Akro-medic Engineering, Inc.

Gamma Biologicals, Inc.

Personal Diagnostics, Inc.

Entremed, Inc.

Jesse L Acker

Peter M Meserol

Rita C Prodell

Dean Pappas

Janet G Murnick

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in red blood cell, characterized by an optionally automated, continuous-flow, self-contained electroporation system which allows withdrawal of blood from a patient, separation of red blood cells, encapsulation of a biologically-active substances in the cells, and optional recombination of blood plasma and the modified red blood cells thereby producing blood with modified biological characteristics. The present invention is particularly suited for use to encapsulate allosteric effectors of hemoglobin, thereby reducing the affinity of erythrocytes for oxygen and improving the release of oxygen from erythrocytes in tissues.

Flow electroporation chamber and method

A biological fluid assay system and method for the determination of immunoreactive characteristics of biological specimen and more particularly for the qualitative determination of immunological reactions. The apparatus includes a centrifuge rotor, a disposable belt mountable on the centrifuge rotor, and a plurality of light transmissive chambers as components of the removable belt, each of the chambers having a vertical apex and a horizontal radial apex for accepting a sample comprising a specimen and an appropriate reagent. An illumination system projects an image of the sample while a linear photosensitive array detects the image of the sample for measuring the vertical dimension of the sample and a microprocessor analyzes the vertical dimension of the sample. A sample is radially accelerated to compress the particulate portion of the sample or reagent into a compact mass in the extreme radial portion of the transparent chamber. The centrifugal force on the sample is balanced with the gravitational force acting on the compact mass by decelerating the rotor. The vertical dimension of the compact mass is measured while the sample is rotating. The vertical dimension of the compact mass is again measured after a delay to determine the presence of vertical streaming. The difference between the vertical dimension of the compact mass before streaming and the vertical dimension of the mass after streaming is completed, due to gravitational attraction, is determined.

Biological fluid assay system and method

Biological fluid assay system

Self-sufficient incubation assembly for the in vitro cultivation of microorganisms such as bacteria and for being energized by a self-contained energy source, including a heater for heating means, such as a culture growth dish assembly or a cuvette, for receiving a culture growth medium seeded with microorganisms, to a physiological temperature to cultivate the microorganisms, and electrical circuitry which interconnects the heater with the energy source and which includes a temperature control element in intimate physical contact with the seeded culture growth receiving means to cause the temperature of the control element to be substantially the same as the temperature of the medium; the electrical circuit in operation produces heat and due to its intimate physical contact with the means for receiving the seeded culture growth medium supplements the heating of the medium by the heater and the supplementation reduces the total energy required to be supplied by the energy source to cultivate the microorganisms below that which would be required were the electrical circuitry not to be in intimate physical contact with the culture growth receiving means; and optical means are included to provide an external indication of the growth of the microorganisms within the interior of the assembly.

Self-sufficient incubation assembly

The combination of a cuvette for receiving a medium undergoing change in optical characteristics which change modifies the energy level of a ray of energy passing through the medium and wherein the cuvette is provided with integrally formed first and second ray modifying optical means, such as collimating and collecting lens, wherein the first ray modifying optical means receives and modifies the ray in a first manner, such as by collimation, and transmits the ray into the medium and wherein the second ray modifying optical means receives and modifies the ray in a second manner, such as by collection, upon the ray passing through the medium and transmits the ray from the cuvette; and an electrical circuit including photoemissive and photosensitive means, such as a photoemitter and photodetector, wherein the photoemissive means is in intimate optical contact with the first ray modifying optical element of the cuvette and wherein the photosensitive means is in intimate optical contact with the second ray modifying means.

Combined cuvette with integral optical elements and electrical circuit

An apparatus is provided for use in qualitative and quantitative determinations of agglutination in immunoreactive systems. The apparatus comprises a carriage assembly having a plurality of spaced, axially-disposed compartments for receiving image cells which are uniquely designed for holding the biological fluid test specimen and the reagent therefor. Means are provided for partially lifting each image cell successively out of its compartment and into an optical path. A monochromatic light source directs beams of radiant energy through the reaction zone in each image cell and the light beams transmitted through the reaction zone are focused, by means of an imaging lens, on the surface of an image sensor such as a 'Charge-Coupled Device'. The dark areas formed on the image sensor are measured electronically and also displayed on a display cathode ray tube.

