Abstract: An immunoassay for the detection of an analyte in a sample includes a plurality of moieties capable of binding to the analyte. Capture moieties, which are not specific for the same epitope, are bound to a solid substrate, and at least one epitope-specific detection moiety is bound to a detectable marker. The detectable marker is a large particle marker having a particle size of ?50 nm and ?5000 nm.

Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) for providing an ultrasound image of a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe (10) having an array of CMUT transducers (14); a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control the ultrasound beam steering and provide an ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer frequency controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary operation frequencies of the CMUT transducers within the frequency range, which frequency controller is arranged to set the operation frequency to a first frequency for the ultrasound beam steered in the volumetric region and to set the operation frequency to a second frequency for the ultrasound beams steered within the region of interest, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency; wherein the system further comprises an interferer analyzer (69) coupled to the transducer frequency controller (62), said interferer analyzer is adapted to vary at least one of beam steering pa

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound system for imaging a volumetric region comprising a region of interest comprising: a probe having an array of CMUT transducers adapted to steer ultrasound beams in a variable frequency range over the volumetric region; a beamformer coupled to the array and adapted to control the ultrasound beam steering and provide ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer frequency controller coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary operation frequencies of the CMUT transducers within the frequency range, which frequency controller is arranged to set the operation frequency to a first frequency for the ultrasound beam steered in the volumetric region; an image processor responsive to the ultrasound image data, based on which it is adapted to produce an ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) for imaging a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe having an array of CMUT transducers (14) adapted to transmit ultrasound beams and receive returning echo signals over the volumetric region; a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control ultrasound beam transmission and provide ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary driving pulse characteristics of the CMUT transducers, a region of interest identifier (72) enabling an identification of a region of interest on the basis of the ultrasound image data; a beam path analyzer (70) responsive to the ROI identification and arranged to detect an attenuating tissue type in between the probe and the ROI based on a depth variation in attenuation of the received signal; wherein the transducer controller is further adapted to change, based on the attenuating tissue type detection, at least one parameter of the d

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for planning use of resources under consideration of time constraints. The present invention further relates to methods for scheduling use of resources under consideration of time constraints.

Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) for imaging a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe having an array of CMUT transducers (14) adapted to transmit ultrasound beams and receive returning echo signals over the volumetric region; a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control ultrasound beam transmission and provide ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary driving pulse characteristics of the CMUT transducers, a region of interest identifier (72) enabling an identification of a region of interest on the basis of the ultrasound image data; a beam path analyzer (70) responsive to the ROI identification and arranged to detect an attenuating tissue type in between the probe and the ROI based on a depth variation in attenuation of the received signal; wherein the transducer controller is further adapted to change, based on the attenuating tissue type detection, at least one parameter of the d

Abstract: A detection method (200) detects analytes in a fluid sample. The detection method includes transporting magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after interaction between the sample fluid and a reagent towards a detection receptacle (1). The detection receptacle (1) is initially substantially magnetic and/or electric label (5) free. By transporting the magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after reaction, interference between unreacted reagents and magnetic and/or electric label-assisted detection can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) for providing an ultrasound image of a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe (10) having an array of CMUT transducers (14); a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control the ultrasound beam steering and provide an ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer frequency controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary operation frequencies of the CMUT transducers within the frequency range, which frequency controller is arranged to set the operation frequency to a first frequency for the ultrasound beam steered in the volumetric region and to set the operation frequency to a second frequency for the ultrasound beams steered within the region of interest, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency; wherein the system further comprises an interferer analyzer (69) coupled to the transducer frequency controller (62), said interferer analyzer is adapted to vary at least one of beam steering pa

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound system for imaging a volumetric region comprising a region of interest comprising: a probe having an array of CMUT transducers adapted to steer ultrasound beams in a variable frequency range over the volumetric region; a beamformer coupled to the array and adapted to control the ultrasound beam steering and provide ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer frequency controller coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary operation frequencies of the CMUT transducers within the frequency range, which frequency controller is arranged to set the operation frequency to a first frequency for the ultrasound beam steered in the volumetric region; an image processor responsive to the ultrasound image data, based on which it is adapted to produce an ultrasound image.

