Abstract: Novel synthetic enzyme substrates with improved enzymatic specificity are disclosed. These synthetic enzyme substrates consist of a substrate peptide that has had its specificity further improved by additional synthetic moieties, selected by combinatorial chemistry techniques, that act to sterically block non-target enzymes. These “steric restrictor” moieties may be labeled to produce a detectable signal upon enzymatic reaction. These novel substrates are particularly useful for improved enzyme substrate microarrays. Specific applications for improved protease substrate microarrays are discussed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device and method by which dry reagent enzyme based electrochemical biosensors, which are in a relatively mature form due to the extensive amount of development pioneered by the blood glucose monitoring industry, may be simply adapted to perform tests for blood coagulation, enzymatic activity, or immunochemical assays for antigens present in a fluid sample. In particular, the utility of combining apoenzyme based dry reagent electrochemical biosensors with apoenzyme reactivation technology is taught. This combination creates a novel combination test technology capable of detecting a wide range of different analytes, and operating in a wide variety of wet or dry, in vivo or in vitro environments.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a time-temperature indicator device that has at least one parameter set to warn when a therapeutic protein drug has had a thermal history associated with increased risk of unwanted immunological activity. The indicator device is designed to remain with the drug as the drug travels throughout different links of the cold chain. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator device remains associated with the therapeutic protein from the time of manufacture up until the final few minutes before the drug is used. In alternate forms of the invention, additional parameters, including motion, light, color and turbidity may also be monitored. Novel methods for determining therapeutic protein time-temperature immunological risk parameters, and programming or adjusting the indicator device, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A robotic navigation system for computerized mobile robot. Typically the robot, which may be in an unknown location, will have an onboard internet web server, a capability of establishing a first connection to a remote web browser on the internet for robotic control purposes, and a capability of establishing a second short range bi-directional digital radio connection to one or more nearby computerized digital radio equipped devices external to the robot. Typically at least some of these nearby digital radio equipped devices will have a known location. The robot can exchange short-range bidirectional digital radio signals with nearby devices that have a known location, and obtain location data to determine it's position. This location information can be used to assist in robotic navigation.

Abstract: This invention covers improved electronic time-temperature indicators with an RFID output, and other devices and methods by which the thermal history of a complex material, which may not obey a simple exponential Arrhenius law degradation equation, may be monitored, and the subsequent fitness for use of the tracked material may be quickly ascertained. In particular, the invention discloses a rapidly reprogrammable electronic time-temperature RFID tag that may be easily customized with the thermal time-temperature stability profile of an arbitrary material, using electronic data transfer methods. Using this device, a single, low-cost, generic time-temperature tag may be mass-produced, and then subsequently programmed to mimic the stability characteristics of nearly any material of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices, kits, instruments and methods for conducting lateral flow assays. A naturally hydrophilic membrane a fluorescent or luminescent label are used in the present devices, kits, instruments and methods. Preferably, a single naturally hydrophilic membrane and/or a fluorescent or luminescent particle label is used.

Abstract: Diagnostic dry reagent tests capable of reacting with a single drop of whole blood and reporting both glucose and light-scattering analytes, such as chylomicrons, are taught. Such dry reagent tests may employ electrochemical detection methodologies, optical detection methodologies, or both methodologies. These tests alert diabetics to excessive levels of postprandial lipemia caused by meals with excessive amounts of fat, and thus can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.

Abstract: Improved processors and processing methods are disclosed for high-speed computerized comparison analysis of multiple linear symbol or character sequences, such as biological nucleic acid sequences, protein sequences, or other long linear arrays of characters. These improved processors and processing methods, which are suitable for use with recursive analytical techniques such as the Smith-Waterman algorithm, and the like, are optimized for minimum gate count and maximum clock cycle computing efficiency. This is done by interleaving multiple linear sequence comparison operations per processor, which optimizes use of the processor's resources. In use, a plurality of such processors are embedded in high-density integrated circuit chips, and run synchronously to efficiently analyze long sequences. Such processor designs and methods exceed the performance of currently available designs, and facilitate lossless higher dimensional sequence comparison analysis between three or more linear sequences.

Abstract: A device and method for verifying correct performance of an optical clinical assay system is provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a methods in which dry reagent enzyme based electrochemical biosensors, which are in a relatively mature form due to the extensive amount of development pioneered by the blood glucose monitoring industry, may be simply adapted to perform tests for blood coagulation, enzymatic activity, or immunochemical assays for antigens present in a fluid sample. In particular, the utility of combining apoenzyme based dry reagent electrochemical biosensors with apoenzyme reactivation technology is taught. This combination creates a novel combination dry reagent test technology capable of detecting a wide range of different analytes.