Abstract: A method includes engaging a well of a cartridge with a flow sensor of an instrument. The cartridge includes: a rotary valve including a rotatable port and a center port; the well in fluid communication with a channel, the channel including a channel port that the rotatable port is to align to in order to receive fluid from the well; and a flowcell including an inlet gasket in fluid communication with the center port. A source of pressurized air is connected to the flow sensor in order to establish a mass flow of air through a flow path. The flow path extends through one of the flow sensor, the channel, the rotary valve, and the flowcell. The mass flow of air through the flow path is measured with the flow sensor. It is determined if there is one of an air leak and an air blockage within the flow path.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to liquid transfer systems including a pipette tip having a body defining an inner volume and having first and second ends, the first end arranged to transfer a volume of liquid into and out of the pipette tip and the second end arranged for attachment to a pipette, and a bladder sealingly attached to the body. In some embodiments, the bladder is disposable in the inner volume. The bladder may be defined by a membranous sac and/or a planar membrane. The bladder may be moveable in response to an applied pressure to transfer liquid. The bladder also may be stretchable to accommodate a volume of fluid. In some embodiments, the pipette tip is used in a cell culture incubator, with a manipulator including a pipette that is in fluid communication with the pipette tip.

Abstract: A blood glucose level measuring chip exhibits excellent blood spreading ability and can maintain a reaction rate of blood with a reagent, even where the blood has a high hematocrit value (Ht). The blood glucose level measuring chip includes a blood glucose level measuring reagent including a supply port through which blood is supplied, a flow path having the supply port formed at one end of the flow path, and a blood glucose level measuring reagent containing an aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one sulfonic acid group disposed on an inner wall defining the flow path, wherein a ratio A/B is 3.7 mmol/L or more to 184.8 mmol/L when A (mmol) represents the total molar amount of aromatic hydrocarbons contained in the blood glucose level measuring reagent, and B (L) represents a volume of a region in which the blood glucose level measuring reagent and the blood are dissolved.

Abstract: A microfluidic diagnostic device comprises a base and at least one switch coupled to a portion of the base, the switch comprising a flap that is pivotable with respect to the base from a first position spaced away from the base a first distance to a second position where the flap is spaced away from the base a second distance. Both the base and the switch comprise one or more channels that permit passive transportation of an aqueous solution. The switch may be formed by bending or deforming a strip to cause the flap to be in the first position when there is less than a predetermined amount of fluid within the channel of switch. When a predetermined amount of fluid is in the channel of the switch, the flap pivots to the second position, which may be achieved through power from gravity, capillarity, and/or inherent elastic energy.

Abstract: A gas sensor device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a polythiophene film which is formed between the first and second electrodes to be electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes, and to which cuprous bromide is adsorbed.

Abstract: Manufacturing system and method for creating multiple tissue constructs from cells. System can include a thaw subsystem (if the cells are provided in a frozen state), an expansion subsystem, a concentration subsystem, and a tissue maturation subsystem. Each of these subsystems is modular and can be reconfigured, and the process can be repeated depending on the specific tissue process being implemented. Multiple tissue types can be combined in multiple bioreactors. The activities of multiple bioreactors can be coordinated and controlled in an automated manner by a supervisor controller. The supervisor controller can receive user input at the start of the process, and can manage the process henceforth, alerting the user if user actions are required.

Abstract: A biological fluid separation device and a separation process that allows for efficient separation of plasma from a blood sample is disclosed. A biological fluid separation device of the present disclosure is adapted to receive a blood sample having a cellular portion or cells and a plasma portion or plasma. A biological fluid separation device of the present disclosure separates plasma from cells using a track-etched membrane and cross-flow filtration.

Abstract: This disclosure describes various reaction vessel configurations that include a housing component; a reaction chamber defined by the housing component; and a light absorbing layer conforming to a portion of an interior-facing surface of the housing component that defines the reaction chamber, the light absorbing layer comprising multiple discrete regions. An energy source may direct light at one or more of the discrete regions of the light absorbing layer so as to heat the discrete regions and ultimately heat a solution within a reaction chamber.

Abstract: A specimen sample collection device is disclosed, the device including: a base having a neck extending therefrom, a film-puncture element disposed within the neck, and one or more fluid ports extending through the base within the neck; a cap engaged with the neck, the cap comprising a film attached about an inner cylinder of the cap along a periphery thereof; wherein the film defines a buffer-containing cavity within the cap, and wherein the buffer-containing cavity is configured to hold a preservation buffer for preserving a sample stored within a collection reservoir of the device.

