Abstract: A multiple electric conductivity measuring apparatus having at least two electric conductivity measuring cells each having at least two electrodes brought into contact with a substance to be measured, wherein the electric conductivity measuring cells are so connected electrically that the sensing signals therefrom can be added and/or subtracted. The measuring apparatus can measure a micro difference or variation of the electric conductivity between a plurality of measuring points different in position or time with high reliability, accuracy and sensitivity.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electric conductivity having three electrodes brought into contact with a substance to be measured. The electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting electric conductivity of the substance to be measured, and two AC current supply electrodes disposed on both sides of the detection electrode at respective distances, and an AC current of the same phase is applied to the two AC current supply electrodes. This apparatus provides stabilized measurement of the electric conductivity of a substance to be measured with a high accuracy.

Abstract: Two conductivity measuring cells each having at least two electrodes are arranged in series in a flow path of a sample to be measured so that the sample may make contact with the cells in sequence. A difference conductivity meter produces the difference between the signals themselves detected by the conductivity cells as the difference in conductivity of the sample between the positions of the conductivity measuring cells. Based on the predetermined correlation between the change in conductivity of the sample and the change in concentration of the ion of interest in the sample, an ion concentration meter thus constructed derives the change in ion concentration of the sample from the output from the difference conductivity meter. The ion concentration meter can measure a minute change in ion concentration, such as of ammonia, with extremely high accuracy and sensitivity, while carrying out continuous measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electric conductivity comprises three electrodes brought into contact with a substance to be measured. The electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting electric conductivity of the substance to be measured, and two AC current supply electrodes disposed on both sides of the detection electrode at respective distances, and an AC current of the same phase is applied to the two AC current supply electrodes. This apparatus provides stabilized measurement of the electric conductivity of a substance to be measured with a high accuracy.

Abstract: An electric conductometer comprising at least two electric conductivity measuring electrodes each body of which is made from a conductive metal and each surface of which is formed by a titanium oxide layer as an electrode surface, a space for storing a substance to be measured formed between the electrode surfaces of the electrodes, and means for irradiating light to the electrode surfaces. Since the electrode surfaces are formed from the titanium oxide layers, organic substances contained in a measuring system are decomposed and prevented automatically from adhering or being adsorbed to the electrode surfaces. Consequently, electric conductivity can be measured stably and accurately at all times without substantially requiring any cleaning.

Abstract: A multiple electric conductivity measuring apparatus comprising at least two electric conductivity measuring cells each having at least two electrodes brought into contact with a substance to be measured, wherein the electric conductivity measuring cells are so connected electrically that the sensing signals therefrom can be added and/or subtracted. The measuring apparatus can measure a micro difference or variation of the electric conductivity between a plurality of measuring points different in position or time with high reliability, accuracy and sensitivity.

Abstract: A carrier (A) of thermoplastic polymer is mixed and contacted with photocatalytic particles (B) preferably in a rotary heating drum to fusion-bond the particles (B) to surface portions of the carrier (A) in such a manner that multiple particles (B) are stacked in directions perpendicular to the surfaces of the carrier (A), whereby a photocatalyst-bearing material can be produced, which is capable of exhibiting a high photocatalysis for a long period of time. When water is the object of treatment, the specific gravity of the photocatalyst-bearing material is preferably 0.7 to 1.3, especially preferably 0.9 to 1.1.

Abstract: Two conductivity measuring cells each having at least two electrodes are arranged in series in a flow path of a sample to be measured so that the sample may make contact with the cells in sequence. A difference conductivity meter produces the difference between the signals themselves detected by the conductivity cells as the difference in conductivity of the sample between the positions of the conductivity measuring cells. Based on the predetermined correlation between the change in conductivity of the sample and the change in concentration of the ion of interest in the sample, an ion concentration meter thus constructed derives the change in ion concentration of the sample from the output from the difference conductivity meter. The ion concentration meter can measure a minute change in ion concentration, such as of ammonia, with extremely high accuracy and sensitivity, while carrying out continuous measurement.

Abstract: An electric conductometer comprising at least two electric conductivity measuring electrodes each body of which is made from a conductive metal and each surface of which is formed by a titanium oxide layer as an electrode surface, a space for storing a substance to be measured formed between the electrode surfaces of the electrodes, and means for irradiating light to the electrode surfaces. Since the electrode surfaces are formed from the titanium oxide layers, organic substances contained in a measuring system are decomposed and prevented automatically from adhering or being adsorbed to the electrode surfaces. Consequently, electric conductivity can be measured stably and accurately at all times without substantially requiring any cleaning.

