American Home Products Corporation

Kvm Engineering, Inc.

Howard A Vick

Thomas L Kraft

James W Meador

Miles G Hossom

Corrine Johnson

Disclosed herein is an automatic allergy testing system. The system includes an electrode capable of testing up to eight different allergies and an associated electronic unit. The electrode includes apparatus to transcutaneously deliver an allergen to the patient without puncturing the patient's skin. The electrode also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the skin temperature in the area surrounding the delivery of the allergen. Electronic apparatus is provided for processing the sensed temperature and storing data related thereto for subsequent print out to an output device. The allergy testing system is controlled so that periodic temperature readings are made at thrity second intervals over approximately a fifteen minute testing span. The data can be printed out in a graphic format to allow the physician to easily and quickly make more accurate diagnosis.

Automatic allergy detection system

Disclosed herein is an electrode for performing a plurality of allergy tests on a patient undergoing tests. The allergy electrode consists of a plurality of individual testing electrodes and a single common electrode. Each of the testing electrodes includes allergen delivery apparatus and a temperature sensor. The allergen is contained in a removable allergen impregnated pad. If a dry allergen is used, it may be hydrolized with a drop of distilled water prior to application. A small electric charge charges a charge plate on one side of the allergen pad and a common ring on the electrodes is grounded in circuit with the charging plate, thereby causing electric field to transfer the allergen through the pores of the skin. The area surrounding the allergen delivery area is sensed for temperature by a thin film temperature sensor and a rigid temperature conducted base. A thermistor or other temperature to voltage transducer converts the sensed temperature to an electric voltage which is applied through appropriate differential amplifiers and multiplexer to an analog to digital converter. The digital data is then stored by a microprocessor in random access memory. An output device can be connected to receive the stored data and the time at which it was stored so as to manifest to the physician the change in temperature of the tested area with respect to time.

Electrode for non-invasive allergy testing

A photometric analyzer and method are disclosed for analyzing particle containing samples. More particularly, a nephelometric apparatus and method are disclosed for analyzing baceteria samples. In the disclosed embodiment, the bacteria count of a bacteria sample is determined by photometrically comparing the sample to another sample having a known particle or bacteria concentration. Thus, in accordance with the invention, samples having a known bacteria count may be quickly and easily obtained from a 'go' 'no-go' test. The bacteria samples obtained according to the invention may be used as standardized bacteria concentrations for conducting Kirby-Bauer dilution tests.

Photometric apparatus

A photometric analyzer and method are disclosed for analyzing particle containing samples. More particularly, a nephelometric apparatus and method are disclosed for analyzing bacteria samples. In the disclosed embodiment, the bacteria count of a bacteria sample is determined by photometrically comparting the sample to another sample having a known particle or bacteria concentration. Thus, in accordance with the invention, samples having a known bacteria count may be quickly and easily obtained from a 'go' 'no-go' test. The bacteria samples obtained according to the invention may be used as standardized bacteria concentrations for conducting Kirby-Bauer dilution tests.

Photometric apparatus and method

The test apparatus detects pressure changes in a vessel containing a volume of a contaminated industrial liquid and a volume of gas. The apparatus includes a detector having a housing defining a chamber. A pressure transducer having a flexible, pressure-transmitting wall is mounted in the chamber. A passageway fluidly communicates between a port in the housing and the transducer. In one embodiment a needle housing is removably coupled to the port. A hollow needle is adapted to pierce a stopper in the vessel. The vessel remains continuously sealed during and after the pressure test. Pressure changes in the gas of the vessel are transmitted through the needle and the passageway to the transducer. The transducer converts such pressure changes into corresponding electric signals which are indicative of the density of organisms in the liquid contained in the vessel. In another embodiment, the gas in the vessel is coupled to a pressure-responsive, threshold switch for detecting when the gas in the vessel reaches a threshold pressure.

Apparatus for testing the contamination of industrial liquids

Automated chemical analysis apparatus is disclosed for testing a plurality of chemical samples in variable testing sequences. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is operative to test bacterial sensitivity to a plurality of drugs, each of which may have varying concentrations. More specifically, one, two or three concentrations of each of a plurality of drugs may be tested in accordance with sequence command information on a source/record card which is automatically entered into the apparatus. The results of the variable sequence testing are recorded directly on the card adjacent to the identification of the drug being tested.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Howard A Vick