Abstract: The methods for sample preparation disclosed herein utilize an air phase to reduce aqueous phase associated with magnetic particles bound to nucleic acids to decrease carryover of one or more contaminants, such as, cell debris, chaotropic agents, non-specifically attached molecules, and the like. This air-transfer step is improved by using a combination of a first population of magnetic particles and a second population of magnetic particles, where the first population of magnetic particles is capable of associating with nucleic acids, and the magnetic particles in the second population are at least two-times larger in size than the size of the magnetic particles in the first population. As discussed herein, the use of this second population of magnetic particles improves the transfer of the first population of magnetic particles by reducing loss of the first magnetic particles during the transfer. The sample preparation methods may be semi-automated or completely automated.

Abstract: A method of analyzing blood coagulation in vitro, comprising analyzing blood coagulation ability using a blood sample in which an extrinsic blood coagulation activator, thrombomodulin and a heparin-like substance are added.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micro chip is for liquid sample analysis and has a flow path therein. The method includes preparing a base material having, in a surface thereof, a groove serving as a flow path, preparing a film which covers the surface of the base material to seal the groove and can thus form a flow path, applying, on the base material, an adhesive and/or a sticking agent, and attaching the film onto the base material so that a surface of the base material, to which the adhesive and/or the sticking agent is applied, and the film overlap each other. The attaching includes pressure-bonding the film and the base material under 32-643 kPa, and curing the adhesive and/or the sticking agent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microchip for a blood coagulation test includes preparing a substrate which has, in the surface thereof, a groove serving as a flow channel, and has a first through-hole serving as an inlet and provided on one end side of the groove. A film having a surface coated with collagen and/or tissue thromboplastin is prepared so as to cover a region of a portion on the flow channel when the film is bonded to the surface, of the substrate, having the groove therein overlaps the surface, of the film, coated with the collagen and/or tissue thromboplastin.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microchip for analyzing a component in a liquid sample by passing the sample through a flow path provided inside and performing a reaction in a reaction portion provided in a portion of the flow path, the method including: a step of providing a substrate including on the surface thereof a groove serving as a flow path and a reaction portion in a portion between the both ends of the groove; a step of applying an adhesive agent or a gluing agent on an area other than the groove on the grooved surface of the substrate; a step of providing a film on an area of which a reaction substance is applied; and a step of attaching the film on the substrate in a specific manner.

Abstract: A method for analyzing thrombogenic capacity or blood coagulation capacity, the method comprising adding calcium, a blood coagulation factor XII (FXII) inhibitor, and a kallikrein inhibitor to blood collected with a blood collection tube containing sodium citrate, to allow initiation of blood coagulation reaction, is provided. Preferably, heparin, heparan sulfate, and tissue factor are further added to the blood, and thrombogenic capacity or blood coagulation capacity is analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention addresses a problem in which, when examining blood properties in measurements of thrombus formation capacity and platelet function or the like, measurement data is changed as a result of sedimentation of blood in reservoirs during measurement. An erythrocyte membrane ion transport inhibitor, such as disodium 4,4?-dinitrostilbene-2,2?-disulfonate (DNDS) or 4,4?-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2?-disulfonic acid (DIDS), is used to inhibit erythrocyte sedimentation, and accurate measurement data is obtained.

Abstract: A microchip for testing a blood property, comprising first and second channels for allowing a blood sample(s) to flow inside, wherein the first channel has a first reaction section coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin; and said second channel has a second reaction section, wherein the second section has been coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin the amount of which is equivalent to or smaller than the amount of tissue thromboplastin on said first channel, or the second section has been coated with collagen but not with tissue thromboplastin.

Abstract: A communication apparatus operable as an AP of a wireless LAN, the apparatus comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit to another apparatus an instruction for causing a connection to a wireless LAN that the AP creates; a reception unit configured to receive from the other apparatus, which received the instruction by communication in accordance with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), a notification indicating that it is possible to connect to the wireless LAN that the AP creates; and an activation unit configured to activate a function of the AP in accordance with reception by the reception unit without activating a function of the AP in accordance with the transmission of the instruction by the transmission unit.

