The present invention suppresses an adverse effect caused when an additional gas such as water vapor is mixed in a sample gas or the like that is subjected to gas measurement. In an embodiment of the present invention, in gas measurement for analyzing sensor output signals obtained by alternately supplying a sample gas and a reference gas to a sensor element while alternately switching between the sample gas and the reference gas, the sample gas and the reference gas pass through a humidity equilibration device partitioned by a water vapor permeable membrane, and then are supplied to the sensor element. As a result, since both gases have substantially the same value of humidity at the time of being supplied to the sensor element, influences of water vapor are substantially cancelled out in signals output from the sensor element by the alternate supply of the sample gas and the reference gas.

In described examples, a biosensor device has a porous membrane with a test region that contains a test analyte. A sensor die has an ion sensing field effect transistor (ISFET) with an ion sensitive gate element located in an active sensor surface of the sensor die. The active sensor surface is in contact with the porous membrane test region. A controller is coupled to the ISFET and an interface module is coupled to the controller to provide a human readable test result.

In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, a gas humidifier system includes a reservoir of liquid with at least one selectively permeable tube at least partially submerged within the liquid. A gas stream may be fed into the selectively permeable tube that passes through the liquid reservoir. The selectively permeable tube may be substantially impermeable to the gas flowing therethrough but permeable to vapor (e.g., water vapor) entering the selectively permeable tube from the liquid. Thus, vapor from the liquid reservoir can enter the selectively permeable tube and humidify the gas flowing therethrough.

An apparatus is disclosed for separating and preserving biomolecules of a biological fluid sample. The apparatus includes an assembly having sides forming a hollow shape having a first opening at one end and second opening at the opposite end, a sample mixing chamber positioned adjacent the first opening within the assembly, the sample mixing chamber from which a flow of the biological fluid sample is actuated in a direction from the sample mixing chamber to the first matrix layer, the sample mixing chamber being in a direction downstream of the first opening, a first valve positioned between the sample mixing chamber and the first matrix layer, the first valve configured to control the flow to the first matrix layer, a first input in fluid communication with the sample mixing chamber and positioned upstream of the first valve, a second input positioned between the first matrix layer and the second matrix layer, and a second valve positioned between the second matrix layer and the second opening, the second valve configured to control the flow to the second matrix layer.

A system for diluting a sample of biological material, including a fluid circuit, wherein the fluid circuit includes at least: a first container configured to contain a sample of biological material containing a biological material to be diluted, the sample being a fluid; a second container configured to contain a first dilution fluid; and at least one first metering member for metering a predetermined volume of fluid, including a first wall and a second wall, the first metering member including a metering zone configured to change at least from an initial state in which the first wall and the second wall are in contact with one another to an operating state in which the first wall and the second wall are separated from one another.

Devices and methods for use in extraction procedures of analytes (organic and inorganic, including heavy metals) from matrices (e.g., complex matrices) in various fields (e.g., biological, clinical, chemical, environmental, toxicological, and forensic) are provided. The device can comprise a support structure acting as a rigid and stable support for extraction materials that can be inserted thereinto. The device can comprise a plurality of windows in the support structure through which the extraction materials can be exposed. The device can include two portions that can join together (e.g., using an interlocking system).

A method of analyzing, preferably by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), fluid samples (e.g. liquids, solutions, melts or slurries) that contain soluble and insoluble components of various elemental, molecular and biological components using a pre-characterized, preferably non-magnetic, membrane or plurality of membranes each having different characteristics, such as different porosities. The fluid sample is first deposited on the one or more membranes and the components to be analyzed are retained thereon through filtration or diffusion and then analyzed, such as with LIBS. Different components, such as different sized particles, are fixed on different membranes depending on the characteristics (e.g. pore size) of the corresponding membrane, which provides pre-sorting of the components before LIBS analysis.

In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, a gas humidifier system includes a reservoir of liquid with at least one selectively permeable tube at least partially submerged within the liquid. A gas stream may be fed into the selectively permeable tube that passes through the liquid reservoir. The selectively permeable tube may be substantially impermeable to the gas flowing therethrough but permeable to vapor (e.g., water vapor) entering the selectively permeable tube from the liquid. Thus, vapor from the liquid reservoir can enter the selectively permeable tube and humidify the gas flowing therethrough.

A method for separating plasma in a minute amount of a blood sample diluted with a blood dilution buffer is provided. When a blood dilution buffer is added to a minute amount of blood (about 20 to 100 L) so as to assay the biological blood components in the resulting diluted plasma, it is necessary to separately store and transfer the diluted blood cell component and the diluted plasma component. The present inventors found that it is possible to separate diluted plasma from diluted blood cells using a polymer gelling agent for plasma separation by means of putting a polymer gel for plasma separation in the container with a blood dilution buffer. In such case, diluted blood cells are transferred to the lower portion of the polymer gelling agent and dilute plasma is transferred to the upper portion of the same. Assay of the biological blood components using a minute amount of blood can be utilized for early detection of health status, diseases, and presymptomatic states. The method is advantageous in that it is not limited in terms of time or location for blood collection.

An apparatus is disclosed for separating and preserving biomolecules of a biological fluid sample. The apparatus includes an assembly having sides forming a hollow shape having a first opening at one end and second opening at the opposite end, a sample mixing chamber positioned adjacent the first opening within the assembly, the sample mixing chamber from which a flow of the biological fluid sample is actuated in a direction from the sample mixing chamber to the first matrix layer, the sample mixing chamber being in a direction downstream of the first opening, a first valve positioned between the sample mixing chamber and the first matrix layer, the first valve configured to control the flow to the first matrix layer, a first input in fluid communication with the sample mixing chamber and positioned upstream of the first valve, a second input positioned between the first matrix layer and the second matrix layer, and a second valve positioned between the second matrix layer and the second opening, the second valve configured to control the flow to the second matrix layer.