Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifuge, in particular a laboratory centrifuge, comprising a rotor which is rotatably mounted in an interior of a rotor chamber and is designed to accommodate sample vessels, a drive motor to set the rotor in rotation, and a cooling device which is designed to dissipate heat from the interior of the rotor chamber via a coolant, the cooling device being designed to use an elastocaloric effect and having at least one cooling unit which comprises an elastocaloric material arranged between a counter block and a punch, the punch being designed to periodically apply a force to the elastocaloric material and then to let the elastocaloric material relax again, the cooling device being designed to transfer both heat from the elastocaloric material to the coolant and from the coolant to the elastocaloric material. The present invention also relates to a method for cooling an interior of a rotor chamber of such a centrifuge.

Abstract: A measurement system configured to examine a sample. The system comprises an internally reflective element, a contact member, an actuator, an optical assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The contact member and the reflective element are configured to apply a force to the sample. The optical assembly is configured to scan the sample. Whereby prior to the scan, an initial force is applied to the sample, and after the scan, a resulting force is applied to the sample. The sensor is configured to detect the resulting force applied to the sample, and the controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the detected resulting force. The controller is further configured to control the actuator to adjust the force applied to the sample by the contact member and the internally reflective element from the resulting force to the initial force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the latching closed of doors on appliances. In particular, the present invention provides an advantageous apparatus for locking the lid of a centrifuge. Apparatus for locking an appliance door in a closed position, the apparatus comprises: a locking member for attachment to a door, the locking member having an engagement section; a locking bolt for engaging the engagement section in the locking member; a linear actuator for moving the locking bolt along an axis, wherein the linear actuator is self-locking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifuge rotor with a rotor body and a receptacle arranged centrally therein for receiving a drive head of a drive shaft of a centrifuge which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R), and sample receptacles for accommodating a plurality of sample containers. A holding crown is arranged on a top side (O) of the rotor body facing away from an insertion side (E) of the drive head, said holding crown having an annular base body, which encloses a central opening, and prongs extending upward away from the top side (O), wherein the holding crown is arranged in such a way that the axis of rotation (R) runs through the central opening. The present invention further relates to a holding crown for use with a centrifuge rotor and having an annular base body enclosing a central opening and prongs emanating from the base body and extending upward, wherein the prongs are offset at least in the region of their free ends by a spacing (A) from an inner edge of the base body.

Abstract: An embodiment of a module system configured to interface with a microscope is described that comprises an input optical fiber configured to provide an excitation light beam from an external light source; dynamic alignment mirrors configured to adjust the position of the beams paths of the excitation light beam on a first plane; a coupling comprising a first end configured to engage with a complementary end, wherein the excitation light reflects off a turning mirror and travels along a beam path on a second plane through an orifice in the coupling; and an output optical fiber for delivering light from a sample to an external detector, wherein the light from the sample travels along the beam path on the second plane through the orifice in the coupling, reflects off the turning mirror and travels along one of the beam paths on the first plane to the output optical fiber.

Abstract: An embodiment of a support structure for adjusting the position of a plurality of optical elements is described that comprises a base plate comprising a centering pin, a first translation slot, and a second translation slot; and a translatable plate configured to operatively couple with a plurality of the optical elements and move relative to the base plate, wherein the translatable plate comprises a centering slot configured to engage with the centering pin, a first cam configured to engage with the first translation slot and control movement of the translatable plate along a first axis, and a second cam configured to engage with the second translation slot and control movement of the translatable plate along a second axis.

Abstract: Methods for linearization of photodetector response include establishing one or more static calibration coefficients based on comparison of test photodetector response to a linear reference photodetector. In some examples, dynamic calibration coefficients are determined based on average photodetector signals. In some applications such as FTIR, linearized ratios are obtained with a single calibration coefficient.

Abstract: An embodiment of a phase mask includes a light blocking layer disposed on a substrate, where the light blocking layer has a number of optically transmissive regions each configured as a first pattern. The first pattern includes two segments that have different phase configurations from each other, and the light blocking layer includes at least three angular orientations of the first pattern.

Abstract: A method for separating a biological suspension includes dispensing a liquid suspension comprised of cells or microorganisms from a bioreactor or fermenter into a sterile compartment of a first bag assembly, the first bag assembly including a collapsible bag having of one or more sheets of flexible film. The compartment of the first bag assembly is sealed closed. The first bag assembly, either with or without a manifold fluid coupled therewith, is then rotated, such as by using a centrifuge, so that the liquid suspension separates within the compartment into a pellet comprised of the cells or microorganisms and a liquid supernatant.