Abstract: A method for analyzing thrombogenic capacity or blood coagulation capacity, the method comprising adding calcium, a blood coagulation factor XII (FXII) inhibitor, and a kallikrein inhibitor to blood collected with a blood collection tube containing sodium citrate, to allow initiation of blood coagulation reaction, is provided. Preferably, heparin, heparan sulfate, and tissue factor are further added to the blood, and thrombogenic capacity or blood coagulation capacity is analyzed.

Abstract: A microchip for testing a blood property, comprising first and second channels for allowing a blood sample(s) to flow inside, wherein the first channel has a first reaction section coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin; and said second channel has a second reaction section, wherein the second section has been coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin the amount of which is equivalent to or smaller than the amount of tissue thromboplastin on said first channel, or the second section has been coated with collagen but not with tissue thromboplastin.

Abstract: The present invention addresses a problem in which, when examining blood properties in measurements of thrombus formation capacity and platelet function or the like, measurement data is changed as a result of sedimentation of blood in reservoirs during measurement. An erythrocyte membrane ion transport inhibitor, such as disodium 4,4?-dinitrostilbene-2,2?-disulfonate (DNDS) or 4,4?-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2?-disulfonic acid (DIDS), is used to inhibit erythrocyte sedimentation, and accurate measurement data is obtained.

Abstract: A communication apparatus operable as an AP of a wireless LAN, the apparatus comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit to another apparatus an instruction for causing a connection to a wireless LAN that the AP creates; a reception unit configured to receive from the other apparatus, which received the instruction by communication in accordance with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), a notification indicating that it is possible to connect to the wireless LAN that the AP creates; and an activation unit configured to activate a function of the AP in accordance with reception by the reception unit without activating a function of the AP in accordance with the transmission of the instruction by the transmission unit.

Abstract: A method for comprehensively and quantitatively analyzing platelet aggregability, and stability and persistence of platelet aggregates, which method comprises the steps of: reacting a platelet-activating reagent with blood in a closed container; injecting a liquid which is not mixable with blood into the container using a pump connected to a first end of the container, thereby pushing the mixture of the platelet-activating reagent and the blood out from the container and allowing the mixture to pass through a filter in a filter device connected to a second end of the container; and measuring the pressure exerted on the pump.

Abstract: A microchip for measuring platelet function by allowing blood to flow through a channel to induce platelet aggregation, wherein the microchip has a channel provided inside thereof, wherein at least a part of the channel is coated with collagen for allowing adhesion of platelets; a plurality of walls extend along the direction of the flow of blood in the channel and divide the width of the channel to form a channel dividing section; and the walls are treated to have a surface roughness (Ra) of 10 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A microchip comprising therein a first channel which allows inflow of a first liquid selected from whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and a drug-treated liquid thereof, a second channel connected to the first channel, which allows inflow of a second liquid containing an agent that is reactive with the first liquid, and a merged channel extended from the connection portion of the first channel with the second channel, wherein, in the merged channel, a stirring section having a stirring bar for mixing the first liquid with the second liquid is provided; and a blood monitoring device using the same.

Abstract: A microchip for measuring platelet function by allowing blood to flow through a channel to induce platelet aggregation, wherein the microchip comprises a channel provided inside thereof, wherein at least a part of the channel is coated with collagen for allowing adhesion of platelets; a plurality of walls extend along the direction of the flow of blood in the channel and divide the width of the channel to form a channel dividing section; and the walls are treated to have a surface roughness (Ra) of 10 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A thrombin mutant in which at least serine at position 205 among amino acids in the active center of the thrombin B chain has been replaced with another amino acid, and further at least one of the following replacements have been introduced: (I) replacement of arginine at position 89 in the B-chain with another amino acid; (II) replacement of threonine at position 69 or serine at position 22 in the B-chain with another amino acid; (III) replacement of alanine at position 200 in the B-chain with another amino acid; and (IV) replacement of lysine at position 65 in the B-chain with threonine.

Abstract: A microchip comprising therein a first channel which allows inflow of a first liquid selected from whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and a drug-treated liquid thereof, a second channel connected to the first channel, which allows inflow of a second liquid containing an agent that is reactive with the first liquid, and a merged channel extended from the connection portion of the first channel with the second channel, wherein, in the merged channel, a stirring section having a stirring bar for mixing the first liquid with the second liquid is provided; and a blood monitoring device using the same.