...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7272975 | Ultrasonic beam shaping device An ultrasonic beam shaping device includes a plate-like beam shaping element formed of opaque material. The beam shaping element has first and second conical surfaces, with a common axis, formed as opposite surface portions of the beam shaping element. A cylindrical... | 09/25/2007 |
| 6881380 | Cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system The present invention relates to a cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system which includes a nestable sample cup for holding sample mixtures, a cup dispenser mechanism for holding and dispensing a supply of the cups into a sample sh... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6878346 | Serum transfer cup The serum transfer cup is nestable in two different size blood collection tubes such as a 13 mm diameter sample tube and a 16 mm diameter sample tube of the same axial length. The serum transfer cup includes a flange stepped down from a top edge of the cup by a dist... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6872571 | Method and apparatus for controlling a stream of liquid test packages in a capsule chemistry analysis system A method and apparatus for controlling a stream of liquid and air segments wherein the liquid and air segments are selectively aspirated into a first fluid conduit in a plurality of cycles, each cycle beginning with the aspiration of a first air segment and ending w... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6309846 | Diagnosis and monitoring of colon cancer patients by measurement of NCA 50/90 in blood A method for aiding in the diagnosis of, and monitoring the progression or course of, colon cancer in a patient by measuring the amount of NCA 50/90 in a blood sample, e.g., serum sample, obtained from the patient. Measurement in a single sample of an amo... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6107049 | Sandwich immunoassay determination of cPSA A method for determining the complexed forms of immunologically determinable prostate specific antigen (cPSA) in a blood sample, e.g., by two-site immunometric assays, in which the blood sample is treated to render free PSA (fPSA) immunologically nondetec... | 08/22/2000 |
| 5928878 | Differentiation of prostate cancer from BPH by assaying PSA-ACT A method for determining the complexed forms of immunologically determinable prostate specific antigen (cPSA) in a blood sample, e.g., by two-site immunometric assays, in which the blood sample is treated to render free PSA (fPSA) immunologically nondetec... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5897090 | Puck for a sample tube The puck for a sample tube includes a housing, a spring device and an end cap. The spring device has an annular base portion and angularly spaced spring arms that extend upwardly from the base portion and then bend downwardly toward the base portion. The ... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5891736 | Reagents and methods for releasing and measuring lead ions from biological matrices The present invention provides a reagent for extracting lead ions from a variety of biological matrices such as human whole blood that has been anticoagulated with either heparin or EDTA, and lyophilized human blood and bovine EDTA whole blood. The releas... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5817955 | Apparatus for simultaneous aspiration and dispensation of fluids The apparatus for simultaneous aspiration and dispensation of fluids is in the form of a syringe with two chambers located end to end along the length of the syringe. Each syringe chamber includes a port. A piston inside the syringe includes a median sect... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5605804 | Diagnosis and monitoring of lung cancer patients by measurement of NCA 50/90 in blood A method for aiding in the diagnosis of, and monitoring the progression or course of, lung cancer in a patient by measuring the amount of NCA 50/90 in a blood sample, e.g., serum sample, obtained from the patient. Measurement in a single sample of an amou... | 02/25/1997 |
| 5593847 | Monitoring of NC 50/90 in blood samples of breast cancer patients A method for aiding in the diagnosis of, and monitoring the progression of, breast cancer in a patient by measuring the amount of NCA 50/90 in a blood sample, e.g. serum sample, obtained from the patient. Measurement in a single sample of an amount of NCA... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5518928 | Leukocyte differentiation method A method is disclosed for differentiating white blood cells. The method uses at least one surfactant and at least one dilute acid which together selectively strip the cytoplasm from certain classes of white blood cells and not others. More particularly, t... