Abstract: An apparatus (2) for the automatic testing of substances for carcinogenicity comprises: a plate support (3) on which at least one micro-well plate (1) can be placed; a movable pipetting unit (4) comprising a predetermined number of pipettes (40); a number of containers (5) containing a liquid culture medium (50), the number of containers (5) corresponding to the number of pipettes (40) of the pipetting unit (4); a dish support (6) on which a corresponding number of dishes (60) can be placed, each having a bottom and an upstanding side wall (601); a plurality of spinners (63) for spinning the dishes (60); a plurality of suction cups (62) for placing a lid (600) on each of the dishes; and a plurality of laterally arranged belts (64,65) for transporting the closed dishes (60) to an intermediate storage (8).

Abstract: A hanging droplet plate (1) comprises a predetermined number of droplet compartments (10) each being capable of receiving a droplet of a liquid. The respective droplet compartment (10) comprises a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102) which is arranged to surround a respective cavity (100) and which prevents a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier (102). The respective compartment (10) comprises a closed bottom (101) and at least one additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104), each additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104) which is arranged to surround a preceding circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102). A wettable area (103) is arranged between two adjacently arranged microfluidic wetting barriers (102, 104).

Abstract: A robotic microplate storage system includes a freezer room having freezing units and a first robot for moving and removing microplates into and out of the freezing unit. The first robot can also transfer microplates to a processing station, where the microplates are stored in a microplate recipient within the freezing unit. The storage system may also include at least one processing room which is thermally separated from the freezer room. Each processing room may include a processing station having a tube transfer module and a second robot for moving the microplates between the microplate recipients and the tube transfer module. The first robot may be designed such that it is only capable of removing a microplate recipient from and moving it into a freezing unit as well as transferring it from a freezing unit to a processing station or vice versa.

Abstract: A hanging droplet plate (1) comprises a predetermined number of droplet compartments (10) each being capable of receiving a droplet of a liquid. The respective droplet compartment (10) comprises a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102) which is arranged to surround a respective cavity (100) and which prevents a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier (102). The respective compartment (10) comprises a closed bottom (101) and at least one additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104), each additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104) which is arranged to surround a preceding circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102). A wettable area (103) is arranged between two adjacently arranged microfluidic wetting barriers (102, 104).

Abstract: A unit (10) for the preparation of cells contained in a liquid comprises a storage chamber (20) configured to store the liquid containing the cells and to release the stored liquid via an exit opening (22) upon the application of a predetermined external force, in particular a centrifugal force. A passage (30) adjacently arranged to the exit opening (22) has a cross-section larger than that of the exit opening (22). The wall at the transition from the exit opening (22) to the passage (30) forms an edge (32). The unit further comprises an observation member (50) for receiving the released liquid and an absorbing means (40) arranged adjacent to the observation member (50) between the passage (30) and the observation member (50). The absorbing means (40) has an aperture (42) allowing the released liquid to travel onto the observation member (50), and removes the liquid so as to leave the cells on the observation member (50) for observation.

Abstract: An apparatus (2) for the automatic testing of substances for carcinogenicity comprises: a plate support (3) on which at least one micro-well plate (1) can be placed; a movable pipetting unit (4) comprising a predetermined number of pipettes (40); a number of containers (5) containing a liquid culture medium (50), the number of containers (5) corresponding to the number of pipettes (40) of the pipetting unit (4); a dish support (6) on which a corresponding number of dishes (60) can be placed, each having a bottom and an upstanding side wall (601); spinning means (63) for spinning the dishes (60); closing means (62) for placing a lid (600) on each of the dishes; transport means (64,65) for transporting the closed dishes (60) to an intermediate storage (8).

Abstract: A multi-well filtration device for filtering a suspension comprises a filtration plate with a filtration chamber and a collecting plate with a collecting well. The filtration chamber is connected to the collecting well and a filter element is arranged between the filtration chamber and the collecting well. A separation layer is arranged between the filtration plate and the collecting plate adjacent to the filter element. The use such of a separation layer allows an easy detachment of the filtration plate from the collecting plate. The detached filtration plate can comfortably be transferred into an analysis device, in which the solid phase of the filtration chamber can separately be analyzed through the separation layer, without any replacement of the solid phase.

