Abstract: A subtractive corrective assay device and methodology, whereby ail required binding and label detection reagents are initially located within the detection zone. Application of a magnetic field is used to selectively remove bound label from the detection zone by means of paramagnetic particles. The relationship between measured label concentration before and after the application of a magnetic field within the detection zone is used to accurately measure analyte concentration within the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic based assay system, comprising a disposable assay cartridge and associated reading device, as well as the individual components themselves. The present invention also relates to methods of conducting assays, using the cartridge and device of the invention, as well as kits for conducting assays.

Abstract: An assay method and device can perform at least one (e.g., at least two) assays on a single aliquot of a sample liquid. The device can mix a sample liquid with assay reagents including magnetically susceptible particles. The device is configured to create a sample liquid-air interface with the sample liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles can be located (via an applied magnetic field) at the liquid-air interface when a second liquid contacts the interface to form a liquid-liquid interface. The magnetic particles travel across the liquid-liquid interface to the second liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles are configured to trans-port an analyte across the interface into the second liquid. An assay for the analyte is performed in the second liquid. An assay for another analyte can also be performed in the sample liquid.

Abstract: An assay method and device can perform at least one (e.g., at least two) assays on a single aliquot of a sample liquid. The device can mix a sample liquid with assay reagents including magnetically susceptible particles. The device is configured to create a sample liquid-air interface with the sample liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles can be located (via an applied magnetic field) at the liquid-air interface when a second liquid contacts the interface to form a liquid-liquid interface. The magnetic particles travel across the liquid:liquid interface to the second liquid. The magnetically susceptible particles are configured to transport an analyte across the interface into the second liquid. An assay for the analyte is performed in the second liquid. An assay for another analyte can also be performed in the sample liquid.

Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte can include binding an analyte with a first reagent which is associated with a magnetic particle, allowing analyte to interact with an excess amount of a second reagent capable of interacting with the analyte, and magnetically separating a portion of analyte-bound second reagent from excess second reagent. After the magnetic separation, the interaction of the analyte and the second reagent can be disrupted to produce a detectable form of the second reagent, which can be detected. A device and system suited to performing the method are also described.

Abstract: An assay device includes a first reagent including a magnetic particle and a second reagent including detectable component. The first and second reagent can each independently bind to an analyte in a sample. Applying a magnetic field can selectively concentrate the detectable component in a detection zone, where a detectable change ca be measured and related to the amount of analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence or amount of analyte in a fluid sample, which comprises: contacting a fluid sample with a binding reagent that comprises a plurality of cleavable species and wherein said species, when cleaved, are detectable using electrochemical means; separating any binding reagent-analyte complex that forms from the unbound binding reagent; cleaving the cleavable species from the immobilized binding reagent-analyte complex; and detecting the cleaved species using electrochemical means.

Abstract: An integrated multimedia encoding system is disclosed. Multimedia encoders which are capable of adjusting bit rates receive multimedia data to compress the data. After compressing the data, the multimedia encoders adjust the bit rates of the elementary streams responsive to a control input. Bit rates are increased or decreased using delays or, for video data, by allocating more or less bits to each macroblock, frame or group of frames. A unified memory module is coupled to the multimedia encoders to store the multimedia elementary stream data, the Program or Transport stream data, and data from other sources as needed. The unified memory is capable of adjusting storage allocations responsive to the realtime requirements of the incoming multimedia streams and the outgoing Program or Transport stream data.