Abstract: A system is described for determining the concentration of an analyte in a liquid by absorption measurement comprising a test element with a detection area which contains at least one reaction area with reagents for detecting the analyte which cause a change in the absorption behavior upon reaction with the analyte. The detection area contains at least one reference area in which the absorption behavior is substantially not changed when wetted by a sample having the analyte. Furthermore, the system contains a detection unit for the spatially resolved detection of light intensities which are received from the detection area and an evaluation unit for evaluating signals from the detection unit. Further embodiments of the system comprise reaction areas and reference areas arranged alternately in two dimensions.

Abstract: A method is proposed for the selective determination of a light transport parameter which is characteristic for the light scattering in a biological matrix (5), in particular for the purpose of the non-invasive determination of the glucose concentration in the biological matrix. The method comprises providing a plurality of detection measurements, in which light is irradiated as primary light into the biological matrix and measuring an intensity value of secondary light emerging at a plurality detection sites, located in different measuring distances from the irradiation site. In an evaluation step, the light transport parameter is derived, by means of an evaluation algorithm, from the measured intensity values.

Abstract: The invention is related to a lancet wheel (1) having a plurality of lancets (2) in a ring-shaped arrangement, the lancets (2) comprising a lancet body (4) that ends in a lancet tip (3). A lancet wheel (1) according to the invention has a carrier (5) that carries the lancets (2), whereby the lancets (2) are connected to the carrier (5) via bars (7, 7a, 7b, 7c) that allow for mobility of the lancets (2) relative to the carrier (5).

Abstract: A system for withdrawing body fluid is described which has a housing with at least one opening and at least one lancet which is elongate and substantially straight in its original and unused form. The lancet has a distal end with a lancet tip for carrying out a lancing operation. The system also includes a drive unit for driving the lancet in a drive direction and at least one guide element which makes contact with the lancet at least during the lancing operation and guides the lancet movement such that the lancet is bent relative to the drive direction. The lancet can have a high restoring force such that it returns to its original substantially straight shape after contacting the guide element.

Abstract: A device for obtaining body fluid is described which has at least one lancet comprising a lancet body and a tip. The lancet has at least one structure with an altered stiffness which can also be referred to as a bending region. This structure preferably has a lower or reduced stiffness than the remaining lancet body such that the lancet can be bent in this region when a force acts thereon. In this process, the orientation of the tip is changed relative to the remaining lancet body. This change in orientation is preferably out of the lancet body plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a puncturing system for generating a puncture wound for obtaining a sample of a body fluid, comprising a press-on part to be pressed onto a body part in which a puncture wound is to be generated, a triggering means, by the actuation of which a user can trigger a puncturing motion of a puncturing element after the press-on part is pressed on, and a testing facility for determining at least one test parameter on which a sample-obtaining probability depends. A securing facility is also provided that, in a locked state, locks the triggering means such that no puncturing motion can be triggered, and, in a triggering state, releases the triggering means such that a puncturing motion can be triggered by actuation thereof, whereby the securing facility is transitioned from the locked state to the triggering state by the testing facility when the test parameter determined by the testing facility meets defined minimum requirements.

Abstract: A lancet-sampler system is configured to automatically remove a protective cover from a lancet and automatically unpack a test pad just prior to use. This minimizes the risk of injury and reduces the chance of cross-contamination between the lancet and the test pad. The lancet defines a capillary groove for drawing body fluid from the incision via capillary action and a sample transfer opening for collecting the fluid from the groove. A carrier tape is coupled to the lancet. The carrier tape includes a test pad for analyzing the fluid. The tape is folded around the test pad to form an airtight package. The test pad is located at a position to align with the sample transfer opening when the tape is unfolded. The protective cover covers a portion of the lancet, and when the tape is pulled, the protective cover is automatically pulled from the lancet.

