Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Tadayasu Mitsumata

Jinsei Miyazaki

Makoto Taketani

Hirokazu Sugihara

Keiko Yugawa

Hiroshi Nakayama

Akihito Kamei

Yasushi Kobayashi

Nobuyuki Sigetoh

Nobuyuki Shigetoh

Yoshio Moriwaki

Takaharu Gamo

Minoru Tagashira

Noboru Motoyama

Jipsei Miyazaki

A cell potential measurement apparatus, which uses a planar electrode enabling a multi-point simultaneous measurement of potential change arising from cell activities, is provided which can conduct measurements accurately and efficiently as well as can improve convenience of arranging measurement results. According to the configuration of the cell potential measurement apparatus of this invention, it includes an integrated cell holding instrument, which includes a planar electrode provided with a plurality of microelectrodes arranged in a matrix form on the surface of a substrate, a cell holding part for placing cells thereon, drawer patterns from the microelectrodes, and electric contact points for outside connections; an optical observation means for optical observations of cells; a stimulation signal supply means to be connected to the cell holding instrument for providing electric stimulation to the cells; and a signal processing means to be connected to the cell holding instrument for processing an output signal arising from electric physiological activities of the cells. It is preferable that a cell culturing means is also provided for maintaining a culture atmosphere of the cells placed on the integrated cell holding instrument.

Cell potential measurement apparatus having a plurality of microelectrodes

A method of observing a physical and chemical property of a tissue or cell by using an apparatus which comprises at least a cell culturing means, an environment conditioning means, an observing means and a comparing means, comprising the steps of (A) culturing the tissue or cell by the cell culturing means, (B) maintaining a first physical and chemical environment around the tissue or cell by the cell culturing means, (C) observing a first physical and chemical property of the tissue or cell in the first physical and chemical environment by the observing means, (D) changing the first physical and chemical environment to a second physical and chemical environment by the environment conditioning means, (E) observing a second physical and chemical property of the tissue or cell in the second physical and chemical environment by the observing means, and (F) comparing the first physical and chemical property of the tissue or cell with the second physical and chemical property of the tissue or cell by the comparing means.

Measurement of complete electrical waveforms of tissue or cells

A method for preparing a cocaine-protein conjugate easily by using a cocaine derivative having a methoxy carbonyl group and benzoyl group. This conjugate is useful for the detection of cocaine or cocaine derivatives.

Cocaine derivative, protein conjugate thereof, monoclonal antibody producing cell line, method for preparing the cell line and monoclonal antibody

A method for preparing a cocaine-protein conjugate easily by using a cocaine derivative having a methoxy carbonyl group and benzoyl group. This conjugate is useful for the detection of cocaine or cocaine derivatives. A monoclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody producing cell line, and a method for producing the monoclonal antibody producing cell line by using the above cocaine-protein conjugate as an immunogen is also described. The method of the invention comprises preparing a cocaine-protein conjugate with a pyridyl dithiococaine derivative of Formula (I):

A planar electrode which enables multi-point simultaneous stimulation and recording of nerve cells over a long time is provided, which also has excellent response property. An ITO film is evaporated on the whole surface of an insulating substrate of the hard glass, and the ITO film is etched so that the central portion of each electrode is located on each intersection of 8.times.8 lattices, the center-to-center distances of nearest electrodes of each electrode are equal, and a lead wire is stretched radially. Then, for an insulating layer, negative photo-sensitive polyimide is spin-coated, and an insulating layer pattern is exposure-formed so that a 50 .mu.ms square hole is produced at the center of each electrode. Furthermore, to the exposed portion of each electrode (that is, the inside of the 50 .mu.ms square), Ni is evaporated in a film thickness of 500 nm, which is followed by evaporating gold (50 nm) and platinum black (about 1 .mu.m). The contact with the external circuit of the section near the end opposite to the electrode of the lead wire was coated with gold and nickel.

