Abstract: A medical system (10) which presents consumer health results includes a consumer questionnaire unit (14), a workflow assistant (20), a risk assessor (26), a guideline interpreter (28), and a display device (36). The consumer questionnaire unit (14) identifies consumer habits based on received responses to personal, medical, and lifestyle questions. The workflow assistant (20) iteratively identifies medical tests for the consumer based on a rule based evaluation of responses and received medical test results. The risk assessor (26) calculates a health risk to the consumer based on the identified habits and lifestyle behaviors and received medical test results, and determines body damage to the consumer based on received medical test results. The guideline interpreter (28) constructs a lifestyle advice display based on the identified consumer habits, the calculated health risk, the determined body damage, and lifestyle advice. The display device (36) displays the lifestyle advice display.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartridge (400), a sensor device, and a method for the optical examination of a sample. A first output light beam that originates from a total internal reflection at a detection surface of a TIR chamber and a second output light beam (L2?) that comes from the interior of an inspectable chamber (420) 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. The invention hence allows for observing a total internal reflection at the TIR chamber and for looking into the inspectable chamber (420) from 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 in the inspectable chamber.

Abstract: A system (1) for computing a disease risk score of a patient based on a recommendation of treatment or lifestyle changes is disclosed. The system comprises an input device (11) for receiving risk parameter values for computing the disease risk score according to a risk score algorithm, and for receiving the recommendation of treatment or lifestyle changes, an interpreter (21) for computing at least one risk parameter value for computing the disease risk score, on the basis of the recommended treatment or lifestyle changes, a risk calculator (31) for calculating the disease risk score on the basis of the received risk parameter values and the computed risk parameter value, and an output device (41) for communicating the calculated disease risk score. Thanks to the interpreter (21), the recommended treatment or lifestyle change is “translated” into a value of a risk parameter for computing the disease risk score, there by allowing calculating the risk score resulting from the treatment or lifestyle change.

Abstract: The invention relates to means for the examination of a sample, wherein a first input light beam (L1) is totally internally reflected at a detection surface of a sample chamber (111), while a second input light beam (L1?) is transmitted through the sample chamber (111). The resulting first and second output light beams (L2, L2?) are detected and can be evaluated with respect to frustrated total internal reflection and optical absorbance, respectively. Preferably, both output light beams (L2, L2?) are detected by a single image sensor (155).

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 carrier and an apparatus for optical detection of a sample in a sample chamber includes en optical structure for refracting an input light beam into the adjacent sample chamber and for collecting an output light beam from light that originates in the sample chamber from the input light beam. The optical structure includes grooves in the surface of the carrier in which the Input light beam is transmitted Over a short distance through a sample. The optical structure can also be used for a wetting detection.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a target molecule in a sample is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a moiety comprising a magnetic label (1) greater than 100 nm, a binding surface (12) for specifically binding the moiety, the amount of said moiety binding to said surface being indicative of the amount of the target molecule in said sample, detection means (31 31?) for detecting the amount of said moiety bound to said surface, and a salt (51) for reducing aggregation of the magnetic labels of respective moieties in said sample. The apparatus preferably also comprises a magnetic field generator (41) for attracting the magnetic labels to the binding surface. A method for measuring a target molecule in a sample and a disposable cartridge for use with the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring agglutination in a target-induced agglutination assay with one or more magnetic particles is performed in a reaction chamber. After the magnetic particles, which are capable of binding to a target are provided in the assay, an agglutination process is performed resulting in agglutinated particles. Further an alternating current magnetic field (HAC) is applied to the assay. The method further includes measuring an effect of the HAC on the one or more magnetic particles unattached to any surface. The measured effect is indicative of one or more agglutination parameters.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an immunoassay for the detection of an analyte in a sample, said assay comprising a plurality of moieties capable of binding to said analyte, wherein 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, and wherein the detectable marker to which the epitope-specific detection moiety is bound is a large particle marker having a particle size of ?50 nm and ?5000 nm.

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: 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: 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: The invention relates to a carrier (11) and an apparatus (100) for optical detection in a sample (1) in a sample chamber (2). The carrier (11) comprises an optical structure (50) for refracting an input light beam (L1) into the adjacent sample chamber (2) and for collecting an output light beam (L2) from light that originates in the sample chamber (2) from the input light beam. Preferably, the optical structure (50) comprises grooves in the surface (12) of the carrier (11) in which the input light beam is transmitted over a short distance through a sample. The optical structure (50) can also be used for a wetting detection.

Abstract: The present invention related to methods and tools for nuclease-dependent detection of nucleic acid hybridization. In these methods magnetic or magnetizable particles are used to discriminate between hybridized and non-hybridized DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor cartridge (10) for distinctively determining at least two different target moieties in a fluid sample. The sensor cartridge (10) comprises a reaction chamber (1) and at least a first and second region (2, 3) distinct from each other. The first region (2) comprises magnetic or magnetizable objects (4a) labelled with a first type of probes for specifically binding a first type of target moieties and the second region (3) comprises magnetic or magnetizable objects (4b) labelled with a second type of probes for specifically binding a second type of target moieties, the magnetic or magnetizable objects (4a, 4b) in the first and second region (2, 3) being directly contactable by the sample fluid. The present invention also provides a method for the manufacturing of such sensor devices (10) and a method for determining the presence and/or amount of at least two different target moieties in a sample fluid using such sensor cartridge (10).

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor device (20) and a method for determining the presence and/or amount of target moieties (22) in a sample fluid (27), the target moieties (22) being labeled with magnetic or magnetizable objects (23). The sensor device (20) comprises a magnetic field generating means adapted for applying a retention field for retaining the labeled target moieties (22, 23) to the sensor surface (24) during fluid manipulations. Through this the binding between the labeled target moieties (22, 23) and the sensor surface (24) and/or the magnetic particles (23) and the target moieties (22) is substantially not disturbed during these fluid manipulations. This leads to a reliable and accurate sensor device (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (300) and a method for the separation of magnetic particles (1, 2) according to their properties, particularly their magnetic susceptibility. The apparatus comprises a magnetic field generator (320) with which magnetic actuation forces (Fm) can be exerted on the magnetic particles (1, 2) that affect a prevailing movement of the particles (1, 2), said movement being caused by non-magnetic influences, e.g. thermal energy or viscous drag (Fh). The magnetic field generator may for example comprise: (i) a wire (321) that crosses the flow of a sample fluid with varying inclination (?); (ii) wires that generate a local minimum of a magnetic potential from which different particles escape by Brownian motion with different rates; or (iii) pairs of particle-attracting wires for which the attraction of one wire is temporarily interrupted to allow the fastest magnetic particles to escape.

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 and system are described for measuring agglutination in a target-induced agglutination assay with one or more magnetic particles performed in a reaction chamber. After the magnetic particles (3, 15), which are capable of binding to a target (5) are provided in the assay, an agglutination process resulting in agglutinated particles (100) comprising at least one magnetic particle is performed. The method then further comprises applying an alternating current magnetic field (HAC) to the assay and—measuring an effect of the HAC on the one or more magnetic particles (3,15) unattached to any surface. The measured effect is indicative of one or more agglutination parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for detecting a target in a sample suspected of comprising the target, which device is suitable for use in an assay such as a sandwich assay. The invention further relates to a method for detecting a target in a sample. The device comprises a sensor surface, which is functionalised with one moiety of a strong binding couple, which moiety preferably shows little or no cross reactivity with the target molecule.