Abstract: A biological fluid analysis device (100) including a biosensor (50) comprising an electrochemical-enzymatic sensor including a working electrode (51) and a reference electrode (52), is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided wherein managed care organizations (MCO) and a patient's healthcare provider are provided reports by an entity on a periodic basis. The reports are based on patient glucose or other disease monitoring tests inputted to a patient test analyzer monitor uniquely identified to the patient. The monitor is programmed to communicate to the entity as frequently as nightly each day's tests to create a patient(s) data base at the entity. The entity optionally causes test units to be shipped directly to the patient as needed. Test results are provided in reports to at least the MCO and optionally to a health care provider and patient. The reports provide timely information as to the status of the patient's control of the disease encouraging compliance by the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the encapsulation of substances and drugs into cells and platelets. The present invention is also related to the incorporation of thrombus dissolving drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase into platelets using the apparatus described herein. The treated platelets can then be used to treat patients suffering from a thrombus blocking a blood vessel. The present invention is also related to a preparation of red blood cells that has a stable right shift of the oxygen dissociation curve.

Abstract: A tube has a plurality of sections, several with a transparent wall and a static mixer in each section, which mixers may also be transparent. The initial section mixes a photo inactivation agent with a body fluid such as blood and so on. The static mixers each have adjacent static mixing elements including a pair of axially aligned static mixing sections each formed of a 180° helix, adjacent sections being relatively rotated 90°, all of the elements being aligned in a corresponding tube section and having the same orientation. The apparatus is disposable and includes fluid supply containers, tubing, valves, sensors, and mixing devices coupled to pumps, all under control of a CPU. A static mixer filter filters the processed fluid and may contain porous resin particles coated on the inner surfaces of or packed into a mixing device, and/or coated on a porous membrane in a mixing device.

Abstract: A biological fluid analysis device (100) including a biosensor (50) comprising an electrochemical-enzymatic sensor including a working electrode (51) and a reference electrode (52), is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided wherein managed care organizations (MCO) are invoiced directly by an entity which provides reports and/or data to the patient, to the patient's healthcare provider and to the patient's MCO, on a periodic basis. The reports are based on patient glucose or other disease monitoring tests inputted to a patient test analyzer monitor uniquely identified to the patient. The monitor is programmed to communicate over telephone lines or other communication system to the entity as frequently as nightly each day's tests with time and date stamps for each test. The entity optionally causes test units to be shipped directly to the patient as needed by monitoring patient supplies through the transmitted tests. Test results are correlated in reports to each patient and his or her healthcare provider and MCO.

Abstract: An improved electrode for use in generating an electrical field in a saline solution is provided. In particular, a continuous crystalline metal nitride coated electrode is provided for use in a variety of saline solution applications, such as in an electrophoresis device for separating proteins or nucleic acids or an electroporation apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in various cell populations. A method and apparatus are provided for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in red blood cells, characterized by an optionally automated, continuous-flow, self-contained electroporation system which allows withdrawal of blood from a patient, separation of red blood cells, encapsulation of a biologically-active substances in the cells, and optional recombination of blood plasma and the modified red blood cells thereby producing blood with modified biological characteristics.

Abstract: An improved electrode for use in generating an electrical field in a saline solution is provided. In particular, a continuous crystalline metal nitride coated electrode is provided for use in a variety of saline solution applications, such as in an electrophoresis device for separating proteins or nucleic acids or an electroporation apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in various cell populations. A method and apparatus are provided for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in red blood cells, characterized by an optionally automated, continuous-flow, self-contained electroporation system which allows withdrawal of blood from a patient, separation of red blood cells, encapsulation of a biologically-active substances in the cells, and optional recombination of blood plasma and the modified red blood cells thereby producing blood with modified biological characteristics.

Abstract: An improved electrode for use in generating an electrical field in a saline solution is provided. In particular, a continuous crystalline metal nitride coated electrode is provided for use in a variety of saline solution applications, such as in an electrophoresis device for separating proteins or nucleic acids or an electroporation apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in various cell populations. A method and apparatus are provided for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in red blood cells, characterized by an optionally automated, continuous-flow, self-contained electroporation system which allows withdrawal of blood from a patient, separation of red blood cells, encapsulation of a biologically-active substances in the cells, and optional recombination of blood plasma and the modified red blood cells thereby producing blood with modified biological characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying a fluid sample with radiation capable of exciting fluorescence in fluorescent material comprises a totally internally reflecting, unitary elongated substrate transmissive to both the excitation radiation and to the fluorescence. The fluorescent material includes at least a moiety of an antibody-antigen complex that includes a tag that will provide the fluorescence when excited by an evanescent wave generated by the excitation radiation. The substrate includes an elongated fiber and an integral lens formed to guide the optical radiation into the fiber within the bounds of a critical angle to assure total internal reflectance. A hollow elongated enclosure is disposed concentrically about and spaced from the fiber so as to provide an interspace of capillary dimensions.