Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes an upstream liquid handling structure to hold a first volume of liquid, a downstream liquid handling structure to hold a second volume of liquid smaller than the first volume and including a vent port. The upstream liquid handling structure is connected to a detection chamber, for supplying liquid to the detection chamber and the detection chