Abstract: A non-invasive sensing system for measuring the concentration of a substance within an object, the system including a support element adapted to be placed near to, or against, a surface of the object, a first transmitting antenna mounted upon or within the support element for transmitting electromagnetic radiation signals into the object, and a second receiving antenna mounted upon or within the support element, and adjacent to the first transmitting antenna, for receiving at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation signals that are reflected back to the same surface of the object covered by the support element, due to the transmitted electromagnetic radiation signals having interacted with the substance within the object being measured.

Abstract: A non-invasive sensing system for measuring the concentration of a substance within an object, the system including a support element adapted to be placed near to, or against, a surface of the object, a first transmitting antenna mounted upon or within the support element for transmitting electromagnetic radiation signals into the object, and a second receiving antenna mounted upon or within the support element, and adjacent to the first transmitting antenna, for receiving at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation signals that are reflected back to the same surface of the object covered by the support element, due to the transmitted electromagnetic radiation signals having interacted with the substance within the object being measured.

Abstract: A novel midplane is shaped with voids through which a dataplane connection is made between components on one side of the midplane and components on the opposite side of the midplane. The voids in the novel midplane offer numerous advantages in the design of network devices, including improved cooling performance, minimizing rack unit space and maximizing interface density, improved signal integrity allowing greater bandwidth through elimination of midplane signaling connections, improved upgradability of orthogonal direct connectors with little or no impact on the midplane or chassis, and proper alignment between the components of the dataplane.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A method of temperature and/or composition measurement of an at least partially aqueous target (6) using a system (1) including; a transmitter and receiver mechanism (2) including one or more transmitting (3) and receiving antenna(e) (4); signal processor (5), capable of calculating the attenuation of the transmitted signal; the method including the steps of; irradiating a target (6) with a plurality of electromagnetic radiation signals including a first signal with a frequency in the microwave/UHF spectrum, and a second signal with a frequency in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum; receiving an attenuated signal transmitted though the target (6); calculating the attenuation of the transmitted signal with the signal processor (5).

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction is provided. The thermal cycler comprises a heater control that provides close temperature control of the reaction.

Abstract: A sample tube including a cylindrical part and a conical part is described. The cylindrical part can include, a first wall portion having a first wall portion thickness, a second wall portion having a second wall portion thickness, and a shoulder including a planar first surface and a conically beveled second surface disposed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The first wall portion can be disposed closer to the planar first surface than the conically beveled second surface. The conical part can be shaped as a frustrum of a cone having a conical part wall thickness. The frustrum can include a wider-end and a narrower-end. The wider-end of the frustrum can be in contact with the second wall portion of the cylindrical part. At least one of the first wall portion thickness and the second wall portion thickness can be greater than the conical part wall thickness.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Abstract: A two-piece plastic holder for loosely holding microliter sample tubes of a preselected design, each tube having a cylindrically shaped upper section open at its top end, a closed, tapered lower section extending downwardly therefrom, and a circumferential shoulder extending outwardly from the upper section at a position on the upper section spaced from the open end thereof. The holder includes a one-piece tray member and a one-piece retainer. The one-piece tray member including a flat, horizontal plate section containing holes in a rectangular array, a first vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending upwardly to a height greater than the height of a tube resting in one of the holes, and a second vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending downwardly approximately to the bottom of the upper section of a tube resting in one of the holes. The one-piece retainer is releasably engageable inside the tray over any sample tubes resting in the tray.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a machine for performing nucleic acid amplification under computer control. The machine utilizes any one of a number of heating and cooling systems under control of a host computer which directs the heating and cooling systems to heat and cool a reaction-chamber-containing heat exchanger at appropriate times in the process. The reaction chambers are pre-loaded with the nucleic acid(s) to be amplified, a thermostable enzyme to catalyze polymerization, specific oligonucleotide primers, and four different nucleotide triphosphates. Also disclosed is the process for the amplification chain reaction implemented by the machine, which utilizes a thermostable enzyme.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Abstract: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.