Abstract:
On décrit un nouveau corps de support (10) destiné aux immunoanalyses radiologiques à proximité de scintillations renfermant un matériau scintillant. Le corps de support (10) de l'invention permet de réaliser des analyses extrêmement sensibles et spécifiques pour une large gamme de substances biologiques et non biologiques. Ledit corps de support (10) possède un ligand (16) qui est couplé à sa surface et est capable de se lier biochimiquement de manière sélective à un réactif d'intérêt (11) pour former un complexe (18).
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus is provided for performing high sensitivity fluorescence measurements. A liquid sample (12) contained within a cuvette (13) is exposed to exciting radiation in such a way that the radiation is introduced directly to the sample (12) and is restricted from reaching the container walls. The sample container (33) is in the form of a cylindrical cuvette provided with reflector means on the bottom so that any unabsorbed exciting radiation reaching the cuvette bottom is reflected back through the sample solution. Fluorescent radiation emitted by the sample (12) is collected by an ellipsoidal reflector (64) which substantially surrounds the sample container (33) and focuses radiation incident thereupon onto a small area from which it is efficiently sensed by a photodetector (66). The optical arrangement realizes significantly improved signal-to-noise and signal-to-background ratios.
Abstract:
Apparatus for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water comprises an electrolytic cell (C) having a cathode (13) and an anode (12) separated by an electrolyte (14), an electrical power supply connected to the cell for applying a voltage across the cathode and anode, a water reservoir (1),(2) connected to the cell for supplying water to the anode side of the electrolytic cell, a hydrogen-water separator (21) connected to the cell for receiving hydrogen and water from the cathode side of the cell and separating the hydrogen from the water, and a water return line (25) connecting the hydrogen-water separator to the water reservoir for returning water from the separator to the water reservoir whereby the water is recycled to the anode side of the cell. A float valve in the upper region of the hydrogen-water separator closes the hydrogen outlet (30) in response to an increase in the water level in the separator to the level of the hydrogen outlet, so as to prevent water from entering the hydrogen outlet in the event of a malfunction. A pressure relief valve (210) in the hydrogen-water separator discharges hydrogen from the separator to the atmosphere in response to an increase in the gas pressure in the separator beyond a predetermined level. A sensor (3) in the water reservoir produces an electrical signal in response to a drop in the water level in the reservoir to a predetermined level, or in response to a predetermined change in the electrical conductivity of the water, and control circuitry responds to the electrical signal for interrupting the supply of electrical power to the cell.
Abstract:
A liquid scintillation measurement system is described which provides increased accuracy of measurement for low-level liquid scintillation-counting utilizes the combination of a "burst-counting" technique aimed at detecting photon pulse bursts which characteristically follow coincident pulses produced by scintillation resulting from background radioactivity with an active guard shield formed around the liquid scintillation sample in order to enhance the pulse bursts normally following background events and hence more accurately identify scintillations produced by actual sample radioactivity. The active guard shield comprises a high scintillation capacity solid crystal material (104) which is easily excited by external radioactivity and is formed as an integrally structured unit with the optical event detection means (12,14) of the measurement system. The shield may also be provided in the form of a liquid scintillation vial (120) (fig. 3) composed of a high scintillation solid crystal material (124) for containing the liquid sample, with the vial being coated on its internal surface with an electron impermissive layer (126) to prevent the sample radiation from exciting the solid scintillator material. Alternatively, the active guard shielding effect may be obtained by using a liquid scintillation cocktail (Fig. 4) in which the liquid sample (134) is mixed with coated beads (136) of the solid scintillation material (138).
Abstract:
A holder (10) for use with scintillation counting for securing a small sample vial (50) in a vial transport carrier designed for larger vials is disclosed. The holder includes specific features for allowing elimination of static electricity charges on the sample vial by a static eliminator. The holder includes openings (32,34,36) allowing the flow of ions to contact the sample vial (50) for the purpose of eliminating static charges on the surface of the vial.
Abstract:
The presence of renilla luciferase alone or both renilla luciferase and firefly luciferase is detected by adding reagent mixture(s) to a biological sample and producing glow luminescence having a duration of at least an hour. In producing luminescence from renilla luciferase alone, a reagent is added comprising coelenterazine, and dithiothreitol (DTT) and EDTA, or functional equivalents of DTT and EDTA. Luminescence from samples containing both firefly luciferase and renilla luciferase is produced by first adding a reagent comprising firefly luciferin, ATP, co-factors necessary for firefly luciferase activity (e.g., Ca and Mg ), dithiothreitol (DTT) or functional equivalents thereof, and AMP. Following measurement of the firefly luciferase, coelenterazine and EDTA, or functional equivalents of EDTA, are added, and the luminescence produced by renilla luciferase is measured.
Abstract:
A system for imaging radiation emitted by assay couples into a photoelectric detector, the system including a fibre optic bundle (100) for conveying light to the detector, wherein a microlens (118), preferably a drum lens, is located at the impact end of the fibre optic bundle to match the field of view of the bundle to a potential area of interest in a sample.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cleaning the interior of capillary tubes (62) used to dispense 1 to 100 micron diameter liquid droplets by a piezoelectric transducer (60) surrounding each capillary tube. Magnetic particles are aspirated into the capillary tubes and moved by an exterior magnet to cause deposits on the interior walls to be dislodged and subsequently discharged from the capillary tube. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic particles are coated with a material capable of binding such deposits.