1. A fluidic device for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte in a bodily fluid sample obtained from a subject, comprising a cartridge, said cartridge comprising a sample collection unit, a lysing assembly, and an assay assembly, wherein:
(a) said sample collection unit is configured to:
(i) collect a sample of bodily fluid from said subject, and
(ii) deliver a predetermined portion of said sample to said assay assembly;
(b) said assay assembly comprises at least one reaction site containing a reactant that reacts with said analyte to yield a detectable signal indicative of the presence of said analyte, and
(c) said lysing assembly is configured to lyse cells present in said bodily fluid sample.
2. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said sample collection unit comprises:
a sample collection well in fluid communication with a metering channel, configured so that a collected sample flows from said sample collection well into said metering channel; and
a metering element, wherein said metering element is adapted to close the fluid communication of said sample collection well to said metering channel, thereby isolating a specific volume of said sample in said metering channel.
3. The fluidic device of claim 2, wherein said metering element comprises a pin configured to be movable from an open position to a closed position, wherein said pin in said closed position blocks the metering channel.
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. The fluidic device of claim 2, wherein said sample collection unit further comprises:
a dilution chamber in fluidic communication with said metering channel, wherein said dilution chamber is configured to store a diluent and comprises a port for engaging pressure means for transferring said diluent from the dilution chamber into the metering channel.
7. The fluidic device of claim 6, wherein said sample collection unit further comprises a mixing chamber in fluidic communication with said metering channel, said mixing chamber is configured to mix said predetermined portion of the sample with said diluent to yield a diluted sample.
8. (canceled)
9. The fluidic device of claim 7, wherein the sample collection unit further comprising a filter configured to filter the diluted sample before it is assayed.
10. (canceled)
11. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined portion of said sample is less than about 50 ul.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said assay assembly is adapted to run an immunoassay.
15. The fluidic device of claim 14, wherein said assay assembly comprises at least one reagent chamber in fluidic communication with said at least one reaction site, wherein said reagent chamber is configured to store an assay reagent.
16. The fluidic device of claim 1, wherein said at least one reaction site of said assay assembly is in fluidic communication with said sample collection unit, said reaction site containing a reactant that reacts with said analyte to yield a signal indicative of the presence of said analyte; and said assay assembly further comprises
at least one reagent chamber in fluidic communication with said at least one reaction site, wherein said reagent chamber is configured to store an assay reagent;
a fluidic channel connecting the reagent chamber with the reaction site; and
an actuatable valve assembly configured to control the flow of reagent through said fluidic channel, wherein the valve assembly comprises a sealing element and actuator element, wherein:
said channel comprises first and second locations, wherein the sealing element positioned in the first location obstructs the flow of fluid through the channel and the sealing element positioned in the second location allows the flow of fluid through the channel; and wherein the actuator element is adapted to move the sealing element from the first location to the second location.
17. (canceled)
18. The fluidic device of claim 15, wherein the actuator element is adapted to be actuated by an actuator in a device in which the cartridge can be inserted.
19. The fluidic device of claim 18, wherein the actuator element is adapted to be mechanically actuated by said actuator.
20. The fluidic device of claim 15, wherein said second location has a larger cross section than said first location.
21. (canceled)
22. The fluidic device of claim 15, wherein said actuator element comprises a sealing member such that when said actuator element moves said sealing element the sealing member forms a substantially air tight seal such that said fluid can only flow through said channel.
23. The fluidic device of claim 22 wherein said actuator element is substantially pin shaped and said sealing member is an O-ring adapted to be placed around said actuator element.
24. The fluidic device of claim 16, wherein said assay assembly is adapted to run an immunoassay.
25. The fluidic device of claim 16, wherein said sample of bodily fluid is less than 50 ul.
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
28. A system for detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid from a subject, comprising:
a) the fluidic device of claim 16;
b) a reader assembly comprising a detection assembly for detecting said signal; and
c) a communication assembly for transmitting said signal to an external device.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein said assay assembly is adapted to run an assay based on an assay protocol transmitted from said external device.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein said assay protocol is transmitted wirelessly from said external device.