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5262330 | Colorimetric methods and reagents for the assay of calcium in a test sample A chromogenic compound found to be especially selective in the determination of calcium in blood of the general formula (I): ##STR1## where: R is hydrogen or lower alkyl; X is CH2, CH2 CH2, CH.dbd.CH, O, S, SO2,... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5215899 | Nucleic acid amplification employing ligatable hairpin probe and transcription Specific nucleic acid sequences are amplified through the use of a hairpin probe which, upon hybridization with and ligation to, a target sequence is capable of being transcribed. The probe comprises a single stranded self-complementary sequence which, un... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5200313 | Nucleic acid hybridization assay employing detectable anti-hybrid antibodies A nucleic acid hybridization assay employing an immobilized or immobilizable polynucleotide probe selected to form DNA.RNA or RNA.RNA hybrids with the particular polynucleotide sequence to be determined. Resulting hybrids are detected by binding of an ant... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5200316 | Immunoassay methods using noncross reactive CEA gene family members antibodies Immunoassay methods useful for the determination of the presence or absence of CEA gene family members are provided. Methods are provided that differentiate between members of the CEA gene family. In addition, monoclonal antibodies against CEA-family memb... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5200318 | Diagnosis of IDDM with a panel of immunoreagents Diagnosis of insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by contacting a blood sample from a patient with an immunoreagent comprising epitopes of two or more of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the pancreatic islet cell antigens referred to a... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5166053 | Specimen adequacy control for chlamydia assays A method for determining the adequacy of a cervical or urethral test specimen collected for an immunological assay to detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. Cells present in the specimen are disrupted to expose a substance present in or on C. triac... | 11/24/1992 |
| 5162237 | Reaction cassette for preforming sequential analytical assays by noncentrifugal and noncapillary manipulations Analytical reaction cassette and method for performing sequential analytical assay procedures to determine the amount of an analyte in a liquid test mixture. The reaction cassette can be in the form of a substantially square container having a substantial... | 11/10/1992 |
| 5084397 | Method and apparatus for controlled reagent deposition in reaction cassettes and the like A method and structure are provided for controlled deposition of liquid analytical reagents on one or more reagent zones disposed in a reaction channel used for performing analytical assay procedures and the like. The substrate surface on which the reacti... | 01/28/1992 |
| 4970171 | Denaturant reagents for convenient determination of hemoglobin derivatives in blood An analytical method for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative, e.g., glycated hemoglobin, in a blood sample wherein the amounts of both total hemoglobin and the hemoglobin derivative are measured and related mathematically... | 11/13/1990 |
| 4968742 | Preparation of ligand-polymer conjugate having a controlled number of introduced ligands A method for chemically coupling a controllable number of ligands, e.g., haptens, to a polymeric material by derivatization of the polymer with an activating agent to introduce a couplable functional group. The derivatization is performed in the presence ... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4847209 | Latex agglutination immunoassay in the presence of hemoglobin A latex agglutination immunoassay method for determining an analyte in a blood sample in which the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained at about 8.5 or greater in order to overcome nonspecific agglutination of latex particles by hemoglobin present in ... | 07/11/1989 |
| 4833084 | Monoclonal antibody specific for DNA.RNA hybrids A monoclonal antibody specific for DNA.multidot.RNA duplexes, particularly DNA.multidot.RNA heteropolymer duplexes, characterized by having cross-reactivity for binding to single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA as measured by competitive immunoassay of les... | 05/23/1989 |
| 4810635 | Specific binding assays employing label analog to reduce sample interferences A specific binding assay, e.g., immunoassay, method and reagent system wherein a structural analog of the label portion of the labeled reagent is included in the reaction mixture to interact with potentially interfering substances in the test sample. The ... | 03/07/1989 |
