2116results about "Testing metals" patented technology

A method of measuring an analyte in a biological fluid comprises applying an excitation signal having a DC component and an AC component. The AC and DC responses are measured; a corrected DC response is determined using the AC response; and a concentration of the analyte is determined based upon the corrected DC response. Other methods and devices are disclosed.

A biologic electrode array is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A matrix of electrode sites is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A matrix of optical detectors is disposed beneath the electrode sites in the semiconductor substrate, wherein each electrode site is associated with a corresponding optical detector. The optical detectors are coupled to detection circuitry formed on the semiconductor substrate. The electrode sites may include slitted electrodes, punctuated electrodes, or optically transparent electrodes.

The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of stroke and stroke sub-type. A variety of bio-markers are disclosed for assembling a panel for such diagnosis and evaluation. Methods are disclosed for selecting markers and correlating their combined levels with a clinical outcome of interest. In various aspects: the invention provides methods for early detection and differentiation of stroke subtypes, for determining the prognosis of a patient presenting with stroke symptoms, and identifying a patient at risk for hemorrhagic transformation after thrombolyic therapy. Methods are disclosed that provide rapid, sensitive and specific assays to greatly increase the number of patients that can receive beneficial stroke treatment and therapy, and reduce the costs associated with incorrect stroke diagnosis.

Disclosed is a piezoelectric resonator, a process for the fabrication thereof and its use as a sensor element, which implemented in a through-flow cell, is integratable in a measurement system for the determination of the concentration of a substance contained in a liquid and / or for the determination of the physical properties of the liquid. The piezoelectric resonator is designed plane and is provided on its surface with electric contact areas for an electrode and a counter electrode, which is connectable to a signal source as well as to a measurement device. For measuring, the piezoelectric resonator is brought into contact with the to-be-examined liquid on one side, with the resonator responding to the accumulation of the mass of the to-be-detected substance or to a change in the physical properties of the liquid by changing its resonance frequency and / or oscillation amplitude.The present invention is distinguished by the fact that the piezoelectric resonator is provided with contact electrode areas which is contactable from one single side of the resonator. The resonator is the heart piece of a sensor element, which is integrated in a through-flow cell. The through-flow cell us insertable module-like in a measurement arrangement for determining the concentration of a substance contained in a liquid and / or determining the physical properties of the liquid.

This invention pertains to chemometric methods for the analysis of chemical, biochemical, and biological data, for example, spectral data, for example, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, and their applications, including, e.g., classification, diagnosis, prognosis.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) uses nanoscale metal particles (SERS-active particles) or surface roughness to enhance the Raman signal of Raman-active analytes contacting the surface. SERS sandwich particles contain SERS-active particles sandwiching a Raman-active substance and serve as optical tags. Preferably, the particles are rod-shaped, with each layer (SERS-active and Raman-active) formed as a distinct stripe of the particle. These freestanding particles can be derivatized with surface ligands capable of associating with analytes of interest in, for example, a biological sample. The acquired Raman spectrum of the particle encodes the identity of the ligand. Because of the simplicity and intensity of Raman spectra, highly multiplexed assays are capable using SERS particles with different Raman-active species.

A flow measuring system combines a density measuring device and a device for measuring the speed of sound (SOS) propagating through the fluid flow and / or for determining the gas volume fraction (GVF) of the flow. The GVF meter measures acoustic pressures propagating through the fluids to measure the speed of sound αmix propagating through the fluid to calculate at least gas volume fraction of the fluid and / or SOS. In response to the measured density and gas volume fraction, a processing unit determines the density of non-gaseous component of an aerated fluid flow. For three phase fluid flows, the processing unit can determine the phase fraction of the non-gaseous components of the fluid flow. The gas volume fraction (GVF) meter may include a sensing device having a plurality of strain-based or pressure sensors spaced axially along the pipe for measuring the acoustic pressures propagating through the flow.

A flow measuring system is provided that provides at least one of a compensated mass flow rate measurement and a compensated density measurement. The flow measuring system includes a gas volume fraction meter in combination with a coriolis meter. The GVF meter measures acoustic pressures propagating through the fluids to measure the speed of sound αmix propagating through the fluid to calculate at least gas volume fraction of the fluid and / or the reduced natural frequency. For determining an improved density for the coriolis meter, the calculated gas volume fraction and / or reduced frequency is provided to a processing unit. The improved density is determined using analytically derived or empirically derived density calibration models (or formulas derived therefore), which is a function of the measured natural frequency and at least one of the determined GVF, reduced frequency and speed of sound, or any combination thereof. The gas volume fraction (GVF) meter may include a sensing device having a plurality of strain-based or pressure sensors spaced axially along the pipe for measuring the acoustic pressures propagating through the flow.

An apparatus 10 is provided that measures the speed of sound propagating in a multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor / mass ratio, liquid / vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and / or dynamic pressures. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed axially along the pipe for measuring the transit time of an ultrasonic signal to propagate from one ultrasonic transducer to the other ultrasonic transducer. A signal process, responsive to said transit time signal, provides a signal representative of the speed of sound of the mixture. An SOS processing unit then provides an output signal indicative of at least one parameter of the mixture flowing through the pipe. The frequency of the ultrasonic signal is sufficiently low to minimize scatter from particle / liquid within the mixture. The frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the at least one parameter of the fluid flow and / or mixture.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a method of inspecting a well tubular is disclosed. The method utilizes a probe with a transmitter and detectors spaced from the transmitter by at least twice the diameter of the pipe to be tested. In some cases where multi-tubular structures are tested, the probe can include further detectors spaced from the transmitter by at least twice the diameter of the outer pipes as well. The phase of signals detected by the detectors relative to the transmitter are utilized to detect faults in the pipes.

