Curetis Gmbh

Hewlett-packard Company

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Biocartis, Nv

Curetis Ag

Andreas Boos

Gerd Lüdke

Johannes Bacher

Martin Schraag

Matthias Klein

Ronald Cornelis De Gier

Jens-Peter Seher

Adrianus Wilhelmus Dionisius Maria Van Den Bijgaart

Michiel Johannes Jongerius

Michiel De Jong

Gerhard Pross

Andreas Bindszus

Chris Van Haag

Danny Genius Aldegonda Schaefer

Werner Jacoby

Markus Wollschlager

Hassan Motejadded

Gerd Luedke

Gerd Ludke

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for a lysis procedure, in particular for an automated and/or controlled lysis procedure of a sample, in particular a biological sample. The apparatus comprises at least one rotation disc (), at least one vial holder () which is configured to receive a vial (), wherein the vial holder () is arranged on the disc (), at least one driving device () which is configured to rotate the disc () and the vial holder (), at least one heating device () which is configured to heat the sample to a determined incubation temperature, and&#x2014;at least one control device () which is configured to control the driving device () and/or the heating device () by means of a timing and/or step control, and/or&#x2014;at least one transmitting device () for inductive coupling for energy and signal transmission, which is configured to transmit the energy for heating to the heating device (), and/or&#x2014;wherein the driving device () is configured to rotate the disc () in a first direction (A) and/or with a first speed, and to rotate the vial holder () in a second direction (A) and/or with a second speed. The apparatus and the method are adapted for an (automated) lysis procedure, wherein the lysis can be carried out in a safe, efficient and effective manner.

Apparatus and method for a lysis of a sample, in particular for an automated and/or controlled lysis of a sample

The present invention provides a universally applicable lysis buffer comprising a chaotropic 5 agent, a reducing agent, and a proteolytic enzyme suitable for processing a wide variety of different sample types, such as different types of bodily samples relevant for the diagnosis of a respiratory disease. Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of a chaotropic agent, a reducing agent, and a proteolytic enzyme for the lysis of a broad spectrum of bodily samples. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for processing bodily samples which is universally applicable to the lysis of a variety of different types of bodily samples. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for analyzing a bodily sample or for detecting the presence of a pathogen in a bodily sample, preferably, for diagnosing a respiratory disease, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Preferably, these methods are universally applicable to a variety of sample types, are applicable as one-tube-processes, are 15 suitable for performance in a high-throughput setting, and are automatable.

Universally applicable lysis buffer and processing methods for the lysis of bodily samples

The present invention provides a reaction vessel () for a PCR device. The reaction vessel () comprises a sample vial () defining a reaction chamber () for performing PCR and a storage vessel () defining a storage chamber () for optical detection. The reaction chamber () is in fluid communication with a liquid supply port () for supplying a liquid sample containing at least one target DNA to the reaction chamber (). The reaction chamber () and the storage chamber () are in fluid communication via a spacer element () and a porous membrane () for hybridization of the at least one target DNA within the liquid sample onto specific immobilised hybridization probes. The lower end of the spacer element () extends into the reaction chamber (), but does not reach the bottom thereof. The upper end of the spacer element () is located in proximity of the porous membrane (), which is made from a material having different physical properties in a dry state and a wet state. In the dry state the porous membrane () allows air as well as liquid to pass therethrough. In the wet state the porous membrane () still allows the passage of liquid therethrough, but not of air, such that during a PCR the liquid sample remains in the reaction chamber () and after the PCR the reaction vessel () is configured to force the liquid sample via the spacer element () to the porous membrane () for hybridization and detection of the at least one target DNA in the liquid sample. Moreover, a PCR device comprising such a reaction vessel () as well as a method for performing PCR are described.

Reaction vessel for PCR device and method of performing PCR

Cartridge and method for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences. The cartridge comprises a one or more nucleic acid sequences, and the cartridge includes a generic part and one or more separate application-specific parts, which are connectable to the generic part.

Cartridge, system and method for automated medical diagnostics

Column adapter

Disclosed is a telemetry system () with a receiver unit () and a plurality of transmitters (), each adapted for providing a wireless communicating with the receiver unit (). The receiver unit () comprises a plurality of transmitter holding positions (), such as insertion slots, for receiving one of the transmitters (), and means for assigning one of the transmitter holding positions () to the transmitter () received in the assigned transmitter holding position ().

Telemetry system with transmitter holding position assignment

A coincidence recognition unit receives a first signal indicative of a pulse rate derived from pulse oximetry and a second signal indicative of a heart rate. A coincidence detection unit generates a third signal indicative of the coincidence between the first signal and the second signal. The pulse rate of a patient (detected by pulse oximetry) can thus be compared with the heart rate of the patient (e.g. from EKG or ultrasound). An indicator is preferably generated when the pulse rate and the heart rate do not match e.g. within a pre-given limit. A warning signal might further be generated indicating that the oxygen saturation value as measured by the pulse oximetry is not sufficiently accurate and/or invalid. A pulse oximetry unit according to the invention comprises a pulse oximeter for generating the first signal, a heart rate determination unit for generating the second signal, and the coincidence recognition unit receiving the first and second signals. The coincidence recognition unit provides the third signal indicative of the coincidence between the first and the second signal to the pulse oximeter for validating the accuracy of measured oxygen saturation values of any kind of patient such as adults, pediatrics, or neonates.

Pulse rate and heart rate coincidence detection for pulse oximetry

A medical monitor, such as a fetal monitor, is provided with a code reader, e.g. a bar code reader. A manual contains clear text instructions as well as predefined codes in their correct sequential form. The instructions help the unskilled user to operate the monitor, and the actual monitor functions are triggered by scanning the codes, instead of pushing buttons, turning knobs etc. A questionnaire may also be provided to enter answers to anamnesis data. These answers, together with vital signs data, may be transmitted via telephone lines to a hospital, which makes the medical monitor ideally suited for home monitoring applications.

Method and apparatus for medical monitoring

Determining the fetal heart rate comprises irradiating an ultrasound beam in the direction of the fetal heart. The moving parts of the fetal heart cause a Doppler shift which is used to determine the fetal heart rate via an autocorrelation function. Moving parts of the fetal heart with different velocities and Doppler shifts originating from other physiological sources generate secondary maxima in the autocorrelation function, so that an accurate heart rate determination becomes nearly impossible. This problem is overcome by parallel processing of the demodulated ultrasound signal in various pass-bands, for which purpose the signal is fed to filters (28, 30) of different frequency characteristics. The output of the pass band with the better result is used for fetal heart rate circulation.

Method and apparatus for calculating the fetal heart rate

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Bondorf, Germany

Andreas Boos