Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for in situ temperature-induced antigen retrieval of samples wherein all steps are performed under a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure on a sample immobilized on a sample support which can be further subjected to staining and imaging on the same sample support, optionally by cycle multiplexing that enables imaging of various molecular targets through multi-molecular read-outs on the same sample in a rapid, highly sensitive and reliable manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and method for providing emulsion droplets.

Abstract: A system and method facilitates transfers of specimen containers (e.g., vials with caps) between storage cassettes and carrier cassettes. The storage cassettes are designed to be stored in cryogenic refrigerators while the carrier cassettes are designed to be temporarily stored in a portable carrier. Identification information is read from wireless transponders carried by the specimen containers. Visual mappings of the positions of the specimen container in the cassettes is provided. Presence and position of the specimen containers in the cassettes is verified, and alerts of inconsistencies provided along with corrective commands. Inventories of specimen container and even specific specimen holders are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is, in one aspect, directed to a locking assembly for securing a sample tube assembly to a sample manifold of a measurement system. The locking assembly includes a ramp block having one or more slots defined therein and configured to at least partially receive a portion of the sample tube assembly. The ramp block also includes a plurality of surface features defined therealong and configured to engage and move the sample tube assembly toward and into engagement with the sample manifold. The ramp block further is movable between a plurality of positions including an open position for allowing the sample tube assembly to be received through the one or more slots or openings, and a closed position substantially sealing the sample tube assembly against or within the sample manifold. Other aspects also are described.

Abstract: A microfluidics device has one or more bubble diversion regions. Problems associated with the generation of air bubbles are avoided in a microfluidics device such as a cartridge, for use with a point of care (POC) diagnostics device, the cartridge being able to carry out downstream processing such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or nucleic acid capture. The bubble diversion region has a lower flow resistance than the flow resistance of an area of interest.

Abstract: Sub-millimeter scale three-dimensional (3D) structures are disclosed with customizable chemical properties and/or functionality. The 3D structures are referred to as drop-carrier particles. The drop-carrier particles allow the selective association of one solution (i.e., a dispersed phased) with an interior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles, while a second non-miscible solution (i.e., a continuous phase) associates with an exterior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles due to the specific chemical and/or physical properties of the interior and exterior regions of the drop-carrier particles. The combined drop-carrier particle with the dispersed phase contained therein is referred to as a particle-drop. The selective association results in compartmentalization of the dispersed phase solution into sub-microliter-sized volumes contained in the drop-carrier particles. The compartmentalized volumes can be used for single-molecule assays as well as single-cell, and other single-entity assays.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a consumable sample partition device and it assembly and use. The sample partition device can be used to test a sample for absence of microorganisms (sterility) and/or for concentration of said organisms (bio-burden). The sample partition device partitions the sample input volume into multiple discrete measurement zones with little or no loss of sample (e.g., zero-loss) and with little operator involvement, thereby reducing operator- and environment-based false positives.

Abstract: A pipette holder that includes: (i) a base; (ii) a recess made in the base, which can removably house a well support; (iii) a pipette support comprising a first housing into which can be inserted a pipette equipped with one or more tubular pipette cones that each comprise a tip intended for pipetting liquid, the first housing opening out onto the recess of the base, the pipette support being translationally mobile relative to the base in a direction parallel to an axis of the pipette cones and mobile between a first position in which the tip of each pipette cone is inserted in a well of the well support and at least one second position in which the tip is outside the well; and (iv) a second housing which can removably house a magnetized part.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for mitigating cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents. The disposable cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a syringe barrel having an barrel port operative to inject and withdraw assay fluids in response to the displacement of a syringe plunger. Furthermore, the disposable cartridge includes a rotor defining a plurality of assay chambers in fluid communication with the barrel port through one of a plurality of rotor ports disposed about the periphery of the rotor. Finally, the disposable cartridge includes a flow control system between the barrel and rotor ports which prevents cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents from one assay chamber to another assay chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor assembly (1) for body fluids.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid reaction mixture containing a radioisotope, in particular, a radioactive composition, minimizes device contamination with radioactive substances and increase speed and accuracy with which droplets are mixed. The method for producing a radioactive composition includes placing at least one first droplet L1 containing a radionuclide and at least one second droplet L2 containing a labeling substance on at least two respective dimples 5 among dimples 5 on a front surface 4b of an insulating layer 4 of a liquid manipulation device 1, and obtaining a liquid mixture M by using a change in electrostatic force caused by changing voltage applied to the electrodes 3 to thereby cause a relative movement between the at least one first droplet L1 and the at least one second droplet L2 so that the at least one first droplet L1 and the at least one second droplet L2 are mixed together at any one dimple among the dimples 5.