Apparatus for use in qualitative determination of immunological reactions

The method of this invention comprises introducing the fluid biological test specimen and the reagent (e.g., latex spheres) into a reaction zone in the image cell, evenly mixing and incubating the mixture thereby forming agglutinated particles. After transilluminating the reaction zone and imaging the light beams transmitted therethrough on the image sensor, the dark areas formed on the surface of the image sensor are measured, preferably electronically. This procedure is repeated for a reference specimen and the total dark imaged area is compared with the total dark area obtained for the unknown specimen for qualitative determination. In order to obtain the concentration of the immunoreactive component in the unknown specimen, the foregoing procedure is repeated for at least two specimens with known antibody concentrations, one of which may be a negative control. The concentration of the immunoreactive component of the unknown sample is then determined from the total dark imaged area thereof and the relationship between the total dark imaged areas of the known specimen and their respective concentrations.

Electro-optical system for use in evaluating immunological reactions

A method for qualitative and quantitative determination of agglutination in immunoreactive systems, and for determining the concentration of the immunoreactive components of such system, which method comprises introducing a fluid biological test specimen and a reagent therefor (e.g., latex spheres) into a reaction zone in an image cell and evenly mixing and incubating the mixture thereby forming agglutinated particles. The reaction zone is then transilluminated and the light beams transmitted therethrough are imaged on an image sensor. Dark areas are formed on the surface of the image sensor which are measured, preferably electronically. This procedure is repeated for a reference specimen and the total dark imaged area is compared with the total dark area obtained for the unknown specimen for qualitative determination. In order to obtain the concentration of the immunoreactive component in the unknown specimen, the foregoing procedure is repeated for at least two specimens with known antibody concentrations, one of which may be a negative control. The concentration of the immunoreactive component of the unknown sample is then determined from the total dark imaged area thereof and the relationship between the total dark imaged areas of the known specimen and their respective concentrations.

Method for qualitative and quantitative determination of immunological

The apparatus comprises a plurality of stationary cuvettes, a chamber for the fluid to be evaluated, means for placing the chamber in fluid communication with each of the cuvettes and for permitting the flow of fluid from the chamber into each of the cuvettes, a plurality of optical transmitting means in registration with each of the cuvettes for transmitting a beam of radiant energy through each of the cuvettes, and detector means for intercepting each of the beams of radiant energy and for measuring any optical changes in the radiant energy passing through the fluid in each of the cuvettes. The chamber for the fluid, the plurality of cuvettes and the fluid communication means are all housed within, preferably, a disposable, self-contained cartridge of unitary construction. The cartridge is mountable within a carriage that houses the transmitting and detector means of the apparatus. The chamber which forms the upper portion of the cartridge can be prefilled with bacterial suspension. Periodically, during the growth of the subject bacteria the suspensions are agitated by suitable means. Samples of antibiotics of varying potency are placed in the cuvettes. The cartridge is mounted in the carriage. On a signal from the detector means a portion of the suspension passes into each of the cuvettes to begin the antibiotic titer which is evaluated by means of the transmitting and detector means and associated electronic circuitry.

Sample cartridge for use in apparatus for evaluation of biological fluid

A method of determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an antibiotic by continuously measuring the change in optical properties in response to the bacterial growth rate of a bacterial suspension in the absence and the presence of the antibiotic. The method is carried out in an automatic biological fluid analyzer.

Method for determining minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotic

Baseline correction for a pulse train is achieved by arranging the source generating the pulse train in series circuit with a switch and by rendering the switch selectively conductive during time periods coextensive with the separation interval between successive pulses in the pulse train. The switch output is stored and is subtractively combined with the pulse train. Switching control is effected by a signal generator which also time controls generation of the pulse train.

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Rockaway, NJ, United States of America

Jesse L Acker