Abstract: Medical device or instrument for diagnosing pressure ulcers using optical reflectance spectroscopy. The device may comprise a tip and a controller. The tip is pressed against the skin of the patient and collects the optical reflectance data. The controller processes the data to determine whether there exists a pressure ulcer and, if there is one, its depth. The tip may also include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure at which the tip is applied to the patient's skin.

Abstract: Medical device or instrument for diagnosing pressure ulcers using optical reflectance spectroscopy. The device may comprise a tip and a controller. The tip is pressed against the skin of the patient and collects the optical reflectance data. The controller processes the data to determine whether there exists a pressure ulcer and, if there is one, its depth. The tip may also include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure at which the tip is applied to the patient's skin.

Abstract: Medical device or instrument for diagnosing pressure ulcers using optical reflectance spectroscopy. The device may comprise a tip and a controller. The tip is pressed against the skin of the patient and collects the optical reflectance data. The controller processes the data to determine whether there exists a pressure ulcer and, if there is one, its depth. The tip may also include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure at which the tip is applied to the patient's skin.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device is described having a membrane which can be induced to resonate and the frequency of its resonance can be monitored. Chemical moieties can be attached to the membrane, and these moieties can be selected such that they have an affinity for molecules of interest, especially biological molecules of interest. When molecules of interest bind to the moieties they increase the mass of the membrane and thereby change the frequency of the membrane's resonance. By monitoring the resonance one can obtain an indication of the presence of the molecules of interest and in some circumstances an indication of the approximate concentration of these molecules. In addition, several types of moieties having affinities for several different molecules of interest can be placed on the membrane in such a way that the sensor can detect the presence of several different types of molecules of interest and distinguish which ones may be present and which ones may be absent.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device is described having a membrane which can be induced to resonate and the frequency of its resonance can be monitored. Chemical moieties can be attached to the membrane, and these moieties can be selected such that they have an affinity for molecules of interest, especially biological molecules of interest. When molecules of interest bind to the moieties they increase the mass of the membrane and thereby change the frequency of the membrane's resonance. By monitoring the resonance one can obtain an indication of the presence of the molecules of interest and in some circumstances an indication of the approximate concentration of these molecules. In addition, several types of moieties having affinities for several different molecules of interest can be placed on the membrane in such a way that the sensor can detect the presence of several different types of molecules of interest and distinguish which ones may be present and which ones may be absent.

Abstract: A method of separating a material from a liquid sample comprising:providing a system for material separation having a stationary phase having a metalloporphyrin coordination compound or a metallophthalocyanine coordination compound or a mixture thereof;oxidizing or reducing the coordination compound, respectively, to an oxidized or reduced state at which the material will bind to the compound;applying a source of electric potential to the system; andcontacting the oxidized or reduced coordination compound with a liquid sample containing the material under conditions effective to separate the material from the liquid.