Abstract: Systems and methods for treating internal tissue defects, such as septal defects, with clip-based devices are provided. An exemplary clip-based device includes a tubular body having at least a first and a second deflectable member coupled thereto. The first and second members are coupled on opposite ends of the tubular body and configured to deflect between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, each member extends outwardly away from the tubular body in a position configured to abut a tissue surface. The first and second members are preferably configured to maintain a tissue wall therebetween and at least partially close any opening in the tissue wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating internal tissue defects, such as septal defects, with clip-based devices are provided. An exemplary clip-based device includes a tubular body having at least a first and a second deflectable member coupled thereto. The first and second members are coupled on opposite ends of the tubular body and configured to deflect between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, each member extends outwardly away from the tubular body in a position configured to abut a tissue surface. The first and second members are preferably configured to maintain a tissue wall therebetween and at least partially close any opening in the tissue wall.

Abstract: An acoustic detection of a discrete acoustic signal allows to detect a leak behind a casing (23) of a borehole. An acoustic amplitude (AA) is sampled during a recording time period (24; 64) at a determined position along the tube. Time intervals (26; 66) are defined inside of the recording time period (24), and for each time interval (26) the measured acoustic amplitudes are processed to obtain respectively a corresponding power-frequency spectrum (261). A plurality of the power-frequency spectra are analyzed to identify the discrete acoustic signal by detecting time and frequency dependant changes of power. Preferably the processing involves a Fourier transform analysis. A power-frequency time plot is used to conveniently identify the discrete acoustic event.

Abstract: The invention provides a hapten, an immunogen comprising the hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, a conjugate comprising the hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with MDMA.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating internal tissue defects, such as septal defects, with clip-based devices are provided. An exemplary clip-based device includes a tubular body having at least a first and a second deflectable member coupled thereto. The first and second members are coupled on opposite ends of the tubular body and configured to deflect between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, each member extends outwardly away from the tubular body in a position configured to abut a tissue surface. The first and second members are preferably configured to maintain a tissue wall therebetween and at least partially close any opening in the tissue wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing haptens of formulae I and II that are useful in the preparation of immunogens, antibodies and conjugates, for use in competitive immunoassays for the detection of ractopamine, isoxsuprine and ritodrine. The haptens are prepared by reacting a phenylethanolamine derivative of formula D with a phenylalkylcarbonyl derivative of formula E: in which, in formula I, Z1 is a crosslinker and Z2 is H and, in formula II, Z1 is H and Z2 is a crosslinker.

Abstract: The invention provides a hapten derivatized with a crosslinker at the nitrogen of the 8?-carboxamide of 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD. The invention also provides an immunogen comprising the aforementioned hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material; a conjugate comprising the aforementioned hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with at least the 3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidone structural epitope of 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogen comprising a hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, a conjugate comprising the aforementioned hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with at least one structural epitope of metabolites of fentanyl and of metabolites of fentanyl analogs.

Abstract: A method is given of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of a) pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said at least one device, or b) pumping metallic elements, preferably as proppant agents, and further locating the position of said metallic elements with a tool selected from the group consisting of magnetometers, resistivity tools, electromagnetic devices and ultra-long arrays of electrodes, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said metallic elements. The method allows monitoring of the fracture geometry and proppant placement.

Abstract: An acoustic detection of a discrete acoustic signal allows to detect a leak behind a casing (23) of a borehole. An acoustic amplitude (AA) is sampled during a recording time period (24;64) at a determined position along the tube. Time intervals (26;66) are defined inside of the recording time period (24), and for each time interval (26) the measured acoustic amplitudes are processed to obtain respectively a corresponding power-frequency spectrum (261). A plurality of the power-frequency spectra are analyzed to identify the discrete acoustic signal by detecting time and frequency dependant changes of power. Preferably the processing involves a Fourier transform analysis. A power-frequency time plot is used to conveniently identify the discrete acoustic event.