Abstract: A first output light beam (L2) that originates from a total internal reflection at a detection surface (111) of a total internal reflection TIR chamber (110) and a second output light beam (L2?) that comes from the interior of an inspectable chamber (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620) are both received within an observation region (OR). Preferably, these output light beams are detected with the same light detector, e.g. an image sensor (12). A total internal reflection at the TIR chamber and reflected light from inside the inspectable chamber are both directed to the same observation region (OR). This is for example enabled by different inclinations of the windows encountered by the first and the second output light beams, by different optical elements (407) in the paths of the output light beams, and/or by light scattering surface structures (122, 223, 322, 422, 522, 622) in the inspectable chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR).

Abstract: A cartridge (110) and a method process target components (T1, T2) of a sample fluid, for example the detection of cardiac markers in blood. The cartridge (110) includes a reaction chamber (114) with a hydrophilic reaction surface (115). A physical barrier (116,118) on the reaction surface (115), for example a protrusion, at least partially borders an investigation region (117,117?) which includes capture probes (CP1, CP2) that specifically bind to target components (T1, T2) of the sample fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measuring Troponin I in a sample comprising the steps of providing a sample, contacting the sample with a monoclonal anti-Troponin I antibody coupled to a magnetic label, contacting the sample with a polyclonal anti-Troponin I antibody coupled to a sensor surface and detecting the magnetic label on the sensor surface. The invention further relates to a device and a cartridge for measuring Troponin I in a sample.

Abstract: A sensor device (1) for detecting the presence of a target molecule (20) in a sample, is disclosed. The sensor device comprises a measurement sensor (2) comprising a first moiety (16) for forming a binding couple with a first further moiety comprising the target molecule (20) and a detectable label (40) and a reference sensor (3) comprising a second moiety (50) for forming a further binding couple with a second further moiety comprising a further detectable label (40?).

Abstract: An apparatus for examination of a sample includes at least one sample chamber in which the sample can be provided, where the sample chamber has a detection surface; at least one light source for emitting a first input light beam which is totally internally reflected at the detection surface of the sample chamber into a first output light beam, and for emitting a second input light beam which is at least partially transmitted through the sample chamber into a second output light beam. The apparatus further includes at least one light detector for detecting the first and the second output light beams. The sample chamber is elongated and traversed in longitudinal direction by light of the second input light beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartridge (110) and a method for the processing of target components (T1, T2) of a sample fluid, for example the detection of cardiac markers in blood. The cartridge (110) comprises a reaction chamber (114) with a hydrophilic reaction surface (115). A physical barrier (116,118) on the reaction surface (115), for example a protrusion, at least partially borders an investigation region (117,117?) which comprises capture probes (CP1, CP2) that specifically bind to target components (T1, T2) of the sample fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (100) for determining the amount of a target component (2) in a sample, wherein magnetic particles (2) can bind to a contact surface (4) with kinetics that depend on the sample-amount of the target component. The method comprises at least two washing steps during which magnetic particles (2) are magnetically moved away from the contact surface (4) and corresponding measurements of the remaining amount of magnetic particles (2) at the contact surface (4). The amount of target component in the sample is estimated from at least one of such measurement results. The measurement allows to determine also high concentrations of target component for which the sensor surface (4) is saturated in a steady-state.

Abstract: A detection system (100) is described for detecting analytes in a fluid sample. The detection system (100) comprises a transporting means (6) for transporting magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after interaction between the sample fluid and the reagents towards a detection receptacle (1). The detection receptacle (1) is initially substantially magnetic and/or electric label (5) free. By transporting the magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after reaction, interference between unreacted reagents and magnetic and/or electric label-assisted detection can be reduced.

Abstract: A detection system (100) is described for detecting analytes in a fluid sample. The detection system (100) comprises a transporting means (6) for transporting magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after interaction between the sample fluid and the reagents towards a detection receptacle (1). The detection receptacle (1) is initially substantially magnetic and/or electric label (5) free. By transporting the magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after reaction, interference between unreacted reagents and magnetic and/or electric label-assisted detection can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of determining a presence of target molecules in a body fluid (16) with cells comprises the steps of: lysing cells in the body fluid (16) for generating a lysate (17); mixing the lysate (16) with particles (36) with first detector molecules; binding target molecule to the particles through first detector molecules; exposing a substrate (38) with second detector molecules to the lysate (17); binding target molecules to the substrate through second detector molecules; detecting particles (36) attached to the substrate (36).