Abstract: A test container includes a container main body including a first-accommodation-portion, a second-accommodation-portion, and a third-accommodation-portion each accommodating a liquid and internally provided, a first flow path connecting the first-accommodation-portion and the second-accommodation-portion to each other at respective upper end positions thereof and internally provided, and a second flow path connecting the second-accommodation-portion and the third-accommodation-portion to each other at respective upper end positions thereof and internally provided, in which at least a portion forming an upper wall surface of the second-accommodation-portion has flexibility to be deformable inwards of the second-accommodation-portion; and a liquid return prevention structure which prevents a backflow of the liquid to the first-accommodation-portion, when the liquid accommodated in the second-accommodation-portion is fed to the third-accommodation-portion via the second flow path due to deformation of the portio

Abstract: Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.

Abstract: Spherical grains and sacrificial particles are mixed in a suspension. The sacrificial particles are larger than the spherical grains. The suspension is injected into a channel in a microfluidic chip, and the spherical grains form microporous structures in the channel. The microporous structures are sintered in the channel. A solvent is injected into the channel, and the solvent dissolves the sacrificial particles and forms macropores between at least some of the microporous structures, thereby forming a mixed-porosity microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A method comprises: aspirating a sample through a needle capillary into a chamber having first and second windows, the capillary and chamber both affixed to a moveable robotic arm; causing a light beam generated by a light source that is affixed to the robotic arm to pass through the sample between the windows; detecting, using a photodetector that is affixed to the robotic arm, a quantity of the light that passes through the sample and the windows; determining an optical absorbance of the sample and a concentration of an analyte in the sample from the detected quantity of light; determining a quantity of the sample to dispense into an analytical apparatus based on the determined concentration; moving the robotic arm so as to cause the needle capillary to mate with an inlet port of an analytical apparatus; and dispensing the determined quantity of the sample into the analytical apparatus.

Abstract: An object is to provide an automatic analyzer that prevents an effect of various environmental changes on an equilibrium state of an immunological binding reaction. An automatic analyzer of an embodiment of the invention includes a B/F separation unit that executes a B/F separation step separating an unreacted component and a reacted component from a liquid in which a sample and a reagent are reacted, a detection unit that detects a reacted component in the liquid after the B/F separation step, and a temperature maintaining unit that maintains the B/F separation unit and the detection unit in substantially the same temperature environment.

Abstract: A test container includes a container main body including a first-accommodation-portion, a second-accommodation-portion, and a third-accommodation-portion each accommodating a liquid and internally provided, a first flow path connecting the first-accommodation-portion and the second-accommodation-portion to each other at respective upper end positions thereof and internally provided, and a second flow path connecting the second-accommodation-portion and the third-accommodation-portion to each other at respective upper end positions thereof and internally provided, in which at least a portion forming an upper wall surface of the second-accommodation-portion has flexibility to be deformable inwards of the second-accommodation-portion; and a liquid return prevention structure which prevents a backflow of the liquid to the first-accommodation-portion, when the liquid accommodated in the second-accommodation-portion is fed to the third-accommodation-portion via the second flow path due to deformation of the portio

Abstract: Provided are a microfluidic apparatus, a method and system for introducing a substance into a cell. The microfluidic apparatus includes a cavity channel, a bulk wave generating device and a surface acoustic wave generating device; a microstructure is arranged on an inner wall of the cavity channel, and the microstructure is constructed for forming a bubble by a solution at the microstructure when the solution is injected into the cavity channel; the bulk wave generating device is configured to generate a bulk wave, the bulk wave enables the bubble to resonate for generating a flow field; and the surface acoustic wave generating device is configured to generate a surface acoustic wave and control a position of at least one particle in the solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow cell receiver. The flow cell receiver can include at least one platen, having a plurality of ports. The flow cell receiver can include magnets. The flow cell receiver can be configured to automatically align, secure, and retain a flow cell carrier containing a flow cell.

Abstract: A rotating seal-type liquid testing apparatus includes a lower cup component, an upper cup body, a top cover and a testing element. The lower cup component includes a lower cup body, a high liquid baffle, a low liquid baffle and a water-absorbing sealing plug. The low liquid baffle and the high liquid baffle divide a bottom of an inner cavity of the lower cup body into a reaction region and a cut-off region. An edge of a bottom surface of the inner cavity of the lower cup body is provided with a vent hole, and the vent hole is positioned in the cut-off region. The upper cup body is disposed in the lower cup body, a bottom surface of an inner cavity of the upper cup body is provided with a liquid outlet, and the liquid outlet is connected to the reaction region in the lower cup body.