Abstract: A puncturing device for generating a puncture wound to sample a body fluid is provided and comprises a press-on part or contact element to be pressed against a body part to generate a puncture, a test sensor for measuring a test parameter value, and an analytical unit for determining whether the value of the measured test parameter satisfies a predefined minimum requirement for successful sampling. In one embodiment, the value of the test parameter is monitored during a waiting period by the test sensor once the value satisfies the predefined minimum requirement. After the waiting period has elapsed, so long as the values of the test parameter monitored during the waiting period are in a range of values that predicts sampling to be successful, the analytical unit initiates a puncture.

Abstract: A method for the selective determination of the scattering index ?s of a scattering biological matrix, in particular for the purpose of non-invasive determination of the concentration of glucose in the skin, by means of detection measurements, in each of which light in the form of primary light (9) is irradiated into the biological matrix (5) and an intensity measurement value of secondary light (12) exiting at a detection site (33-40) that is located at different measuring distances (?) from the respective light irradiation site (10) during the detection measurements is measured. In order to improve the quality and selectivity of the determination of ?s, the primary light is irradiated obliquely at an angle between 5° and 85° using a contacting light-guiding element.

Abstract: The invention concerns new chemical compounds that can be used as marker substances in renal diagnostics, their production and use, and renal diagnostic agents which contain them.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a collection zone for receiving body fluid, and the device further comprising a fluid receiving means remote spaced apart from the collection zone so that body fluid in the collection zone will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The collection zone takes up a very small volume of body fluid of about 10 to 500 nl in a very short time period of less than 0.5 seconds. The fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid sample from the collection zone is automatically or manually transported to the fluid receiving means to contact the fluid with the test zone.

Abstract: Body fluid sampling device comprising a sampling element having a fluid pathway (11) for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of the fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means (40) being spaced from the fluid pathway so that fluid in the pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The fluid receiving means has two or more test zones (45) for performing analytical reactions. Fluid from the channel is contacted with the fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical instrument for assaying body fluids, the instrument having the following features: a) a housing provided with a receiving element for engaging a body part, b) an abutment for the body part which can be moved between a release position and an operating position relative to the receiving element, c) a lancing unit having a lancing element that can pierce the body part resting against the abutment in a linear lancing stroke, d) a test tape unit having a test tape for receiving body fluid issuing from the body part, and e) a detection unit for examining the body fluid applied to a section of the test tape.

Abstract: The invention concerns fluorescein isothiocyanate-sinistrin (FITC-sinistrin), a method for its production, its use as a marker substance in a diagnostic agent and a corresponding diagnostic agent.

Abstract: A method for the selective determination of the scattering index ?s of a scattering biological matrix, in particular for the purpose of non-invasive determination of the concentration of glucose in the skin, by means of detection measurements, in each of which light in the form of primary light (9) is irradiated into the biological matrix (5) and an intensity measurement value of secondary light (12) exiting at a detection site (33-40) that is located at different measuring distances (?) from the respective light irradiation site (10) during the detection measurements is measured. In order to improve the quality and selectivity of the determination of ?s, the primary light is irradiated obliquely at an angle between 5° and 85° using a contacting light-guiding element.

Abstract: A method for the selective determination of a light transport parameter which is characteristic for the light scattering in a biological matrix (5), in particular for the purpose of the non-invasive determination of the glucose concentration in the biological matrix. It comprises a plurality of detection measurements, in which light is irradiated as primary light into the biological matrix and an intensity value of secondary light emerging at a detection site, located in different measuring distances from the irradiation site, is measured. In an evaluation step, the light transport parameter is derived, by means of an evaluation algorithm, from the measured intensity values. For the selective determination of the scattering coefficient, the evaluation algorithm includes a step in which a time derivative value &Dgr;tI(r) describing the change of the measurement intensity value versus time is calculated from intensity measurement values obtained at a minimum of two different points of time.

Abstract: The invention concerns fluorescein isothiocyanate-sinistrin (FITC-sinistrin), a method for its production, its use as a marker substance in a diagnostic agent and a corresponding diagnostic agent.