Abstract: A method for separating serum from whole blood in a vessel at an insertion speed of 30 cm/sec or less and maintaining the suction pressure of the suction nozzle at 400 mm Hg or less. Improved analytical results are obtained because the serum can be produced without hemolysis.

Abstract: The invention provides a blood filter cartridge which is made so that the filtrate discharged from the filtrate outlet is not drawn back to the inside of the filtering chamber. The blood filter cartridge includes a blood filtering material, a holder containing the blood filtering material and having a blood inlet and a filtrate outlet, and a filtrate receiver which receives the filtrate discharged from the filtrate outlet. The blood filter catridge is provided with a means for preventing the filtrate in the filtrate receiver from returning to inside of the holder upon finishing filtration. Such means include the following: removing opposite faces around the filtrate outlet, making length of lower end of the filtrate outlet 0.8 mm or more, smoothing surface around the filtrate outlet, and forming surface around the filtrate outlet by a material having a small surface energy.

Abstract: The blood filter unit of the invention is composed of a blood filtering material made of glass fiber filter and microporous membrane and a holder having a blood inlet and a filtrate outlet. The holder accommodates the blood filtering material so that the microporous membrane is located on the filtrate outlet side, provides a space between the blood filtering material and the filtrate outlet, and provides a means for preventing adhesion of the blood filtering material on the filtrate outlet side. By using the blood filter unit, a necessary volume of plasma or serum for analysis can be separated surely, irrespective of hematocrit value of the blood.

Abstract: A blood filter unit having a blood filter holder containing a blood filtering material of a glass fiber filter and a microporous membrane is described. The holder has a blood inlet and a filtrate outlet, and accommodates the blood filtering material so that the microporous membrane is located on the filtrate outlet side and has a space between the blood filtering material and the filtrate outlet. The holder provides means for preventing adhesion of the blood filtering material on the filtrate outlet side. The inventive blood filter unit allows separation of a desired volume of plasma or serum for analysis without interference by the hematocrit value of the blood.

Abstract: A chemical analysis slide cartridge includes a box-like cartridge body in which a plurality of chemical analysis slides are stacked. A slide take-out port is formed in one end of the cartridge body and the chemical analysis slides in the cartridge body are taken out one by one through the take-out port. A pressing member is slidably received in the cartridge body and is adapted to be brought into contact with the stack of the slides on the side remote from the take-out port to push the stack of the slides toward the take-out port. Ratchet teeth are formed on the inner wall of the cartridge body and a claw adapted to be engaged with the ratchet teeth is formed on the pressing member. The ratchet teeth are not formed in a predetermined area near the end of the cartridge body remote from the take-out port so that the claw cannot be engaged with the ratchet teeth when the pressing member is near the end of the cartridge body remote from the take-out port.

Abstract: A means for collecting and spotting a small amount of blood which comprises a cylinder, a piston, and a puncturing tip, wherein: the piston is inserted airtightly into one end of the cylinder; the puncturing tip is airtightly and exchangeably fitted onto another end of the cylinder; the puncturing tip comprises a blood conduit and a needle suspended by a spring within the blood conduit; the blood conduit has a volume which is equal to a volume of blood to be spotted to analytical means; and the needle is arranged to be pushed out from the puncturing tip by descent of the piston and then return back by ascent of the piston.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing a plurality of stacked chips having an exit for taking out the end dry analytical film chip one by one which are pushed toward the exit, and a flexible engager for inhibiting the discharge of the end chip. The exit and the engager are provided at an end portion of a side wall of the casing, the opening being provided at an end of the casing, and the flexible engager has a strength capable of releasing the end chip from the conveyor but is also capable of holding the second end, wherein the exit and the engager are provided at an end portion of a side wall of the casing, the opening being provided at an end of the casing.

Abstract: A chemical analysis element cartridge includes a box-like cartridge body in which a plurality of chemical analysis elements are stacked and are taken out through an element take-out port formed at one end of the cartridge body. A pressing member is slidably received in the cartridge body and is brought into contact with the stack of the elements on the side remote from the element take-out port to push the stack of the elements toward the element take-out port. The cartridge body is provided at least in one side wall thereof with a slit which extends in the direction of stack of the elements and the pressing member is provided with an external force receiving portion which is laterally interlocked with an urging member disposed outside the cartridge body through the slit and receives a force for urging the pressing member toward the element take-out port from the urging member.

Abstract: In a method of producing a gel sheet for electrophoresis comprising a gel membrane acting as the medium for electrophoresis composed of a hydrophilic polymer having a uniform thickness, two sheets of transparent or translucent electrical inslating films disposed on the front and the rear surfaces of the gel membrane and two pieces of spacers disposed along two facing sides of the gel membrane, an end not provided with the spacer of the gel membrane is cut off to form a slot for loading samples, the improvement which comprises, punching the gel membrane, before one surface of the gel membrane is covered with said electrical inslating film yet, to form the portion corresponding to the slot for loading samples, pressing an adhering member on the cut piece of gel membrane thereby sticking at least an edge of the cut gel membrane piece thereon, and removing the adhering member holding the cut piece of gel membrane therefrom.

Abstract: A device in a liquid development system to prevent soiling of support rollers for an imaging member wherein the support rollers previously soiled the back surface of the imaging member. The invention comprises insulating the support rollers and applying a developing voltage only when the imaging member has been inserted between the support rollers and another set of rollers which also serve as development electrodes so that voltage is not applied on a given roller pair not carrying the imaging member, thus developer material is not induced to flow on roller pairs not bearing the imaging member.