Abstract: Cassette (50) performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (50), flowing over wide array (20) of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1×10?1 to 5×10?3, are heated in region (34) preceding and including bubble removal system (128). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (32). External actuations of displacement pumps (30, 37) and valves (137 A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (150, 152). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (131). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage (134, 135) to reaction (133) to waste (139), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and micro-porous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube.

Abstract: Cassette (50) performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (50), flowing over wide array (20) of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1×10?1 to 5×10?3, are heated in region (34) preceding and including bubble removal system (128). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (32). External actuations of displacement pumps (30, 37) and valves (137 A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (150, 152). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (131). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage (134, 135) to reaction (133) to waste (139), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and microporous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube. Fluorescence or luminescence intensity and geometric calibration spots (420) are shown. Reading is enhanced by the intensity calibration spots (420) to enable normalization of readings under uneven illumination conditions, as when reading by dark field, side illumination mode.

Abstract: The invention features a method of adjusting the concentration of at least one but not all of a plurality of analytes in a fluid sample to match a known working range of detection of an analyte assay system, where each of the plurality of analytes may or may not be present within an expected initial concentration range having a high end and a low end, and at least one analyte has a high end expected concentration range that exceeds the high end of the working range of the assay system. The expected concentration of the high concentration analyte is adjusted by a proportional scaling constant, ?, so that the high end of the adjusted expected concentration range is less than or equal to the high end of the working range, without adjusting the expected concentration range of at least one other of the plurality of analytes.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and micro-porous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube. Fluorescence or luminescence intensity and geometric calibration spots (420) are shown. Reading is enhanced by the intensity calibration spots (420) to enable normalization of readings under uneven illumination conditions, as when reading by dark field, side illumination mode.

Abstract: The invention features a method of adjusting the concentration of at least one but not all of a plurality of analytes in a fluid sample to match a known working range of detection of an analyte assay system, where each of the plurality of analytes may or may not be present within an expected initial concentration range having a high end and a low end, and at least one analyte has a high end expected concentration range that exceeds the high end of the working range of the assay system. The expected concentration of the high concentration analyte is adjusted by a proportional scaling constant, ?, so that the high end of the adjusted expected concentration range is less than or equal to the high end of the working range, without adjusting the expected concentration range of at least one other of the plurality of analytes.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and micro-porous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube. Fluorescence or luminescence intensity and geometric calibration spots (420) are shown. Reading is enhanced by the intensity calibration spots (420) to enable normalization of readings under uneven illumination conditions, as when reading by dark field, side illumination mode.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and micro-porous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube. Fluorescence or luminescence intensity and geometric calibration spots (420) are shown. Reading is enhanced by the intensity calibration spots. (420) to enable normalization of readings under uneven illumination conditions, as when reading by dark field, side illumination mode.

Abstract: An immobilizing device for biological material comprises a rigid support (12) carrying a substrate layer (20, 20?) of polymer having biological immobilizing properties, e.g. for amino and nucleic acids. Substantially solid ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably between about 0.1 and 0.5 micron, and micro-porous, ultra-thin substrate layers (20?) having a thickness less than about 5 micron, preferably less than 3 micron, 2 or 1 micron are shown, which may be segmented by isolating moats M. The substrate layer is on a microscope slide (302), round disc (122), bio-cassette, at the bottom of a well of a multiwell plate, and as a coating inside a tube. Fluorescence or luminescence intensity and geometric calibration spots (420) are shown. Reading is enhanced by the intensity calibration spots. (420) to enable normalization of readings under uneven illumination conditions, as when reading by dark field, side illumination mode.

Abstract: Cassette (50) performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (50), flowing over wide array (20) of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1×10?1 to 5×10?3, are heated in region (34) preceding and including bubble removal system (128). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (32). External actuations of displacement pumps (30, 37) and valves (137 A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (150, 152). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (131). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage (134, 135) to reaction (133) to waste (139), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction.

Abstract: The invention features a method of adjusting the concentration of at least one but not all of a plurality of analytes in a fluid sample to match a known working range of detection of an analyte assay system, where each of the plurality of analytes may or may not be present within an expected initial concentration range having a high end and a low end, and at least one analyte has a high end expected concentration range that exceeds the high end of the working range of the assay system. The expected concentration of the high concentration analyte is adjusted by a proportional scaling constant, ?, so that the high end of the adjusted expected concentration range is less than or equal to the high end of the working range, without adjusting the expected concentration range of at least one other of the plurality of analytes.

Abstract: A method and system for locally processing a predetermined microstructure formed on a substrate without causing undesirable changes in electrical or physical characteristics of the substrate or other structures formed on the substrate are provided. The method includes providing information based on a model of laser pulse interactions with the predetermined microstructure, the substrate and the other structures. At least one characteristic of at least one pulse is determined based on the information. A pulsed laser beam is generated including the at least one pulse. The method further includes irradiating the at least one pulse having the at least one determined characteristic into a spot on the predetermined microstructure. The at least one determined characteristic and other characteristics of the at least one pulse are sufficient to locally process the predetermined microstructure without causing the undesirable changes.