Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Abstract: Typical apparatus according to this invention comprises a host interface for receiving digital data interface input from a host computer and delivering digital data interface output to the host computer, the interface output data comprising a function of the interface input data; an optical storage device (herein sometimes called a “light drive”) for receiving the interface output data from the host interface and providing optical radiation (i.e. radiation of wavelength in the range at least of about ultraviolet to at least about infrared) to each of a series of pixels in a region of a member comprising an effective concentration of photoreceptive material (PRM) and wherein the wavelength and intensity of the radiation in each pixel are functions of the interface output data received from the host interface; and a transmission medium for providing a datum signal from each pixel via the host interface to the host computer.

Abstract: The invention discloses apparatus and methods that combine fluorescence spectra, Raman spectra, and diffuse reflectance, with image analysis in a single instrument package along with algorithms and data processing software. The data processing software involves spectral analysis, image analysis, data compression, data fusion, and classification processes. A spectral database with optical tissue characteristics is developed from a pathology laboratory and/or from in vivo measurements to provide the information required to differentiate normal and abnormal tissue.

Abstract: In a method of separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, a liquid solvent flows down an array of vertical wires with the gas mixture flowing over the liquid. Once on the wire, the liquid quickly breaks up into drops of varying sizes, with each size moving down the wire at a different velocity. Large, faster moving drops overtake the small, slower moving drops to form even larger drops. As the drops fall, new drops are created behind the falling drops. Consequently, drops of a large range of sizes are forming, colliding, and mixing as they travel down the wire. During this process, gas molecules that have adsorbed onto the liquid surface are mixed into the interior of the solvent, resulting in highly effective mass transfer and gas absorption. This enhanced mass transfer allows greater flexibility in the choice of solvent and in the system design.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to products for absorbing bodily fluids, such as feminine sanitary pads, tampons, wound dressings, bandages, and the like. The absorbent personal article of the invention includes a color masking layer with fluid impermeable areas disposed on a fluid permeable support fabric in spaced relationship. The article may include an absorbent core, a topsheet, a backsheet, and a spreading layer in addition to or in combination with the color masking layer. The L values of the color masking layer and support fabric are preferably in the relationship of: 1 Lsystem - Lcloth Lsystem > 0.

Abstract: A method of non-invasive determination of the concentration of at least one analyte in the blood of a mammal, includes the steps of projecting near-infrared radiation on a portion of the body of the mammal, the radiation including a plurality of wavelengths; sensing the resulting radiation emitted from the portion of the body; deriving from the sensed resulting radiation emitted from the portion of the body a first expression for the magnitude of the sensed radiation as a function of wavelength of the sensed radiation; pretreating the first expression to minimize the influence of offset and drift to obtain a second expression for the magnitude of the sensed radiation as a function of wavelength; and performing multivariate analysis of the second expression to obtain a value for the concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: Disclosed is a real-time fluorescence imaging system for detecting on-site the presence and boundaries of spills of insulating liquids for transformers and capacitors and other fluorescing materials providing a two- dimensional image of the spill having excitement means positionable near a spill for exciting fluorescence emissions from the spill materials, image intensification means for intensifying the fluorescent emissions, first detection means positionable to detect intensified fluorescent emissions from the insulating liquids and generating a detection signal, and display means for receiving the detection signal and generating a real-time video image of the presence and boundaries of the spill. The present invention also includes pulse means for causing the excitement means to periodically excite fluorescent emissions from the insulating liquids and control means for controlling the intensification means to intensify only during periods of fluorescent excitation.

Abstract: Radiation in the near infrared over a limited range of wavelengths about 1660 nanometers is projected on a portion of the body, for example, the ear, of the patient. The resulting radiation emitted by the portion, either scattered from the portion or transmitted after absorption and scattered by the portion, is processed to derive an expression of the resulting radiation as a function of the wavelength. The second derivative of this function over a very narrow range of this function between 1640 and 1670 nanometers is expanded and the glucose concentration is determined from the magnitude, or intensity, of the scattered or transmitted radiation at the maximum or minimum point of this derivative apparatus for non-invasive determination of glucose concentration in the patient. Radiation in the near infrared is transmitted through a first fiber-optic radiation conductor to the outer surface of a portion of the patient's body, penetrating into the portion.