Abstract: A shelf is provided which has a placement surface for objects to be treated in the climate cabinet and an underside opposite the placement surface, wherein the shelf can be mounted in a climate chamber of the climate cabinet. At least one reinforcing rib is detachably fastened to a base plate of the shelf.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed whereby structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is applied to a scanning microscope, such as a confocal laser scanning microscope or sample scanning microscope, in order to improve spatial resolution. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the discovery of important advances in the ability to (i) increase light throughput to the sample, thereby increasing the signal/noise ratio and/or decreasing exposure time, as well as (ii) decrease the number of raw images to be processed, thereby decreasing image acquisition time. Both effects give rise to significant improvements in overall performance, to the benefit of users of scanning microscopy.

Abstract: An embodiment of a shutter assembly is described that comprises a support structure with a number of stations and operatively coupled to a motor configured to translate each of the stations to a position in front of a detector, wherein a first station comprises a first aperture, a first charged particle filter, and a first window; and a second station comprises a second aperture larger than the first aperture, a second charged particle filter, and a second window thinner than the first window.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to utilizing independently stored validation keys to enable auditing of instrument measurement data maintained in a blockchain. A computing platform may receive, from a first block generator, a first data block comprising first measurement data captured by a first instrument and associated with a sample. Subsequently, the computing platform may receive a first validation key for the first data block calculated from contents of the first data block. Then, the computing platform may store the first data block and the first validation key for the first data block in a blockchain associated with the data management computing platform. Next, the computing platform may send the first validation key for the first data block to a data escrow database system, which may cause the data escrow database system to store the first validation key in a validation keys database.

Abstract: A laser mount assembly includes a lens holder including a collimating lens. A laser subassembly is positioned adjacent the lens holder and includes a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, a thermal electric cooler, and a thermistor. A printed circuit board is positioned adjacent the laser subassembly and includes a plurality of heating components. The heating components heat the area between the lens holder and the laser subassembly.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of automatically generating a background measurement in a spectrometer is described that comprises the steps of: collecting a plurality of candidate scans in the spectrometer; determining for each of the plurality of candidate scans if the candidate scan correlates to an orthonormal basis set that is associated with a recent background description; saving each candidate scan that correlates to the orthonormal basis set as a background scan in a scan cache; and generating a new background measurement from a plurality of the background scans stored in the scan cache if a current background measurement is older than a preselected time interval.

Abstract: A stray light reducing apparatus includes a light source and an entrance slit positioned to pass through light from the light source. A first monochromator mirror is positioned to reflect light passed through the entrance slit. A diffractive surface is positioned to receive and diffract light reflected by the first monochromator mirror. A second monochromator mirror is positioned to reflect light diffracted by the diffractive surface. An exit slit is positioned to pass through light reflected by the second monochromator mirror. A cuvette is positioned to pass through light passed through the exit slit. A long-pass interference filter is positioned to receive light from the light source, reflect light that has a wavelength below a selected value, and pass through light having a wavelength above the selected value. A first sample detector is positioned to receive light reflected by the long-pass interference filter.

Abstract: An image analysis system includes a video camera that collects YUV color images of a liquid sample disposed between a capital and a pedestal, the color images being collected while a light source shines light through an optical beam path between the capital and the pedestal, and a processor adapted to i) obtain from the YUV color images a grayscale component image and a light scatter component image, and ii) obtain at least one binary image of the grayscale component image and at least one binary image of the light scatter component image.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus includes a well plate assembly including a fixed support, and a well movable with respect to the fixed support. A fixed sensor mount has a first portion disposed above the well and a second portion disposed within the well. A plurality of electromagnets are operable to move the well plate assembly vertically with respect to the fixed sensor mount and the fixed support.

Abstract: A mirror assembly has one or more axes of motion and includes a mirror that is movable and forms an acute angle with a plane orthogonal to its axis of motion. The mirror assembly may include a first reflective mirror surface in the incoming optical path that is movable and forms an acute angle with a plane orthogonal to its axis of motion, and a second reflective mirror surface in the outgoing optical path that is movable and forms an acute angle with a plane orthogonal to its axis of motion and is moveable in a linear translation to scan the mirror in the interferometer in a way to generate a normal interferogram.