Abstract: The present invention provides a multitude of biomacromolecule solubility screening kits, and methods of using such kits. Such kits provide a substantial improvement over presently available kits and methods and provide a substantial decrease in the amounts of biomacromolecules required to run such solubility screening.

Abstract: A wearable band configured to fit human limbs receives muscle tension data via sensors housed within the device. The processing circuitry generates statistical models for each physical state of a user and compares the received data with the statistical model. The user is alerted when the processing circuitry detects a change in the data that is outside the predetermined range. The sampling rate of measurements increases when a change is detected to confirm the abnormal data.

Abstract: A light attenuation apparatus for adjusting the intensity of light transmitted through the apparatus, comprises: a light detector array for measuring light intensity incident on the light attenuation apparatus; and LCD filter panel, comprising: a first polarizer having a polarizing orientation; a second polarizer; a first substrate with a plurality of electrodes, a second substrate having a plurality of electrodes perpendicular to the first substrate. The first and second substrates disposed between the polarizers. An LCD filter grid has nematic liquid crystals inside the grid to form a plurality of pixels. Each pixel comprises a filter and the LCD filter grid is disposed between the substrates with a plurality of electrodes. A voltage driver controls the voltage level applied to the electrodes based on the intensity of the measured light wherein the voltage determines the amount of light transmitted through the apparatus. Each pixel is independently addressed by the voltage driver.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating the intensity of light transmitted through the apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a first polarizer having a first polarizing orientation and a second polarizer having a polarizing orientation perpendicular to the first polarizer. First and second electrodes are disposed between the polarizers and a nematic liquid crystal layer is disposed between the electrodes. At least one light detector positioned for measuring the intensity of the transmitted light may be positioned on an outer side of the second polarizer. A voltage controller in electrical communication with the light detector is provided for controlling the voltage level applied to the electrodes based on the intensity of the measured light wherein the voltage determines the amount of light transmitted through the apparatus.

Abstract: A probe for a system for determining the chemical signature of a pharmaceutical compound. The probe comprises: a housing; an inlet in the housing adapted to be connected to a transmitting optical fiber; a scanning aperture in the housing; a receiving outlet in the housing adapted to be connected to a receiving optical fiber; at least one transmission reflector positioned in the housing to receive laser light from the transmitting optical fiber and reflect the laser light through the detection outlet to a pharmaceutical vial containing a pharmaceutical compound positioned outside the housing, and at least one receiving reflector positioned in the housing to receive light reflected by the pharmaceutical compound and reflect the light to the receiving outlet. This configuration can enable rapid and accurate scanning of a pharmaceutical contained in a vial positioned adjacent the detection outlet.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling a linear fiber array to a spectrometer is provided, the coupler having a tube, a linear fiber bundle array inserted through the tube, an alignment mechanism for aligning the linear fiber bundle array with a slit on the spectrometer, and a locking mechanism for locking the linear fiber bundle array to the tube. Further, a method for coupling a linear fiber array to a spectrometer is provided, the method having the steps of inserting a linear fiber bundle array through a tube, aligning the linear fiber bundle array with a slit on the spectrometer, and locking the linear fiber bundle array to the tube once it is aligned with the slit on the spectrometer.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling a linear fiber array to a spectrometer is provided, the coupler having a tube, a linear fiber bundle array inserted through the tube, an alignment mechanism for aligning the linear fiber bundle array with a slit on the spectrometer, and a locking mechanism for locking the linear fiber bundle array to the tube. Further, a method for coupling a linear fiber array to a spectrometer is provided, the method having the steps of inserting a linear fiber bundle array through a tube, aligning the linear fiber bundle array with a slit on the spectrometer, and locking the linear fiber bundle array to the tube once it is aligned with the slit on the spectrometer.

