Abstract: Provided is a technique for achieving a higher measurement accuracy in the detection of an organism-originated physiologically active substance or the measurement of the concentration of the organism-originated physiologically active substance in a hyaluronic acid preparation. The present invention relates to a measurement method for detecting an organism-originated physiologically active substance or measuring the concentration of the organism-originated physiologically active substance in a hyaluronic acid preparation by mixing the hyaluronic acid preparation with an AL reagent to allow the organism-originated physiologically active substance in the hyaluronic acid preparation and an AL to react with each other. A mixed solution of the hyaluronic acid preparation with the AL reagent is diluted with an aqueous electrolyte solution, and a specific protein having a higher affinity for the organism-originated physiologically active substance than that of hyaluronic acid is added to the mixed solution.

Abstract: With regard to the detection of a physiological active substance of biological origin and the measurement of its concentration in a sample, the invention provides a technique for moving gel particles that are produced in the sample without using a mechanical stirring member, and allows a highly accurate detection of the physiological active substance of biological origin and measurement of its concentration with a simple arrangement. By partial heating/cooling of a sample cell, thermal convection is generated within a mixture liquid in the sample cell, and as a result the gel particles that are produced in the mixture liquid are moved. In addition, based on the intensity of forward scattered light, the rate of change in the number of gel particles is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a molecular composition of protein molecules. A fluid containing at least two varieties of protein molecules is irradiated with first and second laser light beams having different wavelengths. The molecular composition of the at least two varieties of protein molecules contained in the fluid is measured on the basis of an autocorrelation function of a scattered light signal from the at least two varieties of protein molecules irradiated with the first and second laser light beams having different wavelengths.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to improve the measurement accuracy in the measurement of the concentration of a physiologically active biological substance in a sample by a stirring turbidimetry, a light scattering method or an AL-bound beads method, wherein the purpose can be achieved by preventing the occurrence of aggregation or gelation that is caused by the stirring of a mixed solution and is not associated with the physiologically active substance.

Abstract: The inside of an anterior chamber (21) of a human eye containing the protein molecules of albumin and globulin is irradiated with laser light beams having different wavelengths from a variable-wavelength laser light source (10). Scattered light from the protein molecules is received by a detector (8), and an autocorrelation function of the scattered light signal is determined by a correlator (9). A computer (11) computes the concentrations of albumin and globulin or the ratio thereof on the basis of the autocorrelation functions of the scattered light signals of the albumin and globulin irradiated with the laser light beams having different wavelengths. In such a configuration, the concentrations of albumin and globulin, or the ratio thereof can be measured reliably without contact and in a noninvasive manner.

Abstract: Particles flowed through a micro-channel are imaged by imaging means. Particle speed measuring means determines the particle speed from the image data. Particle counting means counts the particles flowed for a predetermined time. Particle size measuring means measures the size of the particles. The measurements of the particles flowed at a predetermined timing are managed by data associating means. With this, the speed, number and size of particles flowed through a micro-channel can be determined at a time, and associated data can be obtained.

Abstract: Provided is an assay method and an assay device whereby assay time can be largely shortened in the case of detecting a physiologically active substance of biological origin. The aggregation start time of a liquid mixture of an assay sample with LAL is determined. From this aggregation start time, the physiologically active substance is detected or the concentration thereof is measured. The liquid mixture of the assay sample with LAL is stirred with, for example, a magnetic stirrer to form gel particles. Next, the scattered light intensity of laser light scattered by these gel particles is measured. Then, the frequency distribution of the scattered light intensity fluctuation is obtained. Based on the temporal change in the frequency distribution shape, the aggregation start time of the liquid mixture of the assay sample with LAL is determined.

Abstract: In FIG. 2(a), both laminar flows, solution including fine grains and buffer solution, are supplied in a microchannel in a micro chip device, and gel including drug is supplied at a position contacting with the buffer solution. The fine grains in the solution including fine grains starts to react after contacting with the gel including drug, but the reaction does not start since the drug is separated from the buffer solution in FIG. 2 (c). If supply of the buffer solution is stopped in the above-mentioned state, the solution including fine grains and the gel including drug are contacted and the reaction between the fine grains and the drug can be observed at a fixed point. In such a device, it is sufficient to supply the gel including drug from the supply passage without coating the drug on a wall face of the microchannel and the drug coating operation can be omitted thereby.

Abstract: Particles flowed through a micro-channel are imaged by imaging means. Particle speed measuring means determines the particle speed from the image data. Particle counting means counts the particles flowed for a predetermined time. Particle size measuring means measures the size of the particles. The measurements of the particles flowed at a predetermined timing are managed by data associating means. With this, the speed, number and size of particles flowed through a micro-channel can be determined at a time, and associated data can be obtained.

