Abstract: Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells or sample receptacles are achieved by the use of heating and cooling elements with a vapor chamber interposed between such elements and the microplate. The upper surface of the vapor chamber and the underside of the sample plate in certain embodiments are complementary in shape, i.e., they have identical but oppositely directed contours in the areas around each of the sample receptacles, to provide continuous surface contact along the surface of each receptacle. In other embodiments, an intermediary plate is placed between the vapor chamber and the well plate, with the top surface of the intermediary plate being complementary in shape to the underside of the well plate.

Abstract: A braking system includes a moveable structure connected to a rear brake. The rear brake may be a hub brake or a disc brake. A cable to the front brake is connected to the moveable structure. When the rear brake is actuated, the moveable structure moves. The movement of the structure pulls the cable to actuate the front brake. The movement may include a translation, rotation, or both.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed for determining a concentration of an analyte in a fluid (e.g., blood). The system can draw blood from a patient and deliver the blood to a sample cell. A particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma) may be separated and/or positioned such that the concentration of the analyte is measured in the particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma). The sample cell can include a sample container that has two window pieces. The system can have a fluid passage having a tip configured to mate with a multi-lumen catheter without leaking. The multi-lumen catheter can have proximal and distal ports. A fluid pressure system can be configured to periodically draw fluid from vasculature through a proximal intravascular opening and the proximal port while maintaining a low pressure and/or flow rate to thereby reduce risk of reversing the fluid flow in a vessel and drawing infusates upstream into another intravascular opening.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed for determining a concentration of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in a fluid (e.g., blood). The system can draw blood from a patient and deliver the blood to a sample cell. A centrifuge motor can spin the sample cell to separate the fluid into a plurality of components (plasma, red blood cells, etc.). A particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma) may be positioned at a sample portion of the sample cell after centrifuging such that the concentration of the analyte is measured in the particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma). The sample cell can include a cuvette that has two window pieces sandwiched between two clamshell pieces, and where the sample portion of the sample cell is defined by a gap between the window pieces.

Abstract: Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells or sample receptacles are achieved by the use of heating and cooling elements with a vapor chamber interposed between such elements and the microplate. The upper surface of the vapor chamber and the underside of the sample plate in certain embodiments are complementary in shape, i.e., they have identical but oppositely directed contours in the areas around each of the sample receptacles, to provide continuous surface contact along the surface of each receptacle. In other embodiments, an intermediary plate is placed between the vapor chamber and the well plate, with the top surface of the intermediary plate being complementary in shape to the underside of the well plate.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed for determining a concentration of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in a fluid (e.g., blood). The system can draw blood from a patient and deliver the blood to a sample cell. A centrifuge motor can spin the sample cell to separate the fluid into a plurality of components (plasma, red blood cells, etc.). A particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma) may be positioned at a sample portion of the sample cell after centrifuging such that the concentration of the analyte is measured in the particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma). The sample cell can include a cuvette that has two window pieces sandwiched between two clamshell pieces, and where the sample portion of the sample cell is defined by a gap between the window pieces.

Abstract: A fluid handling system for use in bodily fluid analysis. The system comprises a first fluid handling module configured to interface with a main instrument. The first fluid handling module has a first fluid handling network and the first fluid handling network includes an infusate passage and an infusion fluid pressure member suitable for moving fluid within the infusate passage. The fluid handling system also has a second fluid handling module separate from the first module which is configured to interface with the main instrument. The second fluid handling module has a second fluid handling network and at least one sample analysis cell which is accessible via the second fluid handling network. The first and second modules are configured to interconnect and provide fluid communication between the first and second fluid handling network and the sample cells.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system wherein the reader includes a switching network and a plurality of transceivers operating under the control of a controller. The reader further includes failure detection circuitry for determining whether any of the transceivers have failed based upon the RF outputs of the transceivers. If the controller determines that a transceiver has failed, then it alters the switching pattern such that the switching network excludes the failed transceiver from being connected to the antennas. The reader thereby provides for adaptive RF channel assignment, as the particular transceiver used to excite a particular antenna may be dynamically altered, and the provision of at least two transceivers in the reader ensures transceiver redundancy.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system wherein the reader includes a switching network and a plurality of transceivers operating under the control of a controller. The reader further includes failure detection circuitry for determining whether any of the transceivers have failed based upon the RF outputs of the transceivers. If the controller determines that a transceiver has failed, then it alters the switching pattern such that the switching network excludes the failed transceiver from being connected to the antennas. The reader thereby provides for adaptive RF channel assignment, as the particular transceiver used to excite a particular antenna may be dynamically altered, and the provision of at least two transceivers in the reader ensures transceiver redundancy.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a device such as an ion trap has an axial length extending generally in the direction of a central axis from a first axial end to a second axial end, and an inside surface. The inside surface includes a surface profile that is uniform from the first axial end to the second axial end, or at least is uniform for a uniform section length along the axial direction. The electrode may include an elongated surface feature such as a groove that extends for at least the uniform section length. An aperture may communicate with the groove. The electrode may be axially segmented into regions. Gaps between the regions may be oriented at an angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. The electrode may be one of several electrodes arranged as an electrode structure coaxially disposed about an elongated interior space.

