Abstract:
A system and method provide for high through put determination of agglutination states. The system includes a rotating table and multiple plate tilting stations. The system also includes one or more optical paths positioned to image entire plate arrays in tilted and/or untilted configurations. The system preferably includes image analysis software to analyze an image of an array of test wells and determine an agglutination state of each well based on the image analysis.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a reagent dispenser apparatus. The reagent dispenser apparatus has a reagent container having a dispense port operable to open and close to dispense reagent. Dispense port may include a valve operable to dispense reagent from a bottom of the reagent container. Reagent dispensing apparatus, immunoassay apparatus and methods of operating the reagent dispenser apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
Abstract:
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for analyzing bodily fluids, such as blood samples, using an integrated hematology analyzer and flow cytometer system. Under the present approach, an integrated system may operate as a closed fluidic system or an open fluidic system, and may selectively perform automated hematologic protocols, flow cytometer protocols, and custom protocols. Such apparatus may, for example, identify and enumerate multiple cell types in whole blood based on cellular morphology, analyze cellular immunoassays using antibodies labeled to cells, and also detect low abundant analytes in whole blood as well as serum and other bodily fluids not attached to cells using bead-based immunoassay methods. The system may include a fluid handling system to control sample flow, an optical transducer that includes a flow cell, optical detectors for light scatter and/or fluorescence, and also an illumination source.
Abstract:
Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.
Abstract:
Contact lens testing apparatuses and method for testing contact lenses for analytes are presented. In an aspect, a device is provided that includes a housing configured to hold one or more contact lenses, and a testing compartment provided within the housing and comprising a reagent, the reagent configured to facilitate a chemical reaction in response to the existence of a predetermined biomarker disposed on or within a contact lens placed in the testing compartment, wherein the chemical reaction produces a known result related to state information of an individual from which the biomarker was generated.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for performing a bioassay, comprising activating capsules containing a signal precursor that is hydrolysable from a latent form in which substantially no signal is generated to a form in which it is able to generate a detectable signal, said activating comprising treating said capsules with heat and with an acid or a base catalysing solution, the combination of said heat and the pH of the catalysing solution being such as to hydrolyse said precursor to the form in which it is able to generate a detectable signal.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of monitoring one or more specified reactions in a fluid medium sample using a thermal signature, comprising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, calibrating the at least one micro-cantilever response to thermal changes to form a calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic, starting the specified reaction in the fluid medium sample, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterise a response of the micro-cantilever during the specified reaction in the fluid medium, and subtracting the calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic from the sampled output to determine a characteristic of the one or more specified reactions in the fluid medium sample. There is also provided a method for measuring at least one thermal property of a fluid medium sample, and a fluid medium sample reaction detection apparatus.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to a disposable cartridge suitable for use in detecting the presence of analytes in fluid samples. The cartridge is designed to provide "lab on a chip" capabilities and comprises a plurality of sample storage reservoirs and analytical compartments/channels. A valve system based on valve disks aids in securely transferring samples from storage reservoirs to analytical channels and detectors with minimal use of common channels, which reduces risk of cross-contamination.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to a disposable cartridge suitable for use in detecting the presence of analytes in fluid samples. The cartridge is designed to provide "lab on a chip" capabilities and comprises a plurality of sample storage reservoirs and analytical compartments/channels. A valve system based on valve disks aids in securely transferring samples from storage reservoirs to analytical channels and detectors with minimal use of common channels, which reduces risk of cross-contamination.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the use of thermodynamically incompatible surfaces in agglutination assays for the express purpose of using the sample as a key component of the detection instrument. Specifically, the invention relates to formation of a lense and a virtual container for rapid mixing via thermal energy by a sample liquid disposed on a superhydrophobic surfaces, and a subsequent specific analyte or overall protein concentration assay using particles agglutination for use in the industrial, environmental, and clinical laboratory test fields.