Abstract: A method of determining the depth of equipment in an underground borehole, the equipment being suspended in the borehole by means of a cable extending from the surface into the well, comprises: (i) determining the amount of cable introduced into the well at the surface; (ii) dividing the cable in the borehole into a series of elements; (iii) determining the tension in each element of the cable in the borehole; (iv) determining the stretch of the cable in the borehole for the determined tension in all elements; and (v) determining the depth of the equipment from the determined amount of cable introduced into the well from the surface and from the determined stretch of the cable in the borehole. The method can be used for correcting a depth measurement or determining an error in a depth measurement made on the cable at the surface by determining a correction factor using the methodology described above.

Abstract: Novel haptens, which can be conjugated to form immunogens, are of formula I, II or III wherein R is a divalent alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and X is a functional group.

Abstract: Methods and devices for producing turbulence in vascular blood flow are provided. In practicing the subject methods, a blood flow modulator is positioned on an external site of a blood vessel at a location in relation to, e.g., at least proximal to a branched vascular site in a manner sufficient to produce turbulence in blood flow at a target site, e.g., at or immediately proximal to the branched vascular site. Representative blood flow modulation devices that find use in the subject methods are devices that can be positioned on an external site of a blood vessel to produce an annular structure around the blood vessel, where the annular structure includes an inner surface protuberance of sufficient dimensions to produce turbulence in the blood vessel. Also provided are kits and systems for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, including applications to reduce the risk of emboli entering branch blood vessels from a main blood vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a hapten comprising a 6-[D-?-aminoacetamido] penicillin derivative crosslinked at the ?-amino group with a substituted or unsubstituted phenyldicarbaldehyde. In addition, the invention provides an immunogen comprising the aforementioned hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, a conjugate comprising the aforementioned hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with at least one structural epitope of an intact ?-lactam ring.

Abstract: A method is given of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of a) pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said at least one device, or b) pumping metallic elements, preferably as proppant agents, and further locating the position of said metallic elements with a tool selected from the group consisting of magnetometers, resistivity tools, electromagnetic devices and ultra-long arrays of electrodes, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said metallic elements. The method allows monitoring of the fracture geometry and proppant placement.

Abstract: A method of determining the depth of equipment in an underground borehole, the equipment being suspended in the borehole by means of a cable extending from the surface into the well, comprises: (i) determining the amount of cable introduced into the well at the surface; (ii) dividing the cable in the borehole into a series of elements; (iii) determining the tension in each element of the cable in the borehole; (iv) determining the stretch of the cable in the borehole for the determined tension in all elements; and (v) determining the depth of the equipment from the determined amount of cable introduced into the well from the surface and from the determined stretch of the cable in the borehole. The method can be used for correcting a depth measurement or determining an error in a depth measurement made on the cable at the surface by determining a correction factor using the methodology described above.

Abstract: Methods and devices for selectively removing an agent from a physiological efferent fluid collection site are provided. A feature of the invention is that a non-occlusive aspiration device is employed to selectively remove the target agent from the site only when the target agent is present in the site. Also provided are systems and kits for performing the subject methods. The subject invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including the selective removal of both therapeutic and diagnostic agents from a variety of different physiological sites.

Abstract: A biochip deposition system and method. The system comprises a deposit mechanism for depositing organic material in spots on a substrate; and a viewing system for detecting the spots on the substrate during a deposit operation and before the spots have dried, for determining if the spots have been correctly deposited, and if not, for generating a suitable output signal. The viewing system includes an illumination device for illuminating deposited spots at a relatively low angle relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for imaging molecules contained in an array of discrete reaction sites on the surface of a solid support comprises: (i) imaging the array and detecting a first molecule located on the solid support at a known position with respect to the array; (ii) by reference to the first molecule, aligning inspection windows in registration with the discrete reaction sites; and (iii) determining the amount of detectable signal in each window. The method is used to locate the reaction sites accurately on the array, and to correct for any misalignments.

Abstract: An assay device incubator comprises a housing (46) defining a region within which at least one assay device is located in use, the housing defining laterally opposed sidewalls (48, 50) of at least one bay (33) in which an assay device can be located. The housing (46) includes one or more guides (49, 51) for supporting the assay device and enabling the assay device to undergo to and fro movement therealong. A vibration system (40, 60) is coupled to the at least one tray in use for vibrating the tray to and fro along the or each guide. A heating system (70) heats the region within the housing.