Abstract: In one embodiment, a washing system including a nozzle assembly having a nozzle and having formed therein a rinse passageway and a waste passageway. Each passageway has first and second ends. The first end of the waste passageway is adapted to be coupled to a waste pump adapted to remove waste fluid via a waste aperture defining the second end of the waste passageway. The first end of the rinse passageway is adapted to be coupled to a rinse pump adapted to provide rinse fluid via a rinse aperture defining the second end of the rinse passageway. The nozzle is coupled to the rinse aperture and is adapted to rotate and direct flow of the rinse fluid outwardly while rotating.

Abstract: Improved sampler apparatus and methods for dissolution testing include a controller that determines whether several different dissolution testing methods can be performed concurrently by the sampler and controls the sampler in response to the determination; fluid delivery apparatus adapted to pierce a septum and to deliver fluid to or from a collection receptacle through a first aperture, and to permit air flow to or from the collection receptacle through a second aperture; a syringe pump including a distributor having apertures through which fluid flows into and out of the pump chamber, the piston of the syringe pump being moveable adjacent the apertures; and/or a leak sensor responsive to the presence of spilled fluids.

Abstract: Improved sampler apparatus and methods for dissolution testing include a controller that determines whether several different dissolution testing methods can be performed concurrently by the sampler and controls the sampler in response to the determination; fluid delivery apparatus adapted to pierce a septum and to deliver fluid to or from a collection receptacle through a first aperture, and to permit air flow to or from the collection receptacle through a second aperture; a syringe pump including a distributor having apertures through which fluid flows into and out of the pump chamber, the piston of the syringe pump being moveable adjacent the apertures; and/or a leak sensor responsive to the presence of spilled fluids.

Abstract: For intrinsic dissolution testing, a drug pellet (i.e., the dissolution test sample) is retained within a cylindrical recess in a sample holder that is placed at the bottom of a dissolution vessel containing an appropriate dissolution medium with the sample holder oriented with the drug pellet facing up. During the testing cycle, the dissolution medium may be stirred, e.g., using a conventional USP 2 rotating paddle, while the sample holder (and drug pellet) remain stationary at the bottom of the vessel. The orientation of the drug pellet during testing (i.e., facing up) decreases the likelihood of retention of air bubbles formed at the surface of the drug pellet (which bubbles could otherwise decrease the effective dissolution rate), thereby providing more accurate and consistent intrinsic dissolution test results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new technique and device for mass transport operation and physical separation, being substantially quantitative and involving selective barriers. According to the new technique, the mass transport through the selective barrier and physical separation are carried out in the same device. The device consists of a mixing-reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator, having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator, the mixer-separator being provided with means for accumulating a gas pocket to decrease the pressure exerted on the barrier. The completely solid-free liquid passing through the selective barrier is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator, said liquid being accumulated in a collecting container. Typical examples of such selective barriers are: membrane, bed of adsorbent material, paper, plastic, glass and metal filters or any other porous material, and hollow fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new technique and device for mass transport operation and physical separation, being substantially quantitative and involving selective barriers. According to the new technique, the mass transport through the selective barrier and physical separation are carried out in the same device. The device consists of a mixing-reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator, having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator, the mixer-separator being provided with means for accumulating a gas pocket to decrease the pressure exerted on the barrier. The completely solid-free liquid passing through the selective barrier is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator, said liquid being accumulated in a collecting container. Typical examples of such selective barriers are: membrane, bed of adsorbent material, paper, plastic, glass and metal filters or any other porous material, hollow fibers etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple and accurate method to be applied in immunoassay technique for separating the free ligand from the antibody-bound ligand.The method involves the use of a solvent extraction operation which at equilibrium provides the formation of two distinct phases the free- and bound-fraction. The solvent to be utilized should be slightly water miscible or completely water immiscible, having the property of marked selective extraction power toward the gamma-labelled constituent to be determined. The method is applicable in a liquid-liquid system, a solid-liquid system and solid-solid system.The method is useful for radioimmunoassay, free radical assay or metallo-immunoassay, being most versatile having also the advantage that as a result of the free ligand being extracted into the solvent, the determination of the quantity of gamma-labelled substance in the free and/or bound fraction compares very favorably with the known prior art methods in immunoassays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which eliminates centrifugation and decantation steps, to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests, wherein liquid and solid phases are present.According to the invention, use is made of a specially designed device, consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. A rack holding a number of said mixing reservoirs containing the incubated reagents and analytes, capped with the mixer separators, is placed into a press-device designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement. The mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate for a preselected distance to complete the mass transport and separation operations. The separation devices are removed and either one of the separated phases can be measured in the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of chromatography technique, referred to as dynamic column chromatography, for separation of one or more compounds present in a solution, which is characterized by the existence of a moving solid adsorbent bed. According to the invention, the chromatographic system comprises a piston having at its bottom a sealing element and a longitudinal channel containing the adsorbent between two barriers and a test tube having at its bottom a multiple way valve. By pushing the piston into the test tube, the desired eluent which was prior forced through said valve is entering under intrinsic pressure of the closed system through the channel moving the adsorbed compounds to be separated between said barriers, the solution obtained going out through a nozzle located at one of the end parts of the piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which eliminates centrifugation and decantation steps, to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests, wherein liquid and solid phases are present.According to the invention, use is made of a specially designed device, consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. A rack holding a number of said mixing reservoirs containing the incubated reagents and analytes, capped with the mixer separators, is placed into a press-device designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement. The mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate for a preselected distance to complete the mass transport and separation operations. The separation devices are removed and either one of the separated phases can be measured in the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new technique and device for mass transfer of one or more components from one liquid phase to another liquid phase, involving a physical separation of said two phases.According to the new technique, the mass transfer and physical separation are carried out in the same device. The device consists of a mixing-reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator, having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. The two substantially immiscible liquid solutions are introduced into the mixing reservoir, the phases are thoroughly mixed, by moving the mixer-separator in and out the mixing reservoir. After the spontaneous separation into an upper and lower phase, the upper phase is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator said upper phase being accumulated in a collecting container.

Abstract: A test pack kit for assaying for a ligand in a liquid medium. The kit comprises specially designed assay tubes, each tube having a cylindrical side arm which can be interconnected with the side arm of another assay tube. In addition, the pack kit contains antiserum; a conjugate of a metal labelling substance with the ligand; assay calibration standards--in vials containing known concentrations of unlabelled ligand; a separation agent in vials containing material used for separating the bound antibody--metal labelling complex from the unbound metal labelling substance and instrument calibration standards--in vials containing several known concentrations of the metal--labelling substance. Errors caused by pipetting or transferring of reagents from one container to another are practically eliminated.

Abstract: A method and reagent means for the determination of small quantities of chemical compounds in man, animal and plants by a specific binding assay technique.The method involves the utilization of a labelling constituent comprising a conjugate of a labelling substance and a binding component said labelling substance being one or more metal atoms which can be easily determined. The labelling constituents are selected from various metalo organic derivatives or metal coordination complexes.The method is very specific and sensitive and can be successfully utilized for the determination of haptens selected from various groups such as alkaloids, barbiturates, steroids, cannabinoids, vitamins, aminoacids, tranquilizers, sugars, penicillins, etc.