Abstract: Enzymatic immunoassay for estimating the concentration of antigen or antibody comprising bringing an antigen-antibody complex, which is labelled by an enzyme and is present heterogeneously in a solution, into contact with a substrate where pH of the solution is so adjusted as to be suitable for the enzyme to be activated and also for measuring the fluorescence of the substrate, measuring the time-variation of fluorescent intensity of the substrate produced by the enzyme reaction, and estimating the concentration of the antigen or the antibody from the slope of the substantially linear portion, on a characteristic curve representing variation of the fluorescence intensity with the time.Fluorescence is measured while magnetic beads with antigen-antibody complex attached are oscillated at a specific frequency.

Abstract: A carrier for a biologically active component for immunoassay or enzymatic reaction, which comprises:a) a thermoplastic resin bead having an average diameter of from 0.05 to 20 mm,b) from 1 to 25% by weight, based on the bead, of a magnetically responsive powder bonded to the bead, andc) a polymer coated thereon in a thickness of from 2 to 30 .mu.m, said polymer having a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 10,000 and having functional groups capable of binding, or being activated to bind, the biologically active component.

Abstract: An automated immunoassay analyzser comprising a transfer route on which test plates each having a plurality of chambers for immunological reaction opened upwards are transferred continually with a constant interval of time, and devices of at least A, B, C and D described below which are arranged on the transfer route from upstream to downstream in the order referred to in which the device A is for injecting the sample comprising a vertically and horizonally driven support, a pipet fixed to the support, and a nozzle tip usable for a single sample and removably attached to the lower end of the pipet, the device B is for B/F separation and the device C is for injecting the substrate solution and both devices are integratedly combined and comprise a vertically and horizontally driven support, a washing tube supported by the support, a temperature controllable solution reservoir block fixed to the support, a substrate injection tube provided to the lower side of the reservoir block, the washing tube and the substr

Abstract: A nozzle device in an apparatus for biochemical reaction, including a biochemical reaction chamber, includes a nozzle having a tip and a porous filter fixed to the tip. The nozzle further includes an outer nozzle tube defining a first bore extending to the tip, a second bore extending through the porous filter and being coaxial with the first bore, an inner tube extending through the first bore to the tip and defining a third bore, the inner tube being tightly fitted into, and extending through, the second bore and having an outer diameter smaller than that of the inner diameter of the first bore to define an annular space in communication with the filter. The third bore is connected to a source of liquid and the annular space is connected with a source of suction, so that a liquid can be discharged to the reaction chamber from the first bore and sucked out of the reaction chamber through the filter.

Abstract: Process for injecting a minute volume of a solution from a nozzle device by positive pressure applied from a source of compressed air with or without positive pressure applied in parallel from a cylinder device, comprising applying the positive pressure from the compressed air source at least in a final period of injection. The process enables in injecting minute volumes of solution to remarkably decrease the injection error due to a small fraction of solution remaining at the lower end of the nozzle and can be applied to advantage to those apparatus for analyses and measurements which strictly require precision in injection.

Abstract: A pipetting device is formed of a supporting frame, a slider mounted on the supporting frame for vertical movement, a plunger type stem having a lower end fittable within the upper end of an approximately inverted cone shaped nozzle tip, the stem being mounted for vertical movement on the slider, and a conduit for supplying the lower end of the stem with an air supply and exhaust device so that the nozzle tip may be communicated with air or air may be sucked therefrom. A rotating cam cooperates with a pin on the slider for vertically moving the slider by a large stroke. An air cylinder has a piston fixed relative to the stem for vertically moving the stem by a small stroke. A lever loosely mounted on the lower end of the stem can engage the nozzle tip for removing the nozzle tip from the stem.

Abstract: A reciprocable vertical shafts 21 has a pyramid shaped lower tip for piercing a sealing foil 8d secured across the top of an analyzer test cup containing an active substance. The edges of the pyramid divide the foil into triangular segments which are pressed against the inner wall of the cup by the cylindrical root portion of the shaft such that they do not engage any of the active substance or interfere with subsequent injections into or withdrawals from the cup.

Abstract: Sealed analyte test packs or cups 11 disposed in holding trays 21 arrayed in a drawer 42 are individually and selectively transferred to a carrying tray 43 at a coplanar loading station for subsequent conveyance to an automated biochemical analyzing apparatus. An x/y scanning mechanism 46 is disposed above the drawer and tray to implement the transfers using a vacuum head 50 mounted on a movable plate 47 of the mechanism which is lowered onto the seal of a selected test pack and then raised to remove the pack from its holding tray. The plate also mounts an IR photo reflector 49 for detecting the test packs and a bar code sensor 48 for reading the holding tray labels. The array of trays is initially scanned to read their labels and establish a location map in a computer memory, which is subsequently updated during the transfer operations.

Abstract: A stirrer for biochemical reactions comprising a magnetically permeable vessel for containing a solution of biochemically reacting substances, at least one magnetic bead placed in the vessel, and a magnetic device which is installed outside the vessel and generates an oscillating magnetic field acting on the bead. The stirrer is advantageous for stirring the solution of biochemically reacting substances for biochemical reactions without direct contact.