General Electric Company

Ge Analytical Instruments

Anatel Corporation

Bl Technologies, Inc.

Pure Cycle Corporation

Paul Charles Melanson

Yan Huang

Richard D Godec

Pei Huang

Gordon K Francis

Matthew Kaddeland Stonesmith

Gregory B Conway

Michael R Scaer

Chao Sun

Shouquan Deng

Vidyasankar Sundaresan

Darren Barry Smith

Hong Xu

James A Valdez

Frederick K Blades

Howard W Selby, Iii

David Allen Pane

Ruiqing Li

Lawrence K De Martin

Robert L Garvin

Richard Douglas Godec

A centripetal microfluidic platform comprised of a microfluidics disc and a reader for testing LAL-reactive substances in fluid samples is provided. The microfluidic disc may comprise at least two testing areas wherein each testing area includes a reservoir portion for receiving at least one fluid sample. The disc may comprise a distribution network portion in fluid communication with the reservoir portion. Each distribution network portion may comprise a distribution network of at least four (4) channels, wherein each channel has a metering portion and at least one analysis chamber portion. The analysis chamber portion may comprise a mixing chamber for mixing samples and reagents and an optical chamber portion that is compatible with an optical reader. The metering portion may be sized to meter an aliquot of the fluid sample for analysis in the analysis chamber portion. At least one analysis chamber portion has at least one reagent isolated therein. The centripetal microfluidic platform further includes a reader for testing fluid samples within a microfluidic disc comprising an enclosure, an optical bench, a centripetal disc drive, and a controller. A method for testing at least one fluid sample for LAL-reactive substances is also provided.

Centripetal microfluidic platform for LAL reactive substances testing

A test substrate for detecting a LAL-reactive substance, wherein at least a portion of said test substrate has been preloaded with at least one LAL reagent and/or at least one LAL-reactive standard. Methods of use of the test substrate are disclosed. Methods of depositing test reagents on a test substrate are also disclosed.

Preloaded test substrates for testing LAL-reactive substances, methods of use, and methods of making

Methods and systems for measuring the concentration of LAL-reactive substances in fluid samples is provided. They include contacting an aqueous sample with a detection reagent to form a prepared sample. A physical property of the prepared sample may be measured to obtain at least one sample measurement characteristic of the prepared sample. Curve fitting may then be used to forecast a concentration of the LAL-reactive substance the aqueous sample will have at a specified time in the future based on the sample measurement and a correlation developed between at least one standard measurement of a physical quality of a solution with a known concentration of a LAL-reactive substance therein. The quality of the sample measurement may be validated using historical data and/or the standard measurement.

Sensitive and rapid method for detection of low levels of LAL-reactive substances

Centripetal microfluidic platform for LAL-reactive substances testing

A microfluidic testing cartridge for testing LAL-reactive substances in fluid samples is provided. The cartridge may include at least two (2) testing modules, wherein each testing module includes at least one inlet port for receiving one of the fluid samples, and at least four (4) testing channels in fluid communication with the inlet port. Each of the testing channels may include a metering portion for metering an aliquot of the fluid sample, an analyzing portion, and a mixing portion, wherein a valve is positioned between the metering portion and the analyzing portion to selectively fluidly separate the metering portion from the analyzing portion. The cartridge is insertable into an optical reader which performs optical measurements of the fluid sample within each testing channel during a testing process.

Microfluidic LAL-reactive substances testing method and apparatus

Apparatus and methods for measuring the concentrations of organic and inorganic carbon, or of other materials, in aqueous samples are described, together with related, specially adapted components and sub-assemblies and related control, operational and monitoring systems.

Carbon measurement in aqueous samples using oxidation at elevated temperatures and pressures

An improved measurement cell and circuit for measuring the electrical characteristics of a liquid sample during exposure to radiation includes a glass cell formed of a main tube extending generally parallel to an elongated lamp emitting the radiation, and a pair of electrodes disposed axially within the sample tube. In the preferred embodiment, the ends of the cell are formed of glass twinbore tubing fused to the glass main tube, the bores retaining ends of the electrodes. Inlet and outlet tubes and a temperature sensing well may also be fused to the main tube. In an implementation for measurement of TOC in water by oxidation to CO.sub.2, the source comprises a low pressure mercury vapor lamp, and the electrodes are formed of solid Ti with catalytic TiO.sub.2 surfaces. The circuit used to monitor variation in electrical characteristics of the liquid during UV exposure controls flow of power to op-amps in order to multiplex a drive signal between the UV exposure cell, a calibration resistor, and a temperature sensor.

Cell and circuit for monitoring photochemical reactions

An apparatus for removal of organic materials from water includes a reactor for photocatalytic oxidation and/or ionization of organics in the water stream and an ion exchange column for removal of CO.sub.2, dissolved acids, and ionized organics formed in the reactor from the water stream. The reactor includes an elongated flow chamber having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposite end. A photocatalytic material is provided as a surface layer on a number of solid members in the chamber, typically a number of rods extending generally parallel to the axis of the flow chamber. The catalyst may be TiO.sub.2 formed by oxidizing the surface of Ti rods. An elongated UV lamp fitting within a tubular quartz window extends along the axis of the reaction chamber. An external circuit connects the electrodes and the water, such that a current flows in the water in the reaction chamber. A potential of up to 600 VDC may be applied between the solid electrodes and water in the chamber.

Apparatus for removal of organic material from water

Apparatus and methods for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, are described, featuring a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation and comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity proportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water. The electrodes may have surfaces of a material which when irradiated by the ultraviolet radiation catalyzes the oxidation reaction. Electrophoresis may also be employed to speed the reaction. In appropriate cases, the pH of the water sample is additionally measured and used together with the temperature of the sample to derive a series of values for the carbon dioxide content of the sample from the measured values of the conductivity. For further accuracy, the actual carbon dioxide content values may be employed in the analysis in lieu of the conductivity values.

Instrument and method for measurement of the organic carbon content of

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Paul Charles Melanson