Author: claimsbot

1. A computerized device, comprising:
a display adapter; and
a data processing hardware element,
wherein the data processing hardware element implements a timeline view module to provide output via the display adapter to display a timeline of an application that includes activity that occurs over time during execution of the application, the timeline comprising a plurality of tracks and a plurality of cells, each track providing a temporal view of a respective media component of the application by populating a plurality of cells extending in a first direction in the timeline, wherein the tracks are adjacent in a second direction in the timeline so that cells adjacent in the second direction correspond to activity that occurs at the same time,
wherein the plurality of tracks comprise a track corresponding to a plurality of media components of the application, a scripting track providing a temporal view of scripting components of the application, and a label track, the scripting track comprising an action element representing a portion of scripting code defining a series of discrete operations to be performed at a particular time or keyframe by the application, the particular time or keyframe identified by a position of the action element on the timeline, the label track including a label associated with the keyframe of the timeline, the data processing hardware element configured to receive a selection of a cell of the timeline to define or edit the label to be associated with a selected keyframe of the timeline, wherein the label is used by the scripting code.
2. The computerized device of claim 1, wherein the data processing hardware comprises a processor and the timeline view module comprises a program component embodied in a memory device accessible by the processor.
3. The computerized device of claim 1, wherein the timeline view includes an interface element to scroll through the plurality of media element tracks while maintaining a view of the scripting track.
4. The computerized device of claim 1, wherein the timeline view module provides an interface in response to selection of the action element in the scripting track, the interface displaying the scripting code represented by the action element.
5. The computerized device of claim 1, wherein the timeline view module provides an editing interface in response to selection of an element in the scripting track or in response to selection of the scripting track, the editing interface configured to receive input editing a scripting component of the application.
6. The computerized device of claim 1, wherein the timeline view module indicates an error in response to input attempting to include a non-scripting element in the scripting track.
7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
accessing code of an application stored in a memory, the code defining a plurality of media components of the application and at least one scripting action;
providing, by a processor, output to generate a design view in a graphical user interface, the design view comprising a timeline view of activity that occurs over time during execution of the application, wherein the timeline view comprises a plurality of cells and a plurality of tracks, each track providing a temporal view of a respective media component by populating a plurality of cells extending in a first direction in the timeline view, wherein the tracks are adjacent in a second direction in the timeline view so that cells adjacent in the second direction correspond to activity that occurs at the same time;
populating the timeline view with at least one additional track, the at least one additional track comprising a scripting track comprising an action element representing a portion of scripting code defining a series of discrete operations to be performed at a particular time or keyframe by the application, the particular time or keyframe identified by a position of the action element on the timeline, wherein the at least one additional track comprises a label track including a label associated with the keyframe of the timeline; and
receiving a selection of a cell of the timeline to define or edit the label to be associated with a selected keyframe of the timeline, wherein the label is used by the scripting code.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one scripting action or the label is defined independently of the media components.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the timeline view displays the at least one additional track while displaying some, but not all, of the plurality of tracks in response to a scrolling command.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
in response to an input event identifying the scripting track, displaying the portion of the scripting code.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portion of the scripting code is displayed in a pop up window that is configured to receive an edit to the portion of the scripting code.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving input attempting to include an element other than the scripting action or the label in the at least one additional track; and
in response to the received input, executing an error routine.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein populating the timeline view with the at least one additional track comprises populating the scripting track with cells corresponding to scripted actions and populating the label track with cells corresponding to frame labels.
14. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium embodying program code, the program code comprising:
program code for providing a graphical user interface of an application development environment;
program code for providing, in the graphical user interface, a timeline view that includes activity that occurs over time during execution of an application under development, wherein the timeline view comprises a plurality of cells and a plurality of tracks, each track providing a temporal view of a respective media element by populating a plurality of cells extending in a first direction in the timeline view, wherein the tracks are adjacent in a second direction in the timeline view so that cells adjacent in the second direction correspond to activity that occurs at the same time;
program code for providing, in the timeline view, a default configuration of the plurality of tracks, the default configuration comprising at least one track corresponding to a media element of the application under development, a label track, and a scripting track, the scripting track comprising a visual representation of a scripting element representing a portion of scripting code defining a series of discrete operations to be performed at a particular time or keyframe by the application, the particular time or keyframe identified by a position of the action element on the timeline, the label track including a label associated with the keyframe of the timeline; and
program code for receiving a selection of a cell of the timeline to define or edit the label to be associated with a selected keyframe of the timeline, wherein the label is used by the scripting code.
15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:
program code for responding to an input event designating the scripting track by presenting an interface, the interface configured to display the scripting element.
16. The computer program product of claim 15,
wherein the program code for responding presents the interface to edit an existing scripting element if the visual representation is selected by the input event, and
wherein the program code for responding presents the interface to define a new scripting element if the input event selects a portion of the scripting track that does not include the visual representation.
17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program code for providing the timeline view provides the timeline view in a window in which fewer than all of the plurality of tracks are displayed and in which the scripting track is fixed in location.
18. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:
program code for preventing inclusion of an element other than a scripted action or the label in the scripting track.
19. The method of claim 7 wherein the label is used by the scripting code as a reference to shift a view of the application to the selected keyframe in response to an input event.