| 4810638 | Enzyme-labeled antibody reagent with polyalkyleneglycol linking group Enzyme-labeled antibody reagents wherein the enzyme and an antibody reagent, e.g., whole polyclonal or monoclonal antibody or a fragment thereof, are covalently linked through a bis-maleimidopolyalkyleneglycol bridge group. The reagents are useful in immu... | 03/07/1989 |
| 4806631 | Immobilization of nucleic acids on solvolyzed nylon supports Immobilization of nucleic acids, e.g., DNA and RNA, by contact with a solid support comprising nylon whose amide groups have been partially solvolyzed. Solvolysis of the nylon support can be accomplished by treatment with an alkylating agent such as a tri... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4806546 | Immobilization of nucleic acids on derivatized nylon supports Immobilization of nucleic acids, e.g., DNA and RNA, by contact with a solid support comprising nylon having amide groups that have been derivatized to amidine residues. Derivatization of the nylon support can be accomplished by treatment with an alkylatin... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4791055 | Homogenous specific binding assay reagent system and labeled conjugates The reactant advantageously is an enzymatic reactant such as an enzyme substrate or coenzyme. The activity of the conjugated reactant as a constituent of a predetermined reaction is affected by reaction between the specific binding substance in the conjug... | 12/13/1988 |
| 4778893 | Optical indicator 3,4-dihydro-2-quinolones Optical indicator chalcogen (selenide or sulfide) compounds responsive to oxidants, e.g., hydrogen peroxide, and methods for preparing and using such indicators. Upon oxidation the resulting intermediate undergoes spontaneous elimination of the chalcogen ... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4743535 | Hybridization assay employing labeled probe and anti-hybrid A nucleic acid hybridization assay involving a labeled probe and formation of a hybrid having epitopes for an antibody reagent. The label provides a detectable response which is measurably different when the labeled probe is comprised in a hybrid that is ... | 05/10/1988 |
| 4689294 | Enhancement of hybridization of nucleic acids by anionic polymers The rate of hybridization between two complementary polynucleotide segments in an aqueous medium is increased by the presence of the anionic polymers polyacrylate and polymethacrylate. The acceleration effect is particularly useful in nucleic acid hybridi... | 08/25/1987 |
| 4686181 | Specific binding assay employing anti-G6PDH as label A specific binding assay method and reagent system based on the use of an inhibitory anti-enzyme, e.g., antibody or fragment thereof, as the label component. Such method and reagent system have been improved by selection of anti-(glucose-6-phosphate dehyd... | 08/11/1987 |
| 4673763 | Alpha-functionalized derivatives and labeled conjugates of procainamide and NAPA Procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA) immunogens, antibodies prepared therefrom, labeled conjugates, synthetic intermediates, and the use of such antibodies and labeled conjugates in immunoassays for determining the respective drugs. The immunogens... | 06/16/1987 |
| 4668619 | Multilayer homogeneous specific binding assay device A homogeneous specific binding assay device, a method for its preparation, and a method for its use in determining a ligand, such as antigen, hapten, or antibody, in, or the ligand binding capacity of, a liquid sample. The test device comprises a solid ca... | 05/26/1987 |
| 4647668 | Disopyramide phenyl derivatives and labeled conjugates Disopyramide immunogens, antibodies prepared therefrom, labeled conjugates, synthetic intermediates, and the use of such antibodies and labeled conjugates in immunoassays for determining disopyramide. The immunogens comprise disopyramide coupled by an eth... | 03/03/1987 |
| 4629688 | Homogeneous specific binding assay method A test composition, device, and method for their use in a homogeneous specific binding assay which employs a substance having reactant activity, i.e., a reactant, as a labeling substance in the detection of a ligand in a liquid medium. The test compositio... | 12/16/1986 |
| 4629692 | Immunoassay for nonenzymatically glucosylated proteins and protein fragments an index of glycemia An immunoassay method and reagent system for determining nonenzymatically glucosylated proteins and protein fragments in a biological fluid based on the specific binding of such proteins and fragments with anti(Amadori-rearranged glucose), e.g., antibodie... | 12/16/1986 |
| 4622293 | Iodothyronine immunoassays employing HMS as TBP blocking agent An improved immunoassay method, reagent means, test kit, and test device for determining an iodothyronine, e.g., thyroxine (T-4), in a biological fluid, usually serum or plasma, wherein 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid (HMS), or a salt ther... | 11/11/1986 |