Abstract: A stacker (1) for storing a plurality of microplates each having a top surface side and a bottom surface side opposed to the top surface side, comprises a housing and a removal gate (13) for removing a microplate of the plurality of microplates out of the housing. The stacker (1) is arranged to accommodate the plurality of microplates inside the housing such that the top surface side of one microplate of the plurality of microplates abuts on the bottom surface side of an adjacent microplate of the plurality of microplates and such that the housing adjoins to the plurality of microplates. Using such a stacker 1, the plurality of microplates can be arranged and stored in a compact manner wherein the single microplates of the plurality of microplates can still selectively and efficiently be accessed.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for use in an apparatus for parallel synthetic chemistry with a reaction chamber space for containing contents of a chemical reaction and a discharge channel for selectively removing liquid contents of the reaction chamber. The invention includes an apparatus for receiving a plurality of the reaction vessels, a method for using the apparatus and a method for forming the vessels.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a robotic storage system for storing microplates carrying a plurality of sample tubes is provided and may comprise a freezer room having a plurality of freezing units and a first robot being capable of removing a microplate from and moving a microplate into a freezing unit. The first robot may be further capable of transferring the microplate to a processing station, where the microplates are stored in the freezing units such that a plurality of microplates are arranged one above the other in a microplate recipient. The robotic storage system may also include at least one processing room and means for thermally separating the processing room from the freezer room. Each processing room may include a processing station having at least one tube transfer module as well as a second robot for moving the microplates between the microplate recipients and the at least one tube transfer module.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a sample carrier for biologically active samples, in particular for toxic samples and especially for highly toxic samples. Such embodiments include a bottom part, a first membrane, a spacer, a second membrane and a lid. The bottom part and the lid may be connectable such that the first membrane, the spacer and the second membrane are enclosed between the bottom part and the lid. The bottom part and the lid may include means for a non-detachable form-locking connection between the bottom part and the lid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a convection barrier for a freezer which may comprise a plurality of individual flaps arranged one above the other in a manner such as to be capable of forming a closed curtain of individual flaps, with each individual flap extending over a predetermined width corresponding at least to the width of the interior of the freezer and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position so as to allow access to the interior of the freezer when the flap is in the open position. Embodiments may also include actuation means attached to the individual flaps for allowing an actuator to engage the actuation means of an individual flap so as to pivot the said flap between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: A stacker (1) for storing a plurality of microplates each having a top surface side and a bottom surface side opposed to the top surface side, comprises a housing and a removal gate (13) for removing a microplate of the plurality of microplates out of the housing. The stacker (1) is arranged to accommodate the plurality of microplates inside the housing such that the top surface side of one microplate of the plurality of microplates abuts on the bottom surface side of an adjacent microplate of the plurality of microplates and such that the housing adjoins to the plurality of microplates. Using such a stacker 1, the plurality of microplates can be arranged and stored in a compact manner wherein the single microplates of the plurality of microplates can still selectively and efficiently be accessed.

Abstract: A heatable pipette, with a needle has an inner channel defined by an inner wall, arranged to conduct electric current through the inner wall for resistively heating the inner wall. The needle has an outer wall, which is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall and connectable for providing pressure air into the outer channel. By conducting current directly through the inner wall, the inner wall itself operates as resistor. Particularly, if the inner wall is made of an appropriate material, for example of stainless steel, the ohmic resistance of the inner wall is not negligible even if the inner wall is very thin. Therefore, the inner wall can directly be used as resistor for resistance heating of the inner wall even if the needle is manufactured in small dimensions.

Abstract: An equilibration device for equilibrating a comparably economic equilibration of a fluid. A first sealing layer is adjacent to the surface side between the plate and the cover. A second sealing layer is arrangeable adjacent to the cover between the plate and the cover and a tube with an open end, which is inside the well such that the open end of the tube projects above the opening of the well. The use of two sealing layers in the equilibration device allows combining the advantages of a material of the first sealing layer, e.g. high flexibility to seal uneven areas and to compensate the step formed by the tube projecting above the opening of the well, as well as the advantages of the second sealing layer, e.g. inexpensiveness, can come to combined effect when the two sealing layers are arranged appropriately.

Abstract: A heatable pipette, with a needle has an inner channel defined by an inner wall, arranged to conduct electric current through the inner wall for resistively heating the inner wall. The needle has an outer wall, which is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall and connectable for providing pressure air into the outer channel. By conducting current directly through the inner wall, the inner wall itself operates as resistor. Particularly, if the inner wall is made of an appropriate material, for example of stainless steel, the ohmic resistance of the inner wall is not negligible even if the inner wall is very thin. Therefore, the inner wall can directly be used as resistor for resistance heating of the inner wall even if the needle is manufactured in small dimensions.

Abstract: A multi-well filtration device for filtering a suspension comprises a filtration plate with a filtration chamber and a collecting plate with a collecting well. The filtration chamber is connected to the collecting well and a filter element is arranged between the filtration chamber and the collecting well. A separation layer is arranged between the filtration plate and the collecting plate adjacent to the filter element. The use such of a separation layer allows an easy detachment of the filtration plate from the collecting plate. The detached filtration plate can comfortably be transferred into an analysis device, in which the solid phase of the filtration chamber can separately be analyzed through the separation layer, without any replacement of the solid phase.

Abstract: A Multi-well plate for mixing a fluid, comprises a plurality of wells. Each of the wells has an opening arranged at a top side of the multi-well plate. At least one of the wells has a cross-section parallel to the top side having an elongated shape. The multi-well plate comprises 384 wells arranged in 16 rows and 24 columns or 96 wells arranged in 8 rows and 12 columns. By means of such a multi-well plate a faster and therefore more efficient mixing is possible using standard mixing devices such as shakers.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for use in an apparatus for parallel synthetic chemistry with a reaction chamber space for containing contents of a chemical reaction and a discharge channel for selectively removing liquid contents of the reaction chamber. The invention includes an apparatus for receiving a plurality of the reaction vessels, a method for using the apparatus and a method for forming the vessels.

Abstract: A microtiter plate for processing samples, having a liquid component or a liquid and a solid component or a liquid and a gel component, comprising: a single piece body which has an array of cavities, each cavity having an open upper end, a closed bottom end, and a bottom inner surface and comprises a first chamber for receiving a predetermined volume of a sample to be processed, a second chamber and a passage which fluidically connects the first and second chambers with each other, and a region in the lower part of passage adjacent to the bottom end of the cavity, the region so configured and dimensioned that it allows passage of liquid from one of said chambers to the other only when a centrifugal force is applied to the microtiter plate, but does not allow passage of any solid or gel component the size of which is larger than the width of the region.