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 preparation of an organosilicon compound of the formula (I)
(R1R2R3SiR4)2SX\u2003\u2003(I)

in which the meanings are as follows
R1, R2, R3 are: identical to or different from one another and are branched or straight-chain alkyl groups, branched or straight-chain alkoxy groups or aryl radicals, at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3 being an alkoxy group,
R4 is: a branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic, aromatic or mixed aliphaticaromatic divalent C1-C30\u2014hydrocarbon group,
x is a number >1,
comprising reacting a haloalkoxysilane of the formula (II)
R1R2R3SiR4X\u2003\u2003(II)

in which
R1, R2, R3, R4 have the above meaning from formula (I) and
X is a halogen atom,
with a dry polysulphide of the formula (III)
M2Sz\u2003\u2003(III)

andor dry sulphide of the formula IV
M2S\u2003\u2003(IV)

in which
M represents an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation or half an alkaline earth metal or zinc cation and
z represents a number from 2 to 8,
and optionally sulphur in an organic solvent,
to form a suspension, removing the organic solvent from the suspension, obtaining a mixture containing the organosilicon compound of the formula (I) and the solid MX and mixing said mixture with water, containing at least one buffer to form a plurality of phases.
2. The process according to claim 1 further comprising separating the phases.

1. A method of providing an interface between an application program and a server process to manage peer-to-peer graphs, comprising the steps of:
receiving from the application program a graph and node information management call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph and node information management call selected from a group consisting of:
a get node information call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get node graph handle, a node identification of a node about which information is desired, a pointer to a peer node information data structure containing information about the node;
a set node attributes call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a set node graph handle and a string representing attributes to associate with a node to be set;
a get graph properties call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get graph properties graph handle and a pointer to graph properties;

set graph status call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a group handle and a set of peer graph status flags that are currently set as the status of the group corresponding to the group handle;
a set graph properties call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a set graph properties graph handle and a pointer to a graph properties data structure; and
a convert system from graph time call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a convert time graph handle, a pointer to a graph time to be converted, and a pointer to a local system time derived from the graph time;

parsing the graph and node information management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph and node information management call.
2. A method of providing an interface between an application program and a server process to manage peer-to-peer graphs, comprising the steps of:
receiving from the application program a record management call having a plurality of call parameters, the record management call selected from the group consisting of:
an add record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an add record graph handle, a pointer to record data, and a pointer to a record identification that uniquely identifies a record in a graph;
an update record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an update record graph handle and a pointer to new data to associate with a record to update;
a delete record call having a plurality of call parameters comprising a delete record graph handle, a pointer to a record identification of a record to delete, and an indication of whether the record to delete is in a local database;
a get record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get record graph handle, a pointer to a record identification of a record to retrieve, and a pointer to the retrieved record;
an enumerate records call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an enumerate records graph handle, a pointer to a type of record over which to iterate, a pointer to a peer identification for which records are to be iterated, and a handle to the iteration;
a search records call having a plurality of call parameters comprising a search records graph handle, an XML string describing a query, and an enumeration handle; and
a validate deferred records call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a validate deferred records graph handle, a count of records in an array of record identifications that should be re-validated, and the array of record identifications that should be re-validated;

parsing the record management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the record management call.
3. A method of providing an interface between an application program and a server process to manage peer-to-peer graphs, comprising the steps of:
receiving from the application program a graph utility function call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph utility function call selected from a group consisting of:
a get next item call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an enumeration handle a count of a number of items to read and a pointer to an array of items to be read;
an end enumeration call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a handle to an enumeration to cleanup;
a get item count call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a graph handle and a count of a number of records in an enumeration; and
a free data call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a pointer to an item to be freed;

