Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for isolating an analyte (2) from a body fluid sample (4), wherein the analyte (2) is part of a target (6) contained in the body fluid sample (4). The device (100) comprises at least two types of magnetic particles (8, 12) for binding the analyte (2) and/or the target (6), at least three chambers (16, 18, 20) arranged in series to allow controlled movement of the magnetic particles (8, 12) and at least one fluid for releasing the analyte (2) from the target (6).

Abstract: In order to provide a system allowing an improved and facilitated preparation of a sample for an appropriate analysis, a device for preparing a patient's sample before analysis is provided. The device comprises a housing (10, 30) and an actuator (50). The housing includes a receiving chamber (32). The receiving chamber is configured for receiving a liquid. The actuator is movable relative to the housing. The actuator is configured for extracting a predetermined amount of the liquid received in the receiving chamber and for supplying the extracted liquid to a reagent chamber, so that the reagent is suspended in the liquid. The actuator comprises a metering chamber (52) configured for receiving the predetermined amount of the liquid and for supplying the predetermined amount of the liquid to the reagent chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for isolating an analyte (2) from a body fluid sample (4), wherein the analyte (2) is part of a target (6) contained in the body fluid sample (4). The device (100) comprises at least two types of magnetic particles (8, 12) for binding the analyte (2) and/or the target (6), at least three chambers (16, 18, 20) arranged in series to allow controlled movement of the magnetic particles (8, 12) and at least one fluid for releasing the analyte (2) from the target (6).

Abstract: In order to provide a system allowing an improved and facilitated preparation of a sample for an appropriate analysis, a device for preparing a patient's sample before analysis is provided. The device comprises a housing (10, 30) and an actuator (50). The housing includes a receiving chamber (32). The receiving chamber is configured for receiving a liquid. The actuator is movable relative to the housing. The actuator is configured for extracting a predetermined amount of the liquid received in the receiving chamber and for supplying the extracted liquid to a reagent chamber, so that the reagent is suspended in the liquid. The actuator comprises a metering chamber (52) configured for receiving the predetermined amount of the liquid and for supplying the predetermined amount of the liquid to the reagent chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for distinguishing mutations, single nucleotide polymorphisms or other variants in a target nucleic acid sequence from the wild-type sequence in a sample. The method comprises the steps of surface binding magnetic beads via a sandwich hybridization in which a bead-bound probe hybridizes with one end of a target nucleic acid, and a surface-bound probe hybridizes with the other end of the same target nucleic acid, applying stringency on the hybridization by magnetic force and/or temperature, determining the amount of magnetic beads remaining attached to the surface, and correlating the amount of magnetic beads remaining attached to the surface with the presence and/or absence of mutations, SNP variants or other variants in the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Method for immobilization of a labeled oligonucleotide on a non-modified polymer substrate, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a mixture comprising liquid, and a labeled oligonucleotide b) applying the mixture of step a) on a non-modified polymer substrate, wherein the oligonucleotide is immobilized on the non-modified polymer substrate via physisorption conveyed by the label of the oligonucleotide and wherein the label for immobilization is covalently bound to the oligonucleotide; and microarrays achieved by this method. The invention further relates to the use of a label attached to an oligonucleotide for immobilization of the labeled oligonucleotide on a non-modified polymer substrate by physisorption. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of the microarrays achieved by the method describe herein for assays and diagnostic kits comprising such microarrays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (100) for the processing of nucleotide sequences. An apparatus (100) according to an embodiment of the invention comprises an array of electrodes (120a,120b, . . . ), wherein at least one nanoball (NB) comprising replications of a nucleotide sequence (1,2) of interest is attached to an electrode to which only one nanoball (NB) of that size can be attached at the same time. Thus a unique association of electrodes (120a,120b, . . . ) to nucleotide sequences (1,2) of interest can be achieved. The nanoballs (NB) are preferably produced by rolling circle amplification. Application of attractive and/or repulsive electric potentials to the electrodes (120a,120b, . . . ) can be used to control the attachment of nanoballs (NB). The measurement of changes in the capacitance of electrodes (120a,120b, . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a processing device (100) and a method for processing a medium in a processing chamber (121). The processing comprises the addition of magnetic particles (M) to the medium and the mixing of the medium by manipulating said magnetic particles with a time-variable magnetic field (B), particularly a partially oscillating or rotating field. The magnetic field (B) may be generated with a multipole magnetic field generator (110) comprising four subunits (111A,111B), each having a core (113A,113B) with a surrounding coil (112A,112B) and with a top surface (114A,114B), wherein all top surfaces of said subunits are preferably arranged in the same plane and wherein all cores are substantially parallel to each other.