Planar electrode

A planar electrode which enables multi-point simultaneous stimulation and recording of nerve cells over a long time is provided, which also has excellent response property. An ITO film is evaporated on the whole surface of an insulating substrate of the hard glass, and the ITO film is etched so that the central portion of each electrode is located on each intersection of 8.times.8 lattices, the center-to-center distances of nearest electrodes of each electrode are equal, and a lead wire is stretched radially. Then, for an insulating layer, negative photo-sensitive polyimide is spin-coated, and an insulating layer pattern is exposure-formed so that a 50 .mu.ms square hole is produced at the center of each electrode. Furthermore, to the exposed portion of each electrode (that is, the inside of the 50 .mu.ms square), Ni is evaporated in a film thickness of 500 nm, which is followed by evaporating gold (50 nm) and platinum black (about 1 .mu.m ). The contact with the external circuit of the section near the end opposite to the electrode of the lead wire was coated with gold and nickel.

A labelling color for detecting cocaine of Formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X represents a halogen, and a method of detecting methamphetamine, including the steps of adding a labelling color of Formula (II) ##STR2## wherein X represents an anion to a first solution of methamphetamine antibody to form a labelling color-methamphetamine antibody complex, measuring the fluorescence of the first solution, adding a sample containing an unknown amount of methamphetamine to the first solution to form a second solution, measuring the fluorescence of the second solution, and correlating any change in the fluorescence between the first and second solutions to the concentration of methamphetamine in the sample.

Labelling colors for detecting cocaine or methamphetamine, method of

Cell potential measurement apparatus having a plurality of

A labelling color of pentamethine, its intermediate and a method for preparing and using the same to detect methamphetamine with high sensitivity. The invention is exemplified by pentamethine of the following Formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each are a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, and X is an anion. A method for using the labelling color to detect methamphetamine. The method comprises preparing a solution of the labelling color and methamphetamine-antibody in a buffer, measuring its fluorescent intensity at 660 nm in a 600 nm excited state, adding methamphetamine in a buffer to the solution, measuring its fluorescent intensity similarly, and examining the change in fluorescent intensity between both solutions.

Labelling color, method of preparing the same and method for detecting

A labelling color which includes a pentamethine of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each are a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group, and X is an anion.

Labelling color for detecting methamphetamine

An immunofluorescent assay method, characterized in using an immunodetective reagent, which is an antigen-like substance comprising a fluorescent substance and an antigen chemically bonded thereto with or without intervention of an additional chemical bond, said fluorescent substance being changed in the wavelength or intensity of the fluorescence when an antibody comes close thereto, and said antigen being specific to said antibody.

Immunoreagents

A N-(4-aminobutyl)amphetamine-protein complex has been synthesized to be used as an immunogen to prepare an antibody having a higher affinity to methamphetamine that to the hapten N-(4-aminobutyl)amphetamine. The antibody prepared by the use of the complex has 1,000 times the affinity to methamphetamine as that of an antibody prepeared by the use of N-(4-aminobutyl)methamphetamine-protein complex as an immunogen.

Amphetamine protein complex as immunogen for obtaining antibodies

A fluorescence immunoassay method is described in which the presence or absence of antigen is measured within one minute by measuring a variation in fluorescence emitted from an antibody. The method comprises reaction between a pseudo-antigen obtained by chemical combination of an antigen and a fluorescent quencher and an antibody by which fluorescence to be emitted from the antibody is quenched by the action of the quencher combined. When an analyte is added to a solution of the combination, the pseudo-antigen is replaced by an antigen if the analyte contains the antigen, so that the fluorescence increases in intensity. This intensity is measured and compared with the initially measured intensity to detect the presence of the antigen. The method does not make use of the action of antigen on antibody with respect to the fluorescence of the antibody and is applicable to all antigens.

Fluorescence immunoassay method utilizing pseudo-antigens combined with

A N-(4-aminobutyl)amphetamine-protein complex has been synthesized to be used as an immunogen to prepare an antibody having a high affinity to methamphetamine. The antibody prepared by the use of the complex has 1,000 times the affinity to methamphetamine as that of an antibody prepared by the use of N-(4-aminobutyl)methamphetamine-protein complex as an immunogen.

Amphetamine-protein complex as immunogen for obtaining antibodies

The disclosure is directed to an improved hot water supply unit of a heat pump type which employs metal hydrides for less movable parts, simple construction, quiet operation and reduction in cost.

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Hirakata, Japan

Tadayasu Mitsumata