A fluid specimen collection, storage, transport, and testing cup contains a removable chromatographic strip-carrying cartridge and an axially moveable liquid specimen preserving caddy which moves between a first, pre-test position and a second, post-test position. During which a caddy drain is temporarily opened allowing an amount of liquid specimen deposited in the caddy to flow into the cup and contact the strips. Once in the second position, the drain is sealed for later confirmatory testing. The caddy is moved between the two positions by screwing a threaded lid more tightly onto the top opening of the cup. The axial range of the screw is limited by a removable obstruction collar. The caddy can include a liquid specimen containing chamber having a lower opening sealed by a frangible barrier.

The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions and apparatus for monitoring and improving oral health by utilizing information about nitric oxide levels in an individual's oral cavity. In an embodiment, the disclosure provides methods and apparatus for monitoring nitric oxide metabolites in saliva; this information may be utilized as it relates to improving oral health, i.e. monitoring and improving oral hygiene and increasing the consumption of nitric oxide-potent foods. In an embodiment, methods for improving oral health in a subject comprising, use of an oral cleanser by an individual, wherein the oral cleanser comprises a potassium nitrate source; and use of a saliva test strip for measuring nitrite and nitrogen oxides in the oral cavity of the individual are provided. In an embodiment, a novel nitrate-rich gum composition is provided.

An oxygen sensing system comprises a substrate structured to communicate optical signals. An oxygen sensing layer is disposed on the substrate and comprises an oxygen sensing molecule in a matrix in a first unexcited state and formulated to: (a) be excited by a first optical signal to move to a second state; (b) be quenched in the second state by oxygen; and (c) emit a second optical signal corresponding to an amount of oxygen. A protective layer, disposed on the oxygen sensing layer, includes at least one of i) an oleophobic layer and ii) an anti-fouling layer. A controller is optically coupled to the substrate and structured to generate the first optical signal, receive the second optical signal and determine oxygen concentration from the second optical signal.

A system and associated methods including a first light source directed at a sample, the first light source configured to move a plurality of particles within a medium of the sample in response to irradiation by the first light source; a second light source directed at the sample, the plurality of particles providing an optical response to irradiation by the second light source; and a detection system directed at the sample and capable of detecting the optical response of the plurality of particles moved by the first light source and irradiated by the second light source.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems, and software for assessing contaminant quantities in a fluid. Fluid enters a reaction chamber. A controller then signals two different sheets with different reagents to move into the reaction chamber. One sheet contains reagents to form a contaminant byproduct or gas, while the other sheet is saturated with reagent that will have a photometric effect upon reacting with the contaminant byproduct or gas. After the photometric effect has occurred, the controller moves the reacted portion of the other reagent sheet into alignment with a photometric sensor. This photometric effect is calculated to contaminant concentration. The concentration is recorded and the data is transmitted to memory. The fluid sample in the chamber is drained and the remaining solid waste is collected onto the first reagent sheet. Both sheets are individually collected into separate controllable collectors.

Disclosed are systems and methods for the robust passive detection of airborne toxins using a colorimetric sensor coating onto a optically transparent substrate. In certain embodiments, the substrate is affixed to an adhesive material (tape). In certain embodiments, the sensor and substrate are transparent. In various embodiments, multiple sensors are coated onto selected substrate for the simultaneous detection of multiple toxins. In various embodiments, the sensed or detected toxins include a number of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. In various implementations, the tape is affixed to a remote surface, which may be visually monitored by a camera directly by focusing the camera on the tape or may be affixed to a camera lens by an adhesive backing, such that colorimetric sensor changes may be observed through the lens itself. Sensor claddings consist of optical grade polymers immobilized with colorimetric and/or fluorescent indicators that undergo optical changes upon exposure to their target analyte. Typical substrate cross-linked polymers are urethane acrylate polymer based, co-polymerized with silicone backbone such as dimethyl siloxane, which in general is chemically inert, yet leaves the polymer with the large free-volume necessary for rapid target diffusion. The polymer is cured after immobilization with target indicator mixture, and simultaneously cross-linked by UV light or heat.

A method for obtaining a point-of-collection, selected quantitative indicia of an analyte on a test strip using a smartphone involves imaging a test strip on which a colorimetric reaction of a target sample has occurred due to test strip illumination by the smartphone. The smartphone includes a smartphone app and a smartphone accessory that provides an external environment-independent/internal light-free, imaging environment independent of the smartphone platform being used. The result can then be presented quantitatively or turned into a more consumer-friendly measurement (positive, negative, above average, etc.), displayed to the user, stored for later use, and communicated to a location where practitioners can provide additional review. Additionally, social media integration can allow for device results to be broadcast to specific audiences, to compare healthy living with others, to compete in health based games, create mappings, and other applications.

A rapid diagnostic test device uses driven flow technology to significantly expedite the testing time of a sample. The rapid diagnostic test device can be used to analyze liquids, such as some body fluids, by using labeled molecular affinity binding, such as immunochromatography. The test device can detect an analyte, such as an antibody or antigen, which may indicate a particular condition, the presence of a particular drug, or the like. The device includes an inner member that receives the body fluid. Dripping holes in the inner member, or a sloped surface, creates a stream force of the body fluid against the sample pad of the test strip. A portion of the stream force of the body fluid is directed upward toward the conjugate pad to push the antibody/body fluid sample onto the membrane of the test strip.

There is provided an external load transport assembly for an aerial vehicle. The assembly includes a load suspension line having a first end connectable to the aerial vehicle and a second end connectable to an external load. The assembly includes a relative humidity indicator positioned to monitor moisture content of the load suspension line. The assembly includes an at least partially transparent coating encasing the load suspension line and the relative humidity indicator.

The claimed invention relates to mobile computing monitoring of health statistics using chemically synthesized conjugate markers providing highly specific details of personal health states. Using portable computing and communications devices, commonly known as ‘smartphones’, personal health and wellness information is gathered from chemical markers and reported to the user. Chemical markers include chemicals which undergo a measurable color change when combined with body fluids such as saliva. Health information derived from chemical markers may be optically collected, locally reported and widely broadcast over a ‘cloud based’ internet data distribution system.