Abstract: A fluid mixing device is described that is suitable for use in an analyte detection system. For example, intersecting fluid passageways having flow cross-sections are described. One or more of the fluid passageways can have one or more fluid mixing chambers, and the fluid mixing chamber(s) can have a wider cross-section than other portions of the fluid passageways. A mixing fluid can be introduced into a flow of main fluid at an intersection between fluid passageways, and fluid flow can be regulated by flow regulating devices or valves that are operatively associated with the fluid passageways. A controller can control fluid movement, for example, by controlling the valves. Fluid mixing can be facilitated by disruption of laminar flow. Turbulent flow can be introduced by the shape or width or position of fluid mixing chamber(s).

Abstract: A dual mode transponder for engaging in RF communications with a roadside reader from a vehicle. The transponder includes an antenna, an electronic toll collection (ETC) component, and an external interface. The ETC component implements a pre-defined ETC communications protocol to detect and interpret received signals and generate response signals when operating in an ETC mode. The ETC component also includes a bypass port. The external interface is coupled to the bypass port and has an external port for receiving input signals. The ETC component includes a bypass module for receiving a bypass instruction and entering a bypass mode. In the bypass mode the ETC component refrains from implementing the ETC communications protocol. Instead, the ETC component transmits the input signals relayed from the external interface to the ETC component to the reader.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system with dynamically adjusted timing for operation of one or more subsystems. The timing is dynamically adjusted based upon the prevailing traffic speed for the roadway. The roadway traffic speed is determined based upon direct measurements of traffic speed by external equipment or based upon a variable correlated with traffic speed. The variable may include the average number of handshakes per transponder over an estimation period. The subsystem may include a vehicle position determination system, an enforcement system, a loop detection system, or other such subsystems.

Abstract: A method of extracting and analyzing bodily fluids from a patient at the point of care for the patient is provided. The method comprises establishing fluid communication between an analyte detection system and a bodily fluid in the patient. A portion of the bodily fluid is drawn from the patient. A first component of the bodily fluid is separated from the drawn portion, while the analyte detection system remains in fluid communication with the patient. The analyte detection system analyzes the first component to measure a concentration of an analyte in an accurate and timely manner.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a device such as an ion trap has an axial length extending generally in the direction of a central axis from a first axial end to a second axial end, and an inside surface. The inside surface includes a surface profile that is uniform from the first axial end to the second axial end, or at least is uniform for a uniform section length along the axial direction. The electrode may include an elongated surface feature such as a groove that extends for at least the uniform section length. An aperture may communicate with the groove. The electrode may be axially segmented into regions. Gaps between the regions may be oriented at an angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the central axis. The electrode may be one of several electrodes arranged as an electrode structure coaxially disposed about an elongated interior space.

Abstract: A fluid handling system for use in bodily fluid analysis. The system comprises a first fluid handling module configured to interface with a main instrument. The first fluid handling module has a first fluid handling network and the first fluid handling network includes an infusate passage and an infusion fluid pressure member suitable for moving fluid within the infusate passage. The fluid handling system also has a second fluid handling module separate from the first module which is configured to interface with the main instrument. The second fluid handling module has a second fluid handling network and at least one sample analysis cell which is accessible via the second fluid handling network. The first and second modules are configured to interconnect and provide fluid communication between the first and second fluid handling network and the sample cells.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system that includes a reader with internal monitoring circuitry. The reader includes a controller and transceiver, which is connected to an antenna, wherein the transceiver sends outgoing RF signals to the antenna and receives incoming RF signals from the antenna. The reader includes transceiver monitor circuitry for monitoring the characteristics of the RF signals to assess transceiver performance. The transceiver monitor circuitry provides a result signal to the controller. The controller may adjust the operation of the transceiver through adjustments to an adjustable element based upon the measurement signals. The controller may also send measurement information to a remote computer and receive instructions from the remote computer, thereby enabling remote monitoring and adjustment of the electronic toll collection system.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system wherein the reader includes a switching network and a plurality of transceivers operating under the control of a controller. The reader further includes failure detection circuitry for determining whether any of the transceivers have failed based upon the RF outputs of the transceivers. If the controller determines that a transceiver has failed, then it alters the switching pattern such that the switching network excludes the failed transceiver from being connected to the antennas. The reader thereby provides for adaptive RF channel assignment, as the particular transceiver used to excite a particular antenna may be dynamically altered, and the provision of at least two transceivers in the reader ensures transceiver redundancy.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking a plurality of items, wherein the items are individually equipped with item tags. The method and system provides for an integrity tag or memory element associated with the plurality of items, for example, within a container. The integrity tag stores data regarding the plurality of items, permitting a reader to verify the integrity of the information received from an interrogation of the plurality of item tags. For example, in one embodiment the integrity tag provides a count of the number of items in the container or an error detection value. The reader may then verify that it has received responses from the correct number of item tags in order to verify that the correct number of items are present in the container.

Abstract: An electronic toll collection system with dynamically adjusted timing for operation of one or more subsystems. The timing is dynamically adjusted based upon the prevailing traffic speed for the roadway. The roadway traffic speed is determined based upon direct measurements of traffic speed by external equipment or based upon a variable correlated with traffic speed. The variable may include the average number of handshakes per transponder over an estimation period. The subsystem may include a vehicle position determination system, an enforcement system, a loop detection system, or other such subsystems.