (V2?) over the test surface (3) of the flow cell (2), for a second time period (t2b); e) us

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of molecule recovery using an assembly which comprises a first flow cell (2) which comprises comprising first ligands (4) which can bind to molecules, and a conduit which can selectively fluidly connect the first flow cell to a collection reservoir (39); the method comprising the steps of (a) flowing a sample fluid along the conduit into the first flow cell (2); (b) flowing a buffer fluid through at least a portion of the conduit, without flowing any of the buffer fluid through the first flow cell (2) so that sample fluid is maintained in the first flow cell (2) but said at least a portion of the conduit is cleaned by the buffer fluid; (c) flowing a buffer fluid through the first flow cell (2) to flush the sample fluid out of the first flow cell (2); (d) lowing a fluid through the first flow cell (2), along the conduit, and into the collection reservoir, so that molecules of the sample fluid which were bound to first ligands (4) and which have beco

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of calculating kinetic parameters of a reaction network, the method comprising the steps of: providing an intermediate objective function, wherein said intermediate objective function comprises a linearized intermediate discrepancy function which comprises intermediate parameters which have been determined by applying a reparameterization function to the parameters of the discrepancy function, wherein the intermediate discrepancy function is linear with respect to all of said intermediate parameters; determining values for each of the intermediate parameters in said linearized intermediate discrepancy function, which minimize the intermediate objective function, using a direct estimation method; determining values for the parameters of the discrepancy function by applying an inverse of the reparameterization function to said determined values of the intermediate parameters; determining values for the kinetic parameters from said determined values f

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided various methods for screening a plurality of sample fluids for molecules which can bind to predefined ligands, using the assembly comprising, a sample delivery unit which can receive sample fluids to be screened, and a plurality of groups of flow cells, each group having at least two flow cells, and a means for selectively fluidly connecting the sample delivery unit to any one of said groups of flow cells, the method comprising the steps of, selecting one of said plurality of flow cell groups by fluidly connecting said flow cell group to the need unit; carrying out an injection step which comprises injecting a sample fluid to be screened from the sample delivery unit into the flow cells in the selected flow cell group; for each flow cell in the flow cell group, recording a signal using a sensor which represent the binding of molecules of the sample fluid to ligands on the test surface of that flow cell and/or the dissociation of molecules from ligands on th

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an assembly, which can be used to screen sample fluids for predefined molecule, the assembly comprising, a needle unit (2) comprising n hollow needles (2a-h), wherein n is greater than one; a flow cell unit (3) comprising m flow cells, wherein m is greater than one, each flow cell having an input (3a?,d?) and an output (3a?-d?), and a test surface on which ligands can be provided located between the input and output; a first selector valve unit (4) which is fluidly connected between the needle unit (2) and flow cell unit (3), and wherein said first selector valve unit (4) is configured so that it is operable to selectively fluidly connect any one it the n hollow needles (2a-h) with said m flow cells in said flow cell unit; a pumping means (12) which is selectively operable to provide negative pressure; a second selector valve unit (6) which is fluidly connected between said pumping means, and the output (3a?-d?) of each flow cell (3a-d) in the flow cell uni

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising, a needle unit comprising n hollow needles wherein n is greater than one, and wherein each hollow needle can receive a respective sample fluid; a flow cell unit comprising m flow cells wherein m is greater than one, each flow cell having an input and an output, and a test surface on which ligands can be provided located between the input, and output; a means for consecutively moving sample fluids, from each of said n hollow needles respectively, into all said m flow cells, so that said sample fluids flow consecutively through the same flow cells. There is further provided a corresponding method of screening a sample fluid for molecules which can bind to predefined ligands.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of molecule recovery using an assembly which comprises a first flow cell (2) which comprises comprising first ligands (4) which can bind to molecules, and a conduit which can selectively fluidly connect the first flow cell to a collection reservoir (39); the method comprising the steps of (a) flowing a sample fluid along the conduit into the first flow cell (2); (b) flowing a buffer fluid through at least a portion of the conduit, without flowing any of the buffer fluid through the first flow cell (2) so that sample fluid is maintained in the first flow cell (2) but said at least a portion of the conduit is cleaned by the buffer fluid; (c) flowing a buffer fluid through the first flow cell (2) to flush the sample fluid out of the first flow cell (2); (d) lowing a fluid through the first flow cell (2), along the conduit, and into the collection reservoir, so that molecules of the sample fluid which were bound to first ligands (4) and which have beco

