Abstract: The invention is a method to modify textiles with a printing and lamination method to produce textile materials with integrated RF shielding. The shielding modifications are comprised of a network of interconnected surface patterns of periodic unit geometries organized in an arrangement to reflect RF waveforms over a range of frequencies below the 10 GHz; to shield the majority or incident RF radiation. Use of this invention enables permanent transfer of many RF shielding patterns on most textile materials for production of RF shielded consumer and industrial clothing as well as object and personal coverings.

Abstract: A microwave heater comprises a cylindrical housing having an inner surface defining an internal cavity. A microwave generator is secured adjacent a first end of the housing and received inside the internal cavity is a sample holder that comprises an annular base member positioned adjacent the first end has a central axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the housing. A first opening is formed along the central axis, an outlet of the microwave generator extending through the first opening along the central axis for emitting into the internal cavity electromagnetic waves centered at a given microwave wavelength. A circular support plate substantially parallel to the base member and concentric therewith, a cavity portion defined therebetween, is separated from the base member by a distance less than the given microwave wavelength for establishing a Transverse Magnetic (TM) 01 mode as a predominant resonance mode inside the cavity portion.

Abstract: A microwave heater comprises a cylindrical housing having an inner surface defining an internal cavity. A microwave generator is secured adjacent a first end of the housing and received inside the internal cavity is a sample holder that comprises an annular base member positioned adjacent the first end has a central axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the housing. A first opening is formed along the central axis, an outlet of the microwave generator extending through the first opening along the central axis for emitting into the internal cavity electromagnetic waves centered at a given microwave wavelength. A circular support plate substantially parallel to the base member and concentric therewith, a cavity portion defined therebetween, is separated from the base member by a distance less than the given microwave wavelength for establishing a Transverse Magnetic (TM) 01 mode as a predominant resonance mode inside the cavity portion.

Abstract: A rinsing and drying apparatus of a clinical analyzer probe drain station is provided. The rinsing and drying apparatus has a group of nozzles that are offset from a longitudinal axis of a probe passage and may be inclined and oriented to provide tangentially oriented fluid-jet trajectories exiting into the sample probe passage. The offset nozzles, nozzle orientation, and cavity geometrical features of the device permit the drying capacity of probe-impinging planar air-knife jets to be maximized by stabilizing local internal fluid movement to form a swirling (e.g., helical) gas flow field directed away from a drying region and toward a vacuum exhaust. The rinsing and drying apparatus eliminates rinse water re-circulated entrainment and up-wash (spitting) during the air-knife drying operation. Therefore, the rinsing and drying apparatus significantly reduces water carryout on sampling probes thereby reducing sample/reagent dilution.

Abstract: A rinsing and drying apparatus of a clinical analyzer probe drain station is provided. The rinsing and drying apparatus has a group of nozzles that are offset from a longitudinal axis of a probe passage and may be inclined and oriented to provide tangentially oriented fluid-jet trajectories exiting into the sample probe passage. The offset nozzles, nozzle orientation, and cavity geometrical features of the device permit the drying capacity of probe-impinging planar air-knife jets to be maximized by stabilizing local internal fluid movement to form a swirling (e.g., helical) gas flow field directed away from a drying region and toward a vacuum exhaust. The rinsing and drying apparatus eliminates rinse water re-circulated entrainment and up-wash (spitting) during the air-knife drying operation. Therefore, the rinsing and drying apparatus significantly reduces water carryout on sampling probes thereby reducing sample/reagent dilution.

Abstract: There is provided a method of measuring properties of a liquid contained in individual wells inside a multi-well array, the method comprising steps of providing capacitor electrodes in the multi-well array, the electrodes adapted to detect a capacitance value of each one of the individual wells without interference of neighboring wells, measuring a capacitance inside each one of the individual wells, and using the capacitance measurements to calculate at least one property of the liquid contained in each one of the individual wells. There is further provided an apparatus for measuring properties of a liquid contained in individual wells inside a multi-well array, and a method of controlling quality of liquid handling task that is repeated across a set of individual wells inside a multi-well array.

Abstract: A fluid handling system for parallel processing of a plurality of biological samples, the system comprising at least a first plate and a second plate which are stackable together and each include a plurality of corresponding apertures for receiving the biological samples. A biasing mechanism releasably connects the first and second modules together. The biasing mechanism includes at least one electromagnetic coupling element disposed in one of the first and second modules and at least one corresponding magnetic coupling element disposed in the other of the first and second modules. The electromagnetic coupling element is normally engaged to the magnetic coupling element and is disengageable therefrom when the electromagnetic coupling element is energized, such that the first and second modules are disengaged from one another.

Abstract: A parallel processing, fluid handling apparatus for concurrent temperature controlled preparation of a plurality of cell fraction samples adapted to be used for electron microscopic viewing. The apparatus comprises generally a sample receiving member, a fluid handling means, and a separation means. The sample receiving member comprises a plurality of discrete apertures each adapted to receive a biological sample therein. The fluid handling means for inserting and removing fluid to and from the plurality of apertures substantially in parallel, permits the biological samples to be processed substantially in parallel by the insertion and removal of processing fluid. The separation means permits the parallel isolated separation of the post-processing samples. The post-processing samples are adapted to be polymerized in embedding solution and removed from the sample receiving member.

Abstract: A parallel processing, fluid handling apparatus for concurrent temperature controlled preparation of a plurality of cell fraction samples adapted to be used for electron microscopic viewing. The apparatus comprises generally a sample receiving member, a fluid handling means, and a separation means. The sample receiving member comprises a plurality of discrete apertures each adapted to receive a biological sample therein. The fluid handling means for inserting and removing fluid to and from the plurality of apertures substantially in parallel, permits the biological samples to be processed substantially in parallel by the insertion and removal of processing fluid. The separation means permits the parallel isolated separation of the post-processing samples. The post-processing samples are adapted to be polymerized in embedding solution and removed from the sample receiving member.