parsing the graph utility function call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph utility function call.
4. A method of providing an interface between an application program and a server process to manage peer-to-peer graphs, comprising the steps of:
receiving from the application program a graph direct communication management call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph direct communication management call selected from a group consisting of:
an open direct connection call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a open direct connection graph handle, an unique identification of a person to whom to connect at a given address, a pointer to a structure containing details about the person to whom to connect, and a connection identification of the direct connection;
a close direct connection call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a close direct connection graph handle, and an identification of a neighbor from whom to disconnect;
a send data call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a send data graph handle, a unique identifier for the connection on which to send data, an application defined type of data to be sent, a count of bytes of the data, and the data to send to a receiving neighbor; and
an enumerate connections call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an enumerate connections graph handle, a type of connection to enumerate, and a pointer to an enumeration of the connections;

parsing the graph direct communication management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph direct communication management call.
5. A method of providing an interface between an application program and a server process to manage peer-to-peer graphs, comprising the steps of:
receiving from the application program an events infrastructure management call having a plurality of call parameters, the events infrastructure management call selected from a group consisting of:
a register event call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a register event graph handle, an event handle to be signaled on a new event, a count of peer event registration structures, an array of peer event registration structures containing data about notifications being requested, a pointer to a peer event handle that can be used in a call to un-register a notification;
an un-register event call the plurality of call parameters comprising a peer event handle of the event to un-register; and
a get event data call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get peer event handle, and a pointer to event data;

parsing the events infrastructure management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the events infrastructure management call.
6. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer for performing steps to provide an interface for managing peer-to-peer graphs, comprising:
receiving from the application program a graph management call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph management call selected from the group consisting of:
a graph create call having the plurality of call parameters comprising properties of a graph, a name of a database to associate with the graph at a time of creation, information about a security provider for the graph, and a handle to the graph to be created;
a graph open call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a first unique identifier of a graph to be opened, a second unique identifier for a person opening the graph, information about a security provider for the graph, a count of record types in an array, the array of record types indicating an order in which records are to be synchronized, and a handle to the graph to be opened;
a graph listen call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a handle to a graph on which to listen, an IPv6 scope on which to listen, an IPv6 scope identifier on which to listen, and a port on which to listen;
a graph connect call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a handle of a graph to which to connect, a unique identification of a person to whom to connect at an IP address, a pointer to a data structure containing information about the person, and a pointer to a connection identification;
a graph close call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a handle to a graph from which to disconnect; and
a graph delete call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a name of a graph from which to delete data, a peer identification from which to delete the data, and a name of a database associated with a graph to delete;

parsing the graph management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph management call.
7. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer for performing steps to provide an interface for managing peer-to-peer graphs, comprising:
receiving from the application program a graph and node information management call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph and node information management call selected from a group consisting of:
a get node information call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get node graph handle, a node identification of a node about which information is desired, and a pointer to a peer node information data structure containing information about the node;
a set node attributes call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a set node graph handle and a string representing attributes to associate with the node;
a get graph properties call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get graph properties graph handle, and a pointer to the graph properties;
a get graph status call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a group handle, a set of peer graph status flags that are currently set as the status of a group corresponding to the group handle;
a set graph properties call having a plurality of call parameters comprising a set graph properties graph handle, and a pointer to a graph properties data structure; and
a convert system from graph time call having a plurality of call parameters comprising a convert from graph time graph handle, a pointer to the graph time to be converted, and a pointer to the local system time derived from the graph time;

parsing the graph and node information management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph and node information management call.
8. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer for performing steps to provide an interface for managing peer-to-peer graphs, comprising:
receiving from the application program a record management call having a plurality of call parameters, the record management call selected from a group consisting of:
an add record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an add record graph handle, a pointer to record data, and a pointer to a record identification that uniquely identifies a record in a graph;
an update record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an update record graph handle and a pointer to new data to associate with a record to update;
a delete record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a delete record graph handle, a pointer to a record identification of a record to delete, and an indication of whether the record to delete is in a local database;
a get record call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get record graph handle, a pointer to a record identification of a record to retrieve, and a pointer to the retrieved record;
an enumerate records call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an enumerate records graph handle, a pointer to a type of record over which to iterate, a pointer to a peer identification for which records are to be iterated, and a handle to the iteration;
a search records call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a search records graph handle, an XML string describing a query, and an enumeration handle;
a validate deferred records call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a validate deferred records graph handle, a count of records in an array of record identifications that should be re-validated, and the array of record identifications that should be re-validated;

