Allied Corporation

Other

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Alliedsignal Inc.

The Bendix Corporation

Environmental Technologies Group, Inc.

Smiths Detection-edgewood, Inc.

John C Schmidt

Donald N Campbell

Sandra B Clay

John Eugene Studer, Jr

Richard Vernon Priddy

Mark Alexander Hollis

James Douglas Harper

David Jerome Tilles

David W Sickenberger

Robert C Davis, Jr

Eric Scott Clasen

Laura T Bortolin

Lalitha Parameswaran

Johanna Bobrow

Gordon R Sima, Jr

Drew Chapman Brown

David R Browning

Clifton A Sands

Eugene F Fafaul

Wendy P Pearson

Gabriel A DiFurio

An apparatus for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification includes a porous support having an agent that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of the sample. The apparatus further includes a housing with an opening and defining an interior. The interior of the housing is in fluid communication with the porous support, and at least a portion of a fluid directed through the opening is directed through at least a portion of the porous support. The apparatus also includes a magnetic substrate for separating nucleic acid from a sample.

Apparatus for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample

This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. The apparatus is capable of detecting transient events such asin a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment. The system includes apparatus for implementing the following features: particle collection and pre-separation using a collection hood and dry cyclone passive filtration system; continuous particle collection into a liquid sample; automated fluid transfer to a PCR analysis cartridge; and PCR biological identifier apparatus for detecting a bio-agent in a piece of mail following manual transport of the cartridge to the identifier apparatus; retesting of the liquid sample upon various error conditions; confirmation testing upon preliminary positive results; fluid transfer to archive containers at the completion of analysis; and, notification/reporting system to alert designated personnel/organizations upon the occurrence of selected events such as the presence of

Point source biological agent detection system

A disposable sensor for metal analysis comprises a housing including a first section, a second section, and a flexible intermediate section therebetween. An ampoule containing a reagent is disposed in the intermediate section. A liquid seal is formed between the first and second sections. The intermediate section of the housing of the disposable sensor may be flexed to break the ampoule. When the seal is broken between the first and second sections, and the water (or any other liquid) sample mixes with the reagent, the mixture flows into the second section containing an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may be disposed in engagement with the monitoring device to determine the concentration of the at least one metal in the water (or any other liquid) sample.

Disposable sensor for metal analysis and method of using same

A disposable sensor for metal analysis comprises a housing including a first section, a second section, and a flexible intermediate section therebetween. An ampoule containing a reagent is disposed in the intermediate section. A liquid seal is formed between the first and second sections. The intermediate section of the housing of the disposable sensor may be flexed to break the ampoule. When the seal is broken between the first and second sections, and the water sample mixes with the reagent, the mixture flows into the second section containing an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may be disposed in engagement with the monitoring device to determine the concentration of the at least one metal in the water sample.

Disposable sensor for metal analysis

A method for regularly and controllably flexing and extending the feet and the legs of a patient who is unable to move their legs and/or feet due to some physical or mental disorder. The oscillating footboard assembly is adjustable and adaptable to the users size. The oscillating footboard assembly is designed to regularly flex and extend (by a controllable amount of excursion and at a controllable frequency) the feet and the legs of a patient who is unable to move their legs and feet due to a physical ailment such as a stroke, coma, or paralysis. If the feet and legs are not regularly flexed and extended, they 'freeze' in the extended position and it is extremely difficult and in some instances, impossible to resolve this problem. The frequency and the excursion of the oscillation may be adjustable on the assembly depending upon the needs of the patient. The assembly is easily and comfortably attachable to the patient through the use of booties or other means such as foot straps. The booties or foot straps or other similar and effective devices may be attached to the footboard assembly, and particularly the footboard member of the assembly, using VELCRO.TM. type of fastening material or by any other appropriate fastening means.

Oscillatable hospital bed footboard assembly

An electrochemical gas sensor is described incorporating a sensing electrode, a reference electrode, a solid matrix containing an alkali salt, a potentiostat and a heater. The invention overcomes the problem of a liquid electrolyte which may operate over limited environmental conditions.

Amperometric gas sensor containing a solid electrolyte

An electrochemical gas sensor is described for detecting a gas constituent, for example hydrazine in a gas ambient incorporating an electrochemical cell including a reference electrode, counter electrode and sensing electrode spaced apart and with an electrolyte in contact with each electrode and comprising n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and a salt soluble therein, for example tetraalkyl ammonium salt. The invention overcomes the problem of specificity, service life and operating temperature range associated with aqueous electrochemical gas sensors.

Electrochemical gas sensor

Gas sensing device or similar article

An electrochemical gas detection cell, particularly suitable for detecting H.sub.2 S, includes an electrochemical gas sensor which has a reference electrode, a sensing electrode and a counter electrode. The counter electrode is composed of carbon. The sensing electrode is composed of either gold or platinum and the reference electrode is composed of platinum. Circuitry is provided to supply voltage to the electrodes, the sensing electrode bias can be held below 300 mv., with respect to the reference electrode. The agent H.sub.2 S can be readily detected when the bias is about 250 mv. The cell is associated with signal processing circuitry which produce audible and visual outputs. A nonaqueous electrolyte is provided. The electrolyte may be composed of either propylene carbonate or n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and one of conductive compatible salts, such as tetrabutyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate.

An enzymatic toxic gas sensor 10 having a plurality of parallel planar surfaces and a buffered electrolyte reservoir 44. The buffered electrolyte is conveyed by means of diffusion to a substrate 28 to dissolve the substrate. The substrate diffuses to an immobilized enzyme where it is hydrolyzed if the enzyme is active. An electrochemical cell continuously monitors the hydrolyzed substrate concentration which is an indication of the enzymatic activity and presence of toxic gas. A circuit means responds to the current output of the electrochemical cell to indicate the presence or absence of a toxic gas. The shelf life of the sensor is extended by means of a separator for maintaining the enzyme dry and inactive. The enzyme in the preferred embodiment is acetylcholinesterase (AcHe).

Enzymatic toxic gas sensor

An electrochemical detection cell which includes, in the order named, a stack of components constituted by a first membrane, an electrode carrier having reference and counter electrodes thereon, a membrane support, an electrode carrier having a sensing electrode thereon, and a permselective membrane. Whatman filter papers are positioned between the sensing electrode and both the counter electrode and reference electrode, these being positionable in a central rectangular opening of the membrane support. The cell allows air or gas ambient to address the membranes and effects application of an electrolyte to space between the electrodes by, for example, a wick which extends between an electrolyte-containing reservoir and the Whatman filter papers. A system for detecting a gaseous agent uses the aforementioned detection cell coupled with circuitry capable of applying a fixed DC voltage bias to the reference electrode and superimposing a train of DC voltage pulses on the fixed bias. Further circuitry is coupled to and responsive to signals from the sensing electrode. This circuitry determines the difference between the sensing electrode signal at the end of each pulse minus that just before each pulse. The difference is proportional to the concentration of the test gas in the atmosphere adjacent to the sensor, and is a more specific and sensitive indication of the test gas concentration than prior art sensors.

Method of and system for real time differential pulse detection

The ion accelerator for an ion mobility detector cell is comprised of a ceramic tube coated inside with a thick film resistor composition across which a voltage potential difference is impressed to provide an ion accelerating electrical field gradient within the tube.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

John C Schmidt