Linear Instruments

Alara, Inc.

Spectra-physics Gmbh

Dentsply International Inc.

Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.

Louis Hlousek

Scot Randy Weinberger

Edward P Donlon

Raymond G Bryan

Joseph R Rimsa

James L Mills

Iain H Hueton

Kirk C Odencrantz

John Lewis

A method and a device for detecting an analyte, including a substrate having a chemically selective surface; and a fluidic system disposed on the substrate, the manifold having at least one fluid path in communication with at least a discrete region of the surface, wherein the one fluid path and the discrete region together define a contained sample region on the surface. The fluidic system has a removable portion, wherein the removal of the removable portion of the fluidic system renders the discrete region directly interrogatable by a surface-based analytical tool.

Apparatus for microfluidic processing and reading of biochip arrays

A system is provided for scanning an object, the system comprising: a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis; a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor. This system may be used in a drum scanner system and may be used to read storage layer radiation screens.

Scanning system with flexible drive assembly

A container is provided for the storing of light sensitive exposed storage layer radiation screens. The container includes walls defining an interior volume, an aperture in one of the walls sized to allow entry of a storage layer radiation screen, a screen receiving surface adjacent to the aperture which is shaped to direct a dropped screen into and through the aperture into the interior volume, an interior dark section of the container within which light exterior to the container cannot reach, and an interior guiding section that is shaped to direct a screen dropped through the aperture to come to rest in the interior dark section. A method is provided for storing light sensitive exposed storage layer radiation screens. The method includes removing an exposed storage layer radiation screen contained within a screen envelope from a patient's mouth, and releasing the screen from the screen envelope such that the screen drops out of the screen envelope and through an aperture of a container for storing the screen which prevents light exterior to the container from reaching the screen. By following this method, the latent image on the exposed radiation screens is retained while minimizing the risk of transfer of infectious agents which may be present on the screen envelope and user's gloves.

Dark-box for storing light-sensitive storage layer radiation screens

An analog to digital signal converter includes an integrator and a sample and hold circuit. Precisely repeatable timing signals for both the integrator and sample and hold circuit are provided by a microprocessor. The device provides low pass filtering without the phase lag normally associated with linear filters. The device allows one set of data to be acquired while the previous set of data is being digitized. The device is especially applicable to analysis of data generated by a spectrophotometer.

Analog to digital conversion using an integrater and a sample and hold

An electrophoresis instrument includes a capillary tube mounted in an air cooled cartridge. The cartridge also supports a spherical lens which is part of the optical detection apparatus. The cartridge rests in a manifold which includes the sample and buffer reservoirs. The temperature of the capillary tube is controlled by measuring the electrical resistance of the capillary tube during the electrophoresis process and then cooling or heating the cartridge by circulating temperature controlled air over the tube. The optical path associated with the instrument is a fiber optic bundle bifurcated close to dual detectors into a reference arm and a sample arm so as to provide similar reference and sample optical paths. The instrument may be used for temperature control for gradient electrophoresis and also, a neutral marker for determining electro-osmotic flow may be automatically detected.

Automated neutral marker for capillary electrophoresis

Absorbance and wavelength data which is generated by a liquid chromatography apparatus is orthogonalized and resampled by a cubic splining technique in order to provide a smooth spectra curve showing absorbance versus wavelength, with the time factor eliminated. This has the advantage of eliminating from the data any changes in the sample over time. The method results in the orthogonalization with respect to time of the data. The invention is applicable to analysis of data other than liquid chromatography data. Higher or lower order curve fitting techniques may be used instead of the cubic splining analysis method.

Resampling system using data interpolation to eliminate time effects

There is disclosed herein a cell assembly for use in spectrophotometric analysis or detection of a substance within a small sample volume, such as in a capillary sample cell. The assembly comprises a transparent lens having the shape of a ball, sphere or cylinder, referred to as a 'ball lens,' and which is placed in direct contact or close proximity to the exterior wall of the capillary cell. This lens and cell are mounted together, any may form a removable cell assembly. The small volume may be contained within the ball lens itself. The ball lens serves to concentrate and direct light into the capillary cell. The arrangement also significantly reduces the sensitivity to alignment of replaceable cells thereby permitting easier mounting and replacement of such cells.

Ball lens micro-cell

In a spectrophotometer application where high speed positioning is critical, a galvanometer in conjunction with a microprocessor controlled hybrid digital/analog servo system is used to rotate a diffraction grating for wavelength selection. A table containing digital position information for all wavelengths is accessed by the microprocessor to perform wavelength changes. The use of the table permits the determination of grating position to yield a desired wavelength for a system where the axis of rotation does not intersect a point on the surface of the diffraction grating. That is, the diffraction grating can be rotated about an axis coinciding with its center of gravity.

Off axis rotation of diffraction grating

An improved mounting for a rotating diffraction grating assembly as used in a spectrophotometer directly connects the grating to the galvanometer that rotates the grating. The galvanometer is gimbally mounted on a plate so that its position, and that of the grating, can be adjusted so that the plane of dispersion of the grating passes through a desired point when the grating is rotated.

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Reno, NV, United States of America

Louis Hlousek