parsing the record management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the record management call.
9. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer for performing steps to provide an interface for managing peer-to-peer graphs, comprising:
receiving from the application program a graph direct communication management call having a plurality of call parameters, the graph direct communication management call selected from a group consisting of:
an open direct connection call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an open direct connection graph handle, an unique identification of a person to whom to connect at a given address, a pointer to a structure containing details about the person to whom to connect, and a connection identification of the direct connection;
a close direct connection call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a close direct connection graph handle and an identification of a neighbor from whom to disconnect:
a send data call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a send data call graph handle, a unique identifier for the connection on which to send data, an application defined type of data to be sent, a count of bytes of the data, and the data to send to the neighbor; and
an enumerate connections call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an enumerate connections graph handle, a type of connection to enumerate, and a pointer to an enumeration of the connections;

parsing the graph direct communication management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the graph direct communication management call.
10. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer for performing steps to provide an interface for managing peer-to-peer graphs, comprising:
receiving from the application program an events infrastructure management call having a plurality of call parameters, the events infrastructure management call selected from a group consisting of:
a register event call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a register event graph handle, an event handle to be signaled on a new event, a count of peer event registration structures, an array of peer event registration structures containing data about notifications being requested, a pointer to a peer event handle that can be used in a call to un-register a notification;
un-register event call having the plurality of call parameters comprising an un-register peer event handle of the event to un-register; and
a get event data call having the plurality of call parameters comprising a get peer event handle, and a pointer to event data;

parsing the events infrastructure management call to retrieve the plurality of call parameters; and
returning to the application program a value indicative of the successfailure of the events infrastructure management call.