31-51. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Process for the production of aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon fraction with a catalyst, a process that comprises at least the following successive stages that take place in at least one zone: treatment of the fraction in the presence of hydrogen and implementing a reaction for dehydrogenation of naphthenes; separation of the gas effluent that contains hydrogen to form said recycling gas, liquid and catalyst; regeneration of the catalyst; reduction of the catalyst and reintroduction of the catalyst for the treatment stage; process characterized in that the reduction stage is carried out in the presence of recycling gas that is introduced in an amount such that the amount of pure hydrogen that is provided is between 1-10kgkg of catalyst, whereby the effluent that is obtained from the reduction is then separated from the catalytic bed.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst circulates in a moving bed.
3. Process according to one of the preceding claims, including a recycling in the treatment stage that implements the dehydrogenation of at least a portion of the gas effluent that contains the hydrogen that is called recycling gas.
4. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction stage is carried out between 300-800 C., whereby the dwell time of the catalyst is 15 minutes to 2 hours.
5. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction stage is carried out between 400-600 C.
6. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the process is carried out at 400-700 C., 0.1-4 MPa, with volumetric flow rates of 0.1-10 h1 and (H2)1HC molar ratios of at most 10.
7. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is a reforming that is carried out under 0.3-0.8 MPa, at 480-600 C., with volumetric flow rates of 1-4 h-1 and with (H2)1HC ratios of at most 4 in the stage that implements the dehydrogenation.
8. Process according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein it is a production of aromatic compounds operating under 0.3-0.8 MPa, at 480-600 C., with volumetric flow rates of 1-4 h-1 and (H2)1HC ratios of at most 6 in the stage that implements the dehydrogenation.
9. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the recycling gas contains more than 10% by volume of C2 impurities.
10. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the gas effluent that is obtained from the reduction is introduced into the stage that implements the dehydrogenation andor at least one stage is introduced following the dehydrogenation.
11. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein recycling gas is added in said stage following the dehydrogenation.
12. Device for the production of aromatic compounds from the hydrocarbon fraction with a catalyst that circulates in a moving bed, comprising:
at least one zone for the treatment of the fraction that implements a reaction for dehydrogenation of naphthenes, whereby said zone is equipped with at least one pipe for the introduction of the fraction, at least one pipe for drawing off said treated fraction, at least one pipe for the introduction of the catalyst at the top of said zone, and at least one pipe for the output of the catalyst and located at the bottom of said zone, whereby said zone also comprises at least one pipe for the introduction of a gas that contains hydrogen and also comprises at least one pipe for the extraction of a gas flow;
at least one zone for the separation of the catalyst, the liquid product and the gas effluent that contains hydrogen;
at least one zone for the regeneration of the catalyst;
at least one zone for the reduction of the regenerated catalyst connected to said zone that implements the dehydrogenation of naphthenes such that the reduced catalyst enters said dehydrogenation zone via said pipe for the introduction of the catalyst, whereby said reduction zone is equipped
with at least one pipe for the introduction of gas that contains hydrogen,
and at least one pipe for the extraction of a gas flow;
at least one pipe for the recycling of at least a portion of the gas effluent that contains hydrogen from said separation zone to said zone that implements the dehydrogenation reaction;
device characterized in that it also comprises at least one pipe for the recycling of at least a portion of the gas effluent that contains hydrogen in the pipe for the introduction of gas into said reduction zone.
13. Device according to claim 12, wherein it comprises at least one reaction zone that is located after said zone that implements the dehydrogenation reaction, whereby said reaction zone comprises at least one pipe for the input of the catalyst and one pipe for its output, at least one pipe for the introduction of a gas that contains hydrogen, and at least one pipe for the output of a gas effluent, and at least one pipe for the input of the reaction effluent that is obtained from the preceding zone, and a pipe for the reaction effluent that is obtained from this zone, device in which the pipe for the introduction of a gas that contains hydrogen is connected to pipes for the extraction of gas flows that are obtained from the dehydrogenation zone and the reduction zone.
14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the pipe for the introduction of a gas that contains hydrogen is also connected to a pipe that provides the recycled gas effluent.