Abstract: A probe for a system for determining the chemical signature of a pharmaceutical compound. The probe comprises: a housing; an inlet in the housing adapted to be connected to a transmitting optical fiber; a scanning aperture in the housing; a receiving outlet in the housing adapted to be connected to a receiving optical fiber; at least one transmission reflector positioned in the housing to receive laser light from the transmitting optical fiber and reflect the laser light through the detection outlet to a pharmaceutical vial containing a pharmaceutical compound positioned outside the housing, and at least one receiving reflector positioned in the housing to receive light reflected by the pharmaceutical compound and reflect the light to the receiving outlet. This configuration can enable rapid and accurate scanning of a pharmaceutical contained in a vial positioned adjacent the detection outlet.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser for providing a laser beam, a non-linear optical crystal in the laser beam path creating a second order light, a laser beam expander in the beam path after the non-linear crystal, a dichromatic mirror in the beam path after the beam expander, an objective lens that focuses the laser beam on a sample and collects transmission from the sample before the sample transmission impacts the dichromatic mirror, a partial reflector of the second order light in the transmission path after the dichromatic mirror, and a coupler for coupling an optical component to the sample transmission.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser for providing a laser beam, a non-linear optical crystal in the laser beam path creating a second order light, a laser beam expander in the beam path after the non-linear crystal, a dichromatic mirror in the beam path after the beam expander, an objective lens that focuses the laser beam on a sample and collects transmission from the sample before the sample transmission impacts the dichromatic mirror, a partial reflector of the second order light in the transmission path after the dichromatic mirror, and a coupler for coupling an optical component to the sample transmission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a first biological sample is infected with one of HIV and hepatitis. The first biological sample is obtained from a first mammal. A first and second parameter are compared. A difference between the parameters is indicative of whether the first sample is infected with at least one of HIV and hepatitis. The first parameter is obtained from a fluorescence emission spectrum that results from a first fraction of the first biological sample, the first biological sample having been fractionated into the first fraction and a second fraction. The first fraction includes a greater relative amount of lipoprotein than the second fraction. The second parameter is obtained from a fluorescence emission resulting from a second biological sample obtained from a second, different mammal. The first and second fluorescence emissions are essentially free of fluorescence emission resulting from substances not-native to the first and second mammals, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for disease detection. The apparatus and method use a radiation source to irradiate a sample. An analyzer measures the absorption and/or emission spectra from the sample to detect the presence of the disease state in the sample. In this regard, a comparator may compare the measured spectra with the spectrum of a control. Analysis of the parameters of the spectra including, but not limited to, peak intensity wavelength, amplitude at the peak intensity, area ratio of left and right portions of the emission spectra, and shifts of the peak intensity wavelength, allows determination of HIV infection, Hepatitis A, B and C, and other diseases. Selective absorbents, such as C-M Affi Gel Blue and activated charcoal, may be used to treat the samples before measurements, which is found to improve discrimination of diseased and non-diseased samples.

Abstract: A process for detecting HIV infection, Hepatitis A, B and C, and other similar infections in a plasma sample, wherein the process involves the use of an excitation laser source to irradiate upon the plasma sample an excitation laser beam to obtain a fluorescence emission spectrum of the plasma sample. The invention uses an excitation laser wavelength of about 355 nanometers. Detection of the fluorescence is made in the wavelength range from about 380 to 600 nanometers. The resulting spectrum of the sample is compared with the spectrum of a control which is free from infection. Analysis of the parameters of the emission spectra including, but not limited to, peak intensity wavelength, amplitude at the peak intensity, area ratio of left and right portions of the emission spectra, and shifts of the peak intensity wavelength, allows determination of HIV infection, Hepatitis A, B and C, and other similar infection in the plasma.

Abstract: A quantitative process for monitoring female fertility cycle wherein the process involves directing a laser beam, preferably generated by a diode laser, onto an area of a slide containing an air-dried sample of a female body fluid. The diffraction pattern resulting from the sample is detected by a two-dimensional photo diode array and analyzed by a microprocessor. If a ferning pattern exists, such pattern will generate a characteristic structure in the diffraction pattern which is then detected by the photo diode array. If no ferning occurs, the corresponding diffraction pattern will be structureless. The microprocessor is programmed with an algorithm to produce a quantitative index of ferning indicating quantitatively the ferning level. Preferably, a plurality of spots on the sample are measured to determine the ferning level at each spot, and the microprocessor then makes a final determination as to final ferning level on the basis of the test results of all of the spots.