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. A test strip, having an indentation along an edge for tactile identification of a sample application port, said test strip comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge and a vent hole;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge, and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along said edge and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks and the vent hole;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and
a roof having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that the second surface of the roof and the surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, wherein the second opening in the second insulating substrate and the indentations in the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate, and the roof are aligned to thereby provide for tactile identification of the sample application port.
2. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
3. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the test reagent includes
reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.
4. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.
5. The test strip of claim 4, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
6. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.
7. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
8. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the test reagent includes
reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.
9. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.
10. The test strip of claim 9, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
11. The test strip of claim 1, further comprising:
a first notch along the indentation in the first insulating substrate, and a notch along the indentation in the roof, both first and second notches being positioned so that they overlay one another.
12. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
13. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the test reagent includes
reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.
14. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.
15. The test strip of claim 14, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
16. The test strip of claim 11 wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.
17. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
18. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.
19. The test strip of claim 18, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.
20. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for the test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight of 300 kilodaltons.
21. The test strip of claim 20, wherein the polyethylene oxide is about 0.71% by weight.
22. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes
reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,
wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.
23. The test strip of claim 22, wherein the mean molecular weight of the polyethylene oxide is 300 kilodaltons.
24. The test strip of claim 23, wherein the amount of polyethylene oxide, in the reagent is about 6.2% by weight.
25. A test strip comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, a notch along an edge, and a vent hole;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks, the notch in the first insulating substrate, and the vent hole;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and
a roof having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that 1) the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and 2) the notch in the roof overlays the notch in the first insulating substrate;
whereby the notch in the roof and the notch in the first insulating substrate will cause a liquid aqueous sample, when touched to the sample application port, to flow into the capillary chamber without significant hesitation.
26. A test strip, comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and a vent hole;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks and the vent hole;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and
a roof having first and second surfaces and a solid transparent or translucent window, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that it overlays the second opening of the second insulating substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and the transparent or translucent window being dimensioned and positioned so that the window extends from the sample application port, and overlays the entire width of one of the electrically conductive tracks and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.
27. A test strip, having an indentation along an edge for tactile identification of a sample application port, said test strip comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along said edge and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;
a roof having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so as to overlay the opening and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate; and
a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber;
wherein the opening in the second insulating substrate and the indentations in the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate, and the roof are aligned to thereby provide for tactile identification of the sample application port.
28. The test strip of claim 27, wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.
29. The test strip of claim 27 further comprising a first notch along the indentation of the first insulating substrate, and a notch along the indentation in the roof, both first and second notches being positioned so that they overlay one another.
30. The test strip of claim 29 wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.
31. A test strip comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks, aid overlaying the notch in the first insulating substrate;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;
a roof having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that 1) the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and 2) the notch in the roof overlays the notch in the first insulating substrate; and
a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber;
whereby the notch in the roof and the notch in the first insulating substrate will cause a liquid aqueous sample, when touched to the sample application port, to flow into the capillary chamber without significant hesitation.
32. A test strip comprising:
a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces;
at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;
a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks;
a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;
a roof having first and second surfaces and a solid transparent or translucent window, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that it overlays the opening of the second insulating substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and the transparent or translucent window being dimensioned and positioned so that the window extends from the sample application port, and overlays the entire width of one of the electrically conductive tracks and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track; and
a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber.
33. An electrochemical test strip for conducting testing for the concentration of glucose in a blood sample, comprising:
a strip body including an edge surface extending about the perimeter of said strip body, said strip body defining a capillary channel and a vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel, said strip body comprising a sample application port open at a location along the edge surface, the capillary channel having opposed sides extending from the sample application port to at least the vent;
at least working and counter electrodes spaced from each other and positioned within the capillary channel at a location spaced from the edge surface;
a test reagent adjacent at least the working electrode; and
visualization means associated with the capillary channel and including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent the sample application port and overlying at least a portion of the capillary channel including said working electrode and at least a portion of said counter electrode,
said strip body having opaque portions which, in combination with said viewing material, define a window effective for providing visual confirmation that a sufficient area of the working and counter electrodes is covered with sample to have a minimum sample amount for said test strip.
34. The test strip of claim 33 in which the opposed sides of the capillary channel are parallel and extend in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes.
35. The test strip of claim 34 in which the opaque portions are spaced apart to reveal greater than about 75% of the width of the capillary channel.
36. The test strip of claim 35 in which the opaque portions are aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel.
37. The test strip of claim 33 in which said strip body includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a roof, the second substrate being positioned intermediate the first substrate and the roof and including an opening, the opening of the second substrate together with the first substrate and the roof defining the capillary channel.
38. The test strip of claim 37 in which said test strip includes conductive tracks connected with said working and counter electrodes, the first substrate having first and second surfaces, the working and counter electrodes being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface of the second substrate being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along a perimetric edge surface of the second substrate and exposing said electrodes, and a roof having first and second surfaces and including a solid, transparent or translucent, viewing material, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second substrate and positioned so that it overlays the opening of the second substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first substrate form opposing walls of the capillary channel, the transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent to the sample application port and overlying the entire width of one of the electrodes and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrode.
39. The test strip of claim 37 in which the second substrate defines the opposed sides of the capillary channel, the sides being parallel and extending in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes.
40. The test strip of claim 39 in which the opaque portions are spaced apart to reveal greater than about 75% of the width of the capillary channel.
41. The test strip of claim 40 in which the opaque portions are aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel.
42. The test strip of claim 41 in which the opaque portions are defined by the roof.
43. An electrochemical test strip for conducting testing for the concentration of glucose in a blood sample, comprising:
a strip body including an edge surface extending about the perimeter of said strip body, said strip body defining a capillary channel and a vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel, said strip body comprising a sample application port open at a location along the perimetric edge surface, the capillary channel extending from the sample application port to at least the vent, said strip body further defining a test area along the capillary channel between the sample application port and the vent; at least working and counter electrodes spaced from each other and positioned within the test area of the capillary channel at a location spaced from the perimetric edge surface;
a test reagent received within the test area of the capillary channel and adjacent at least the working electrode;
said strip body including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material overlying at least a portion of the capillary channel, including from a portion thereof at or generally adjacent the sample application port continuously up to and including said working electrode and at least a portion of said counter electrode, the viewing material permitting visualization of the blood sample as it moves through the capillary channel to the test area;
said strip body further including opaque portions defining a fill area viewable through the viewing material, the fill area extending from adjacent the sample application port continuously up to the working electrode and at least a part of the counter electrode and limited to an area of the capillary channel needed to be filled to conduct an accurate test;
wherein observation through the viewing material of the blood sample within the capillary channel up to said electrodes comprises confirmation of sufficient blood sample being introduced into the capillary channel to conduct a test.
44. The test strip of claim 43 in which the opaque portions are sized and dimensioned such that the blood sample is required to fill up to the electrodes the portion of the capillary channel viewable through the viewing material and between the opaque portions in order to have a sufficient amount of blood sample to conduct a test.
45. The test strip of claim 43 in which the opaque portions extend continuously in alignment with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from the perimetric edge surface to the electrodes.
46. The test strip of claim 45 in which the opaque portions are sized and dimensioned such that the blood sample is required to fill up to the electrodes the portion of the capillary channel viewable through the viewing material and between the opaque portions in order to have a sufficient amount of blood sample to conduct a test.
47. The test strip of claim 33 in which the viewing area includes only the capillary channel.
48. The test strip of claim 43 in which the viewing area includes only the capillary channel.