Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for determining characteristics of particles dispersed in gases and liquids in the nano- and microscale size ranges and the number distribution and concentration thereof by use of particle photometry. This can be achieved by producing scattered light measurements in a photometer for a different number of aperture or receiving angles and evaluating particle characteristics from the determined scattered light intensities using evaluation algorithms. The determination of particle characteristics over a size range of several decades is made possible without the need to change or adapt the geometry of the sample measurement chamber.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for control of a volume flow in an osmotic micropump and an osmotic micropump. According to the invention, the osmotically driven volume flow of the solvent through the sempipermeable diaphragm of an osmotic micropump is controlled by the transfer of a solute, which is not freely permeable through the diaphragm, from a source chamber to the pump's delivery chamber. According to the invention, the delivery chamber is formed as a dilution chamber, wherein the solution is flow out along a convective dilution path close to the semipermeable diaphragm. Due to the entrance of the solvent, a stationary osmotic gradient can be achieved along the convective flow path in the dilution chamber. The invention allows the maintenance and control of the flow rate. It is able to move a volume which is large in comparison to the combined volume of the source chamber and the dilution chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preserving samples and disrupting cells which can be employed for the preparation of the extraction of nucleic acids from live cells, cell aggregates and tissue samples, and to a kit for carrying out the method. The method includes the introduction of live cells, cell aggregates or tissue samples whose nucleic acids are to be extracted into an excess of water-miscible and volatile organic liquid. The saturation of the sample with the organic liquid has an advantageous effect on the extraction of the nucleic acids, which is subsequently carried out in an aqueous medium. The mechanical cell disruption is facilitated by the virtually complete removal of the water from the cells. The biomembranes are dissolved in the organic liquid. tRNA and other RNA fractions with a low degree of polymerization, which are capable of permeating across the cell wall, can be extracted selectively without mechanical disruption.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic sample collector for liquids which are discharged from a chromatographic column, a dialysis apparatus, or a reaction container, for example, and are consecutively collected at a give volume division, a method for collecting samples of a liquid in a predefined chronological sequence, and uses of the inventive sample collector. The volume is divided by assigning one or several gas-permeable liquid barriers (4, 5) to each collection container (3). The sample collector can be produced as one piece which is for single use and is made of polypropylene, Teflon, or other suitable materials. The inventive sample collector has the advantage that it requires no source of energy and can be autoclaved and miniaturized, among other things. The design of the inventive sample collector makes it possible to keep the content of the collection containers free from oxygen or immediately freeze the liquid flowing into the collection containers.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for control of a volume flow in an osmotic micropump and an osmotic micropump. According to the invention, the osmotically driven volume flow of the solvent through the sempipermeable diaphragm of an osmotic micropump is controlled by the transfer of a solute, which is not freely permeable through the diaphragm, from a source chamber to the pump's delivery chamber. According to the invention, the delivery chamber is formed as a dilution chamber, wherein the solution is flow out along a convective dilution path close to the semipermeable diaphragm. Due to the entrance of the solvent, a stationary osmotic gradient can be achieved along the convective flow path in the dilution chamber. The invention allows the maintenance and control of the flow rate. It is able to move a volume which is large in comparison to the combined volume of the source chamber and the dilution chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic sample collector for liquids which are discharged from a chromatographic column, a dialysis apparatus, or a reaction container, for example, and are consecutively collected at a give volume division, a method for collecting samples of a liquid in a predefined chronological sequence, and uses of the inventive sample collector. The volume is divided by assigning one or several gas-permeable liquid barriers (4, 5) to each collection container (3). The sample collector can be produced as one piece which is for single use and is made of polypropylene, Teflon, or other suitable materials. The inventive sample collector has the advantage that it requires no source of energy and can be autoclaved and miniaturized, among other things. The design of the inventive sample collector makes it possible to keep the content of the collection containers free from oxygen or immediately freeze the liquid flowing into the collection containers.