Abstract: A pipette tip system for use with a plurality of pipette tips is disclosed that includes a support card and a support card lid. The support card includes an array of pipette tip receiver openings arranged in a N×M array, wherein the N is less than M. The support card further has a short-side card rail edge on an edge of the support card along the N side of the array, and a long-side card rail edge on an edge of the support card along the M side of the array. The support card lid includes a long-side lid rail edge extending from a support card first surface, which is adapted to slidably mate with the long-side card rail edge, and a short-side lid rail edge extending from a support card second surface, which is adapted to slidably mate with the short-side card rail edge.

Abstract: A pipette tip according to certain embodiments includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a reagent chamber. The proximal end is dimensioned to fit on an end of a pipettor, and includes a proximal end opening. The distal end includes a distal end opening. The reagent chamber has a reagent composition disposed therein. The reagent chamber is defined at least in part by a proximal barrier and a distal barrier. The reagent composition is operable to pass through the distal end opening upon rupturing of the distal barrier.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve may include a first portion of a liquid conduit to contain a gas, a second portion of a liquid conduit to contain a liquid, and a constriction between the first portion and the second portion and across which a capillary meniscus is to form between the gas and the liquid. The microfluidic valve may further include a drop jetting device within the second portion to open the valve by breaking the capillary meniscus across the constriction.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a cover slip sticking device capable of improving matching between types of clearing agents and cover slips. As a means for solving the problem, a cover slip sticking device includes a dipping bath (21) in which slide glasses (22) on which specimens are attached are housed to be dipped in a clearing agent, a holder (11) having a cover slip (10) and cover slip information (14), a mounting part (C) on which the holder is mounted, a sticking part (B) sticking the cover slip (10) taken out from the holder (11) on the slide glass (22), a reading unit (62) reading the cover slip information (14), a storage unit (65) storing a type of the clearing agent and matching information between types of clearing agents and types of cover slips and a determination unit (66) comparing the cover slip information (14) read by the reading unit (62) and the type of the clearing agent stored in the storage unit (65) with the matching information to determine whether the types match with each other or not.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder with multiple receptacle wells. Each well has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. A cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to the holder and is configured to exert a force onto any receptacles in the wells when the cover is in the closed position. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each of the optical fibers provides optical communication between one of the wells and an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. A thermal element is positioned between a thermally-conductive support and the receptacle holder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the concentration of a gas component in an atmosphere of a packaging which is made from a plastic film and which comprises a gas concentration indicator substance on the side of the plastic film facing the atmosphere.

Abstract: A platform and method for conducting multi-variable combinational interactions are provided. An array of multiplexing chambers in formed in a body. The body also includes a common well communicating with each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers and a plurality of variable wells. Each of variable wells communicates with at least one multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers. The common well is loaded with a first variable and different variables are loaded in each of the plurality of variable wells. The interaction of the first variable with at least one of the different variables in each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers is observed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating test water includes a test container for receiving the test water, and a heating container for installation of the test container. The heating container contains burnt lime that heats the test water when being mixed with water to be tested arranged in the heating container.

Abstract: A microfluidic-based device and system is disclosed for the high-throughput intracellular delivery of biomolecular cargo to cells (eukaryotic or prokaryotic) or enveloped viruses. Cargo integration occurs due to transient membrane permeabilization by exposure to bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) transduced from surface acoustic waves (SAWs) generated by a rapidly oscillating piezoelectric substrate. In this approach, temporary pores are established across the cellular membrane as cells are partially deformed and squeezed or subject to shearing forces as they travel through the vibrational modes created within the microfludic channel(s) of the device.

Abstract: A tight connection device for the aseptic transfer of a biopharmaceutical product includes: a stationary temporary clamping means keeping the container hermetically clamped against the chamber; a stationary unlocking means capable of switching the container from an initial locked position to an intermediate unlocked position; a stationary locking means; and an annular functional crown capable of being rotated to actuate the stationary unlocking means and the stationary locking means of the container. The stationary unlocking means and the stationary locking means are mechanically linked to the annular functional crown and arranged such that the rotation of the annular functional crown and the end locked position. The device further includes stationary immobilising/release means capable of allowing and preventing the annular functional crown to rotate.