An apparatus for heating test water, comprising a test container for receiving the test water, and a heating container for installation of the test container therein, the heating container containing burnt lime that heats the test water when being mixed with water to be tested arranged in the heating container.

An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods for amplifying nucleic acids in micro-channels. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for performing a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a continuous-flow microfluidic system and to methods for monitoring real-time PCR in such systems.

An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a conditioning device that dehumidifies a breath sample, a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from the dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

A two layer and/or a three-layer device is disclosed that allows samples therein to remain at a warmer or a colder temperature than would be ordinarily possible without the use of the two or three-layer device. The two-layer device contains an interior layer that comprises the sample, and a middle or intermediate layer that comprises chemical species that undergoes an exothermic or endothermic reaction. The three layer device further has an outer layer that contains an insulating layer. When the three layer device is used for samples, the temperature of the sample can remain at a temperature around 11 C. or less for at least about 5.5 to 6 hours.

Devices and methods for modifying optical properties of biological samples or aspects thereof are provided. The subject methods include generating a reaction product with a device and reacting the reaction product to sufficiently modify an optical property to allow detection of the modified optical property.

Provided herein are devices and methods for thawing frozen biological material.

The present technology is directed to capillarity-based devices for performing chemical processes and associated system and methods. In one embodiment, for example, a device can include a porous receiving element having an input region and a receiving region, a first fluid source and a second fluid source positioned within the input region of the receiving element; wherein the first fluid source is positioned between the second fluid source and the receiving region, and wherein, when both the first and second fluid sources are in fluid connection with the input region, the device is configured to sequentially deliver the first fluid and the second fluid to the receiving region without leakage.

Devices and methods for preparing and delivering biological assay samples are provided herein. Components of such devices include a sample receiving module within which a biological assay sample can be prepared and a cap, which when operatively coupled with the sample receiving module, pressurizes the module. These devices can be employed for subsequently delivering a biological assay sample.