Bioresearch, Inc.

Howmedica Corp.

Other

Eugene Findl

Robert J Kurtz

James C Conti

Leonard D Kurtz

Cynthia Griffiths

William Wang

Peter O Milch

Anthony M Cundell

Elaine Strope

A method of controlling cellular influx and efflux of ionic calcium to modulate the functioning of biological entities comprising subjecting such entities to both resonant and non-resonant fields. Representative of the synergistic application of these two types of fields in their use in controlling blood glucose levels in living animals afflicted with hyperglycemia. This method comprising subjecting at least the liver and pancreas area of an animal having a blood glucose level of at least 180 mg/dL to a resonant electromagnetic field applied post-prandially until the animal's blood glucose level is reduced to about 150 mg/dL then stopping application of said resonant frequency electromagnetic field and subjecting said animal to a non-resonant frequency electromagnetic field to further reduce the animal's blood glucose level.

Bioelectrochemical modulation of biological functions using

Apparatus and a non-invasive technique are disclosed for the control of glucose levels in living animals afflicted with hyperglycemia. The apparatus is used to apply a uniform, monopolar pulsed magnetic field to cause electric currents and field generation in the animal. The pulsed magnetic fields are obtained by transmitting individual pulses of direct current to Helmholtz coils located on opposite sides of the animal. The optimum pulse train configuration for the test animals, which were a breed of white rats, is a pulse repetition rate of 15 hertz, a pulse amplitude of 60 millivolts, and a pulse width of 350 microseconds. The generated field in the preferred embodiment was about 15 gauss. Although the treated rats did not have a normal serum glucose level, the depicted serum glucose levels are significantly lower than those of the control animals.

Electromagnetic apparatus and method for the reduction of serum glucose

Method and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining flow information of a conductive fluid by detecting the streaming potential and analyzing the resultant signal. In a particular embodiment for detecting abnormal blood velocities in the arterial tree, the apparatus includes a flexible sensor having two fixedly spaced apart electrodes and a common mode signal electrode. Each sensor electrode is connected to an input of a differential amplifier and the common electrode is connected to the common input of the differential amplifier. The output signal from the differential amplifier, after filtering and amplification is provided to a recorder or oscilloscope so that it can be compared with the normal or average signal. A particular embodiment of the method is used to detect blood flow abnormalities, either too fast or too slow compared with most healthy individuals of the same age. In this method, a flexible sensor having two fixedly mounted electrodes is placed on the skin over the artery to be examined, for example the dorsalis pedis artery, so that each electrode is in electrical contact with a different part of the artery. The detected signal is processed and is compared to normal signals. These comparisons can be the wave shape or the time difference between the detection of the wave pulse and a pump timing signal such as the ECG signal.

Electrical method and apparatus for non-invasively detecting abnormal

A method and apparatus are disclosed for sensing the changes in the electrical potential across a double layer. By using a conductive plug comprised of the same material that are in suspension in a fluid, the present method can be used to determine the timing and amount of agents to be added to the liquid to promote the removal of the particle. In one embodiment, the sensor is comprised of two closed chambers, a sensor chamber closed by a porous plug made from the subject material, and a reference chamber closed by a plug that prevents particle dispersion therethrough and also offers a negligible variation in double layer interface potential. An exemplary plug could be comprised of agar. Each chamber includes a corresponding electrode probe and is filled with a conductive solution.

Method and apparatus for determination of changes in the surface charge

A sensor and method are disclosed for measuring electrokinetic effects across a double layer formed at the boundary between a solid wall and an ionic liquid flowing through a channel. In one embodiment, a passive electrode is located in a cavity forming a tee section with the channel through an orifice of approximately the same size as the channel. A passive second electrode in electrical communication with one side of the double layer is placed on the other side of a porous plug which is located in a second cavity directly opposite the orifice and which is flush with the channel walls. The double layer being investigated is formed on the flush portion of the porous plug. Thus both electrodes are out of the flowing liquid. An electrokinetic potential, labeled the K-effect potential, was measured by the two electrodes. In one use of the sensor, monitoring this potential, the chemical composition of the liquid can be maintained so as to keep a desired surface charge on suspended minerals which are being processed.

Apparatus for sensing electrical potentials

A method of screening a material for potential carcinogenic or mutagenic activity. A mutant stain of eucaryotic or prokaryotic test organism is provided which is capable of reverting to a normal form in the presence of a carcinogen or mutagen. A growth media is provided in which the test organism is capable of growth in one only of its mutant forms. For example, the test organism may be a bacteria which in its mutant form is incapable of substantial growth in the absence of an essential nutrient and, in its natural form, is capable of rapid growth in the absence of that nutrient. The test organism and growth media are combined with oxygen and a material to be screened. Oxygen consumption is then detected to determine if the mutant strain has reverted to its normal form. Reversion is indicated if a change in oxygen consumption occurs when the material being screened is present.

Carcinogen and mutagen screening method and apparatus

Method for sensing electrical potentials

A battery sensor for measuring the state of charge, temperature and electrolyte level of a battery. The state of charge is determined by a concentration cell. The concentration cell comprises an ionic fluid of known concentration separated from the electrolyte by an ionically porous plug. When a first electrode is placed in the electrolyte and a second electrode is placed in the fluid, a voltage, which is a function of the difference in the concentration of each, is generated so that a state of charge of the electrolyte may be determined. Temperature determination is made by positioning thermistors above the electrolyte thereby measuring the gas temperature over the aqueous electrolyte. By positioning one of the thermistors in contact with a catalyst for recombining the gaseous hydrogen, produced by a fully charged battery, with oxygen, sensing means are established for indicating an overcharge situation. The porous plug is positioned at the minimum safety level for the electrolyte such that when the electrolyte falls below the minimum level, the concentration cell voltage between the two electrodes becomes erratic and can be used to activate a warning signal. The sensor is constructed such that the sensing apparatus and voltage generating device can be contained within a battery cap.

Battery sensor

Bacteria, particularly coliform bacteria, present in a liquid, are rapidly detected. A sample of the liquid to be tested is admixed with an enzyme-inducing agent which induces the production of an enzyme in the bacteria, the enzyme being capable of reacting with a fluorescent conjugate ingested by the bacteria to release its fluorescent portion. Conditions are controlled such that a sufficient number of molecules of enzyme are produced per bacterium present in the liquid sample to effect release of the fluorescent portion. A fluorescent conjugate, capable of being ingested by the bacteria, is admixed with the liquid sample for reaction with the enzyme to release the fluorescent portion of the fluorescent conjugate. The liquid sample is then formed into microdroplets in a liquid carrier such that the fluorescent material is retained in the microdroplets. A liquid carrying the microdroplets is formed into a stream in which the microdroplets become aligned and the stream is moved relative to a detector for detecting fluorescence. The detected fluorescence provides a measure of the quantity of bacteria in the liquid sample. By proceeding in this manner, it is possible to quantify the bacteria, at a level down to two per ml, in less than two hours. Apparatus suitable for the method is also disclosed.

Rapid detection of bacteria

A method and apparatus are disclosed for non-invasively detecting the location of a constriction in a vessel through which a conductive fluid is flowing by externally measuring the streaming potentials generated by the flowing fluid. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention detects the location of atherosclerotic lesions in human arteries through which the blood is being pumped in a pulsatile manner. The lesion creates a turbulent flow in the blood which in turn results in a significantly larger streaming potential being generated. The apparatus comprises two closely spaced apart, passive electrodes, which can be relatively movably mounted on a housing and a voltage detecting device, such as an oscilloscope, coupled to the electrodes.

Growing community of inventors

Amityville, NY, United States of America

Eugene Findl