Abstract: A flow conduit system (100, 200a, 200b) suitable for biochemical sensing, the flow conduit system (100, 200a, 200b) having a first flow cell conduit (1) with one or more sensing areas for biochemical sensing; a first selector valve (4); a first inlet/outlet conduit (2) which fluidly connects the first flow cell conduit (1) to the first selector valve (4); a first injection conduit (6) having a first end and a second end; a second injection conduit (7) having a first end and a second end; a fluid injecting means (8) fluidly connected to the second ends of each of the first and second injection conduits (6, 7) so that the fluid injecting means can selectively inject fluids into the first and/or second injection conduits (6,7); wherein the first injection conduit (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junction (9), and the second injection conduits (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junction (9

Abstract: A flow conduit system (100,200a,200b) suitable for biochemical sensing, the flow conduit system (100,200a,200b) comprising, a first flow cell conduit (1) comprising one or more sensing areas for biochemical sensing; a first selector valve (4); a first inlet/outlet conduit (2) which fluidly connects the first flow cell conduit (1) to the first selector valve (4); a first injection conduit (6) having a first end and a second end; a second injection conduit (7) having a first end and a second end; a fluid injecting means (8) fluidly connected to the second ends of each of the first and second injection conduits (6, 7) so that the fluid injecting means can selectively inject fluids into the first and/or second injection conduits (6,7); wherein the first injection conduit (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junction (9), and the second injection conduits (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junc

Abstract: An integrated optical sensor for, for example, a (bio)chemical sensor has an optical waveguide (2) having at least two coupling regions (3, 5), which are separated by at least one measurement region (4). A first wave is excited in the waveguide (2) by the first coupling region (3) and passes through the measurement region (4) and the second coupling region (5). A second wave is excited in the second coupling region (5) and subsequently interferes with the first wave. Here, the reduction in amplitude of the first wave by the second coupling region (5) is less than 95%.

Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).

Abstract: A dazzle protection unit (1) for a portable dazzle protection device that includes an optical dazzle protection filter (3) and at least one sensor (5) for the sensing of incident light and for controlling the translucency of the filter (3). In doing so, the dazzle protection unit (1) includes a light capturing element (4), which captures incident light on a light capturing surface area (12) and conducts it to the at least one sensor (5). The light capturing element (4) preferably captures the light from several areas located at a distance from one another on a front side of the dazzle protection unit (1). Means (8) for coupling light into the light capturing element (4) are situated at a distance from one another.

Abstract: An integrated optical sensor for, for example, a (bio)chemical sensor has an optical waveguide (2) having at least two coupling regions (3, 5), which are separated by at least one measurement region (4). A first wave is excited in the waveguide (2) by the first coupling region (3) and passes through the measurement region (4) and the second coupling region (5). A second wave is excited in the second coupling region (5) and subsequently interferes with the first wave. Here, the reduction in amplitude of the first wave by the second coupling region (5) is less than 95%.

Abstract: An optical protective filter (1, 3) includes at least one first and one second partial lens (1, 2), wherein the first partial lens (1) includes a flexible substrate (4). On the substrate (4), a thin film filter (2) is applied, and the thin film filter (2) comprises at least one metallic layer (8) with a layer thickness of between 2 nm and 100 nm. The substrate (4) in the completed protective filter, thanks to its flexibility, is bent into the final shape as a whole; this in contrast to such lenses, which while comprising a curved shape and curved surfaces, have been ground or cast into this curved shape.

Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated optical waveguide sensor module (200) with reduced signal modulation and increased sensitivity. An optical waveguide sensor module (200) comprises an optically transparent substrate (210) having a first and a second interface and an optical waveguide film (220) disposed on the substrate (210) with the first interface (225) therebetween, wherein the film (220) comprises at least one grating pad (235) that is optically coupled therewith. The substrate (210) and the optical waveguide film (220) are configured to reduce parasitic interference within the substrate.