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods, apparatus, and systems for determining void fractions of individual phase components of a multiphase mixture. The void fractions may be determined based on measured parameters of the mixture as a whole, such as differential pressure, bulk velocity of the mixture and speed of sound in the mixture. According to some embodiments, the mixture parameters may be measured using non-intrusive fiber optic based sensors. Various other parameters may also be derived from the void fractions, such as individual phase flow rates, liquid holdup and watercut parameters (for oil and gas mixtures).

A magnetic focusing immunosensor for the detection of pathogens comprising a laser, an exciting fiber and a collecting fiber, a fiber optic magnetic probe in communication with the collecting and exciting fibers and means for detecting, collecting and measuring fluorescent signals in communication with the collecting fiber. The probe and the collecting and exciting fibers are configured to focus paramagnetic microspheres attached to antigen / antibody / optically labeled complexes in a predetermined pattern in the field of view of the collecting fiber while blocking background interference.

A method of addressing and driving an electrode array includes the step of addressing one or more electrodes within the array using a plurality of row and column lines. In one aspect of the method, a value corresponding to a voltage is stored in a local memory associated with each electrode. The addressed electrodes are then driven at the voltages corresponding to the stored values. In another aspect of the method, a driving element associated with each addressed electrode is selectively coupled with a voltage line so as to charge the electrode with the voltage on the voltage line. The device and methods may be used in the synthesis of biopolymers such as oligonucleotides and peptides.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for dosing a patient with an activin-ActRIIa antagonist and methods for managing patients treated with an activin-ActRIIa anatagonist. In certain aspects, the methods involve measuring one or more hematologic parameters in a patient.

A probe 10,170 is provided that measures the speed of sound and / or vortical disturbances propagating in a single phase fluid flow and / or multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor / mass ratio, liquid / vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and / or dynamic pressures. The probe includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a tube 14. For measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor / liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the tube 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor / liquid mixture 12 in the tube 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest.

A device for detecting at least one substance of a fluid includes at least one piezo-acoustic resonator with at least one piezo layer, an electrode arranged on the piezo-electric layer, at least one other electrode arranged on the piezo-electric layer and a surface section used for sorption of the substance of the fluid. The piezo-electric layer, the electrodes and the surface section are disposed in such a way that electric control of the electrodes leads to an oscillation of the resonator at a resonance frequency which depends upon the amount of the substance which is sorbed on the surface section. The thickness of the pioelectric layer is in the region of 0.5 to 20 μm and the resonance frequency of the oscillation ranges from 500 MHz to 2 GHz. The device is a mass sensor with a piezo-acoustic high-frequency thin film resonator.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for dosing a patient with an ActRIIb antagonist and methods for managing patients treated with an ActRIIb anatagonist. In certain aspects, the methods involve measuring one or more hematologic parameters in a patient.

An improved system, device and method for characterizing a fluid sample that includes injecting a fluid sample into a mobile phase of a flow characterization system, and detecting a property of the fluid sample or of a component thereof with a flow detector comprising a mechanical resonator, preferably one that is operated at a frequency less than about 1 MHz, such as a tuning fork resonator.

A system and method for non-invasively inspecting one or more vessels capable of transmitting IR light containing liquid is provided, which uses a near-infrared (NIR) imaging device in combination with one or two NIR light sources, a diffuser plate, and an optical wavelength selecting means is provided for selecting one or more wavelength bands. In addition, the system may further comprise a computer processing means, a computer database containing known absorbance values, and a computer application, such that the system may compare the collected spectroscopic data to known spectroscopic data, and identify the liquid contained within the inspected vessel. The inspection method of the present invention measures a transmission or reflection image of one or more vessels being inspected at one or more narrow wavelength intervals in the NIR spectral range that corresponds to a peak absorbance wavelength of water, organic liquids, and explosive compositions.

Optical cells are non-actively compensated to ensure that a sample gap of a sample space remains nearly constant upon a change in temperature. Fluids can be flowed through the sample space of the optical cells.

Devices, methods and systems effective to evaluate a physical or chemical property of a surfactant-treated biological fluid sample are provided.

A system monitors the composition of emulsions (e.g., oil / water mixtures) by measuring one or more electrical properties (e.g., dielectric constant) of the emulsion. A computer processor determines a plurality of possible solutions using a predetermined relationship between the measured electrical properties and the component fractions of the emulsion. One possible solution is determined for each component that might be the continuous phase in the emulsion. The computer processor then evaluates the component fractions resulting from each possible solution to choose which single solution is most reasonable based on known physical limits for a continuous phase emulsion involving the component associated with each possible solution. The component fractions associated with the selected solution are output by the processor.

The invention provides methods and compositions for the rapid and sensitive detection of post-translationally modified proteins, and particularly of those with post-translational glycosylations. The methods can be used to detect O-GlcNAc posttranslational modifications on proteins on which such modifications were undetectable using other techniques. In one embodiment, the method exploits the ability of an engineered mutant of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase to selectively transfer an unnatural ketone functionality onto O-GlcNAc glycosylated proteins. Once transferred, the ketone moiety serves as a versatile handle for the attachment of biotin, thereby enabling detection of the modified protein. The approach permits the rapid visualization of proteins that are at the limits of detection using traditional methods. Further, the preferred embodiments can be used for detection of certain disease states, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.