Abstract: A system comprises an optical fiber, a manipulator assembly, and a control unit. The manipulator assembly comprises a chassis, an optical fiber cleaning assembly housed within the chassis, and a drive mechanism housed within the chassis. The optical fiber cleaning assembly comprises a cleaning tape, a first spool on which the cleaning tape is wound, and a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn after use. The drive mechanism is configured to advance the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool such that a portion of the cleaning tape wipes a face of the optical fiber. The control unit is configured to control the drive mechanism to advance the cleaning tape.

Abstract: An AC squirrel cage motor runs with a rotor current frequency equal to the slip of the motor times its excitation frequency. It is desirable to reduce the rotor current on start up by means of an increased resistance, and then to run the motor with a reduced resistance once it is started. This invention takes advantage of the skin effect of high frequency currents by increasing rotor end ring resistance during startup. After the motor has started up, and has reached full speed, the rotor frequency is reduced to merely the slip multiplied by the stator frequency. The skin effect on the rotor current is less, and the motor runs with reduced resistance.

Abstract: A semi-automated biological sample analyzer and subsystems are provided to simultaneously perform a plurality of enzyme immuno assays for human IgE class antibodies specific to a panel of preselected allergens in each of a plurality of biological samples. A carousel is provided to position and hold a plurality of reaction cartridges. Each reaction cartridge includes a plurality of isolated test sites formed in a two dimensional array in a solid phase binding layer contained within a reaction well which is adapted to contain a biological sample to be assayed. The carousel and cartridges contain structures which cooperate to precisely position the cartridges in each of three separate dimensions so that each cartridge is positioned uniformly. An optical reader operating on a principle of diffuse reflectance is provided to read the results of the assays from each test site of each cartridge.

Abstract: A multiple phase inductor includes a magnetic core having two end pieces and a plurality of legs extending between the end pieces to form flux paths which pass through the end pieces and the legs. Each leg includes a stack of "I" shaped laminations which are positioned between the end pieces to form two gaps in at least one of the flux paths. A coil is wound around each of the legs and all of the coils present substantially the same inductance to an external power circuit. By providing two gaps in each of the legs, localized heating of the turns of the coils is reduced.

Abstract: A reagent system for determing the hemoglobin content of whole blood comprising an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone of molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 360,000 at a pH greater than about 8.0 to denature hemoglobin in whole blood. A method is also provided wherein a blood sample is treted with an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone of molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 360,000 at a basic pH sufficient to denature the hemoglobin present in the whole blood to form a stable product whereafter the absorbance of the stable product of the blood sample and polyvinylpyrrolidone of molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 360,000 polymer reagent system is measured at a wavelength of approximately 575 nm to determine the hemoglobin contentration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the determination of an analyte in an aqueous liquid while eliminating the biasing effect of unknown interferents which are preformed or formed in situ during the determination. The method comprises physically contacting a sample of the liquid with an interactive composition for the analyte; measuring the spectrophotometric responses generated by such contact at a primary wavelength .lambda..sub.1 and one or more secondary wavelengths .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3, . . . .lambda..sub.n ; and determining analyte concentration or activity using the equation:C=a.sub.0 +a.sub.1 [A.sub.1 +.alpha..sub.1 A.sub.2 +. . . +.alpha..sub.n-1 A.sub.n ]wherein C is analyte concentration or activity, A.sub.1, A.sub.2, . . . A.sub.n are the spectrophotometric responses observed at .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2, . . . .lambda..sub.n, respectively; and a.sub.0, a.sub.1, and .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, . . . .alpha..sub.