Abstract: A sprocket includes a plurality of teeth along the outer circumference of the sprocket, where the teeth include at least a first tooth variant with a first involute length between a root and a tip radii of the sprocket and a first curvature at a given radius of the sprocket and at least a second tooth variant with a second involute length between a root and a tip radii of the sprocket and a second curvature at the given radius of the sprocket. The first curvature is different than the second curvature at a given radius of the sprocket. Such variants are arranged around the circumference in a predetermined way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the level of a preselected analyte in a sample such as of blood of a human or animal patient by incubating the test sample with an antibody specific to the analyte to form an immunocomplex, which then interacts with the white blood cells present in or added to the sample and result in the production of oxidants. Oxidants are detected using chemiluminescent reagents. The assay is performed on the sample and in addition may include a measurement of the oxidant production resulting from a maximal stimulatory dose of immunocomplexes, providing a ratio to indicate the level of analyte in the sample. The white blood cell oxidant response may be enhanced by the inclusion of certain agents such as zymosan or complement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the level of a preselected analyte in a sample of blood of a human or animal patient by incubating the test sample with an antibody specific to the analyte to form an immunocomplex, which then interacts with the white blood cell fractions and result in the production of oxidants. Oxidants are detected using chemiluminescent reagents. The assay is performed on the sample and in addition includes a measurement of the oxidant production resulting from a maximal stimulatory dose of immunocomplexes, providing a ratio to indicate the level of analyte in the sample. The white blood cell oxidant response may be enhanced by the inclusion of certain agents such as zymosan.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the level of a preselected analyte in a sample of blood of a human or animal patient by incubating the test sample with an antibody specific to the analyte to form an immunocomplex, which then interacts with the white blood cell fractions and result in the production of oxidants. Oxidants are detected using chemiluminescent reagents. The assay is performed on the sample and in addition includes a measurement of the oxidant production resulting from a maximal stimulatory dose of immunocomplexes, providing a ratio to indicate the level of analyte in the sample. The white blood cell oxidant response may be enhanced by the inclusion of certain agents such as zymosan.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for quantitating the level of a preselected analyte in a sample of blood of a human or animal patient by incubating the test sample with an antibody specific to the analyte to form an immunocomplex, which then interacts with the white blood cell fractions and result in the production of oxidants. Oxidants are detected using chemiluminescent reagents. In addition, the white blood cell oxidant response may be enhanced by the inclusion of certain agents such as opsonized zymosan. As part of the assay, separate blood samples are also maximally stimulated with a maximal stimulatory amount of exogenously-added antigen, and corresponding antibody, to form immunocomplexes, to provide a response factor used in the quantitation of analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for staging sepsis in a patient by concurrently measuring in a sample of the patient's blood four parameters which are indicative of the stage of sepsis: 1) the level of microbial product level in the blood; 2) the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) response reserve; 3) the maximum oxidant production by neutrophils, and 4) the responsiveness of the patient's neutrophils to immunocomplexes. Based on determining the stage of sepsis, appropriate treatment for the patient may be identified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the extent of sepsis and/or an infection in a human or animal patient by detecting the amount of an antigen indicative of such infection. The amount of the antigen is detected in a patient blood derived test sample containing blood cell fractions.