Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing core-sheath structures by shaping at least one filament bundle containing a plurality of filaments to form at least one shaped strand of filaments, and braiding a plurality of strands, including the at least one shaped strand of filaments, over a core to form the core-sheath structure containing a braided sheath of the strands surrounding the core, wherein the shaped strand of filaments is an untwisted strand having a twist level of less than 1 turn per meter, a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the shaped strand of filaments is at least 3:1, as measured in the braided sheath, a thickness of at least a portion of the braided sheath ranges from about 10 to about 200 ?m, and the braided sheath comprises a synthetic fiber having a tensile strength of greater than 12 cN/dtex. Also disclosed herein are core-sheath structures formed by such methods.

Abstract: This application describes a braided cord containing a braided sheath and optionally a core surrounded by the braided sheath. The braided cord has changing cross-sectional area ranging from 0.0004 mm2 to 30 mm2 and contains one or more sections having a tapering angle ranging from 1° to 60° when observed in one direction along the cord axis. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cord can be achieved by changing the thickness of the braided sheath and/or changing the cross-sectional area of the core when the core is present. The thickness of the braided sheath can be adjusted by changing the size and/or twist level of one or more sheath strands, changing the pick count of the braided sheath, and/or using one or more shaped sheath strands. This application also describes a process of producing the braided cord with changing cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing core-sheath structures by shaping at least one filament bundle containing a plurality of filaments to form at least one shaped strand of filaments, and braiding a plurality of strands, including the at least one shaped strand of filaments, over a core to form the core-sheath structure containing a braided sheath of the strands surrounding the core, wherein the shaped strand of filaments is an untwisted strand having a twist level of less than 1 turn per meter, a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the shaped strand of filaments is at least 3:1, as measured in the braided sheath, a thickness of at least a portion of the braided sheath ranges from about 10 to about 200 ?m, and the braided sheath comprises a synthetic fiber having a tensile strength of greater than 12 cN/dtex. Also disclosed herein are core-sheath structures formed by such methods.

Abstract: A cord comprises a braided sheath of strands having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central hollow portion defined by the inner surface and having a volume and a core within the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath, such that when the cord is in a relaxed state the tubular braided sheath has a cylindrical shape and a relaxed volume of the central hollow portion wherein the core does not fill the relaxed volume of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath; when the cord is in a longitudinal tensioned state, the tubular braided sheath elongates under the longitudinal tension such that a tensioned volume of at least a part of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath is less than the relaxed volume; and the inner surface of the tubular braided sheath of tensioned volume contacts and cinches a surface of the core.

Abstract: Lateral flow analyte test systems having a defined geometry that positions a light source at a position relative to a test strip so that a captured image of the test strip is not convoluted with specular reflection, and that permits the light source to illuminate the desired portion of the test strip without the creation of a shadow in the image by the optics of the test strip reader.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide improved lateral flow test devices that can provide sensitive and accurate quantitative test results, and methods for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A cord comprises a braided sheath of strands having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central hollow portion defined by the inner surface and having a volume and a core within the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath, such that when the cord is in a relaxed state the tubular braided sheath has a cylindrical shape and a relaxed volume of the central hollow portion wherein the core does not fill the relaxed volume of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath; when the cord is in a longitudinal tensioned state, the tubular braided sheath elongates under the longitudinal tension such that a tensioned volume of at least a part of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath is less than the relaxed volume; and the inner surface of the tubular braided sheath of tensioned volume contacts and cinches a surface of the core.

Abstract: This application describes a braided cord containing a braided sheath and optionally a core surrounded by the braided sheath. The braided cord has changing cross-sectional area ranging from 0.0004 mm2 to 30 mm2 and contains one or more sections having a tapering angle ranging from 1° to 60° when observed in one direction along the cord axis. The change in the cross-sectional area of the cord can be achieved by changing the thickness of the braided sheath and/or changing the cross-sectional area of the core when the core is present. The thickness of the braided sheath can be adjusted by changing the size and/or twist level of one or more sheath strands, changing the pick count of the braided sheath, and/or using one or more shaped sheath strands. This application also describes a process of producing the braided cord with changing cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A cord comprises a braided sheath of strands having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central hollow portion defined by the inner surface and having a volume and a core within the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath, such that when the cord is in a relaxed state the tubular braided sheath has a cylindrical shape and a relaxed volume of the central hollow portion wherein the core does not fill the relaxed volume of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath; when the cord is in a longitudinal tensioned state, the tubular braided sheath elongates under the longitudinal tension such that a tensioned volume of at least a part of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath is less than the relaxed volume; and the inner surface of the tubular braided sheath of tensioned volume contacts and cinches a surface of the core.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing core-sheath structures by shaping at least one filament bundle containing a plurality of filaments to form at least one shaped strand of filaments, and braiding a plurality of strands, including the at least one shaped strand of filaments, over a core to form the core-sheath structure containing a braided sheath of the strands surrounding the core, wherein the shaped strand of filaments is an untwisted strand having a twist level of less than 1 turn per meter, a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the shaped strand of filaments is at least 3:1, as measured in the braided sheath, a thickness of at least a portion of the braided sheath ranges from about 10 to about 200 ?m, and the braided sheath comprises a synthetic fiber having a tensile strength of greater than 12 cN/dtex. Also disclosed herein are core-sheath structures formed by such methods.

Abstract: A cord comprises a braided sheath of strands having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central hollow portion defined by the inner surface and having a volume and a core within the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath, such that when the cord is in a relaxed state the tubular braided sheath has a cylindrical shape and a relaxed volume of the central hollow portion wherein the core does not fill the relaxed volume of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath; when the cord is in a longitudinal tensioned state, the tubular braided sheath elongates under the longitudinal tension such that a tensioned volume of at least a part of the central hollow portion of the tubular braided sheath is less than the relaxed volume; and the inner surface of the tubular braided sheath of tensioned volume contacts and cinches a surface of the core.

Abstract: A combination of capillary forces and gas pressure is used to control the movement of liquid samples within a microfluidic device. A liquid sample introduced to a proximal portion of a capillary channel of a microfluidic device moves by capillary action partway along the capillary channel. As the liquid sample moves, a pressure of a gas acting upon a distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample increases by an amount sufficient to stop further movement of the liquid sample. To initiate further movement of the liquid sample, a pump connected to a distal portion of the capillary channel decreases the pressure of the gas acting upon the distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample by an amount sufficient to permit the liquid sample to move by capillary action further along the capillary channel of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A combination of capillary forces and gas pressure is used to control the movement of liquid samples within a microfluidic device. A liquid sample introduced to a proximal portion of a capillary channel of a microfluidic device moves by capillary action partway along the capillary channel. As the liquid sample moves, a pressure of a gas acting upon a distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample increases by an amount sufficient to stop further movement of the liquid sample. To initiate further movement of the liquid sample, a pump connected to a distal portion of the capillary channel decreases the pressure of the gas acting upon the distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample by an amount sufficient to permit the liquid sample to move by capillary action further along the capillary channel of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A combination of capillary forces and gas pressure is used to control the movement of liquid samples within a microfluidic device. A liquid sample introduced to a proximal portion of a capillary channel of a microfluidic device moves by capillary action partway along the capillary channel. As the liquid sample moves, a pressure of a gas acting upon a distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample increases by an amount sufficient to stop further movement of the liquid sample. To initiate further movement of the liquid sample, a pump connected to a distal portion of the capillary channel decreases the pressure of the gas acting upon the distal gas-liquid interface of the liquid sample by an amount sufficient to permit the liquid sample to move by capillary action further along the capillary channel of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A directionally-sensitive device for detecting and processing vibration waves includes an array of polymeric optical waveguide resonators positioned between a light source, such as an LED array, and a light detector, such as a photodiode array. The resonators which are preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to incoming vibration waves, vibrate when a wave is detected, thus modulating light signals that are transmitted between the light source and the light detector. The light detector converts the modulated light into electrical signals which, in a preferred embodiment, are used to drive either the speaker of a hearing aid or the electrode array of a cochlear implant. The device is manufactured using a combination of traditional semiconductor processes and polymer microfabrication techniques.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in general, to an optical reading system, a universal testing cartridge, and a method of coupling optical reading systems. In a particular illustrative embodiment, the optical reading system includes a universal test cartridge receptor, test format determination logic, test criteria determination logic, and an optical reader module. The universal test cartridge receptor is responsive to a universal test cartridge having a test strip inserted therein. The test format determination logic determines an optical test format of the test strip. The test criteria determination logic determines an optical test criteria based upon the optical test format. The optical reader module is configured to capture an optical test image of the test strip.

Abstract: A directionally-sensitive device for detecting and processing vibration waves includes an array of polymeric optical waveguide resonators positioned between a light source, such as an LED array, and a light detector, such as a photodiode array. The resonators which are preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to incoming vibration waves, vibrate when a wave is detected, thus modulating light signals that are transmitted between the light source and the light detector. The light detector converts the modulated light into electrical signals which, in a preferred embodiment, are used to drive either the speaker of a hearing aid or the electrode array of a cochlear implant. The device is manufactured using a combination of traditional semiconductor processes and polymer microfabrication techniques.

Abstract: The present invention is a slip resistant nonwoven material. The material can be useful for surgical or clean room environments. The nonwoven is coated with microencapsulated adhesive. The microcapsule coated nonwoven is resistant for slippage. The substrate in preferred embodiments is fashioned into articles such as slip resistant table coverings or protective articles such as footwear.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate crystallization studies through the use of a system of microfluidics, sensors, actuators, and computer instrumentation to enable automated microcrystallization experiments using feedback assisted control and data from a protein crystallization or solubility database. In a preferred embodiment, the crystallization system comprises a database containing quantitative information about the chemical and physical properties under various thermodynamics conditions of the molecule or compounds of interest and a feedback assisted, dynamically controlled chemical system. The chemical system includes a controller that accesses the database and can monitor and control the state of one or more experiments, a software program that uses database information, sensory information, historical information and the like to change the conditions of the experiment, and a crystallization platform that allows computer control and sensing of one or more chemical experiments.

Abstract: The present invention is a slip resistant nonwoven material. The material can be useful for surgical or clean room environments. The nonwoven is coated with microencapsulated adhesive. The microcapsule coated nonwoven is resistant for slippage. The substrate in preferred embodiments is fashioned into articles such as slip resistant table coverings or protective articles such as footwear.