Abstract: Buffer solution and blood are streamed in a channel of a micro chip so as to form layers. Aggregation inducing agent for aggregating platelets in blood is coated at a wall face on a buffer solution streaming side. If streaming amount of blood is increased in this state, a layer width of blood can be increased, and detail analysis between the aggregation inducing agent and the platelets is possible thereby. Even if it is necessary to take an image or a moving image for comparison between a pre-aggregation state and an aggregation state, it is sufficient to take only a portion where the aggregation inducing agent is coated, that is, a reaction portion. Then, a device can be made cheaper without two cameras or a moving mechanism for the camera or a micro chip.

Abstract: Buffer solution and blood are streamed in a channel of a micro chip so as to form layers. Aggregation inducing agent for aggregating platelets in blood is coated at a wall face on a buffer solution streaming side. If streaming amount of blood is increased in this state, a layer width of blood can be increased, and detail analysis between the aggregation inducing agent and the platelets is possible thereby. Even if it is necessary to take an image or a moving image for comparison between a pre-aggregation state and an aggregation state, it is sufficient to take only a portion where the aggregation inducing agent is coated, that is, a reaction portion. Then, a device can be made cheaper without two cameras or a moving mechanism for the camera or a micro chip.

Abstract: When connecting a blood collecting unit (not shown) with an adaptor, streaming blood in a first inflow passage, and streaming liquid including surfactant or fluorescent dyes in a second inflow passage, the blood and the liquid are mixed at a mixing portion, and platelets, erythrocytes and cell membranes of leukocytes in the blood are dissolved by the surfactant, and the nuclei of the leukocytes are fluorescently stained with the fluorescent dyes. Then, a fluorescent particle counting portion counts the fluorescently stained nuclei of the leukocytes during moving in an outflow passage. According to the invention, a number of leukocytes can be correctly measured with a simple operation, such as connection of a blood collecting unit or the like with the adaptor.

Abstract: When connecting a blood collecting unit (not shown) with an adaptor, streaming blood in a first inflow passage, and streaming liquid including surfactant or fluorescent dyes in a second inflow passage, the blood and the liquid are mixed at a mixing portion, and platelets, erythrocytes and cell membranes of leukocytes in the blood are dissolved by the surfactant, and the nuclei of the leukocytes are fluorescently stained with the fluorescent dyes. Then, a fluorescent particle counting portion counts the fluorescently stained nuclei of the leukocytes during moving in an outflow passage. According to the invention, a number of leukocytes can be correctly measured with a simple operation, such as connection of a blood collecting unit or the like with the adaptor.

Abstract: Cuvettes in boxes for blood testing and the like, are to be distinguished by bar code cuvette identification codes on each cuvette, together with a box identification code. The cuvettes have very limited space for bar code characters. The cuvette bar code reader is responsive to at least two different kinds of control codes, i.e., two distinct start code values and/or stop code values. The distinct control codes operate the bar code reader, but also contribute to the information that is encoded. A cuvette identification code is developed that combines an information code value with distinctions among the control codes found, to increase the number of values that can be encoded. In one embodiment, four start codes, four stop codes and a single decimal information digit, provide 160 different values.

Abstract: A cuvette stand 6 has a side wall 6e continuously connecting with an insertion portion 6a of a storing portion 7. When a cuvette 1 is taken out, a plate portion 2a of the top of the cuvette contacts with the side wall 6e of the cuvette stand 6 so as to guide the cuvette 1 to an exit (the insertion portion 6a) even if the cuvette 1 is shifted from the center of the insertion portion 6a. Therefore, the cuvette 1 can be taken out without catching somewhere.

Abstract: On both end portions of bar code CA to be affixed on a cuvette, there are codes for controlling, start code S and stop code P which are codes for detecting end portions. Identification information INF of each cuvette is produced, regarding the codes for controlling as code for information, together with original code for information I. Then, many cuvettes can be controlled with one digit of code for infomation I.

Abstract: An optical measuring instrument which enables measurement of necessary data in a short period of time and uses a light with a short coherence length. In this instrument, such a light emitted from a light source is divided into a measurement light and a plurality of reference lights. The plurality of reference lights are processed by different frequency modulations, and then multiplexed with a light reflected from a measurement object irradiated by the measurement light. On the basis of an output of a photoelectric converter for detecting the level of the multiplexed light and the frequency of each reference light, optical characteristic data related to a plurality of measurement points are calculated.

Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement apparatus for measuring biological properties by scanning the anterior chamber of an eye two-dimensionally with a laser beam. Light received from the anterior chamber is measured at a plurality of measurement points in a target measurement range defined by the two-dimensional scanning. A representative background value at each of the measurement points is calculated from the received light and compared with a reference value to provide an alignment rank level indicative of the state of alignment. The state of alignment is determined according to the alignment rank level. A difference value between the representative background values or a standard deviation at the measuring points is calculated and compared with an associated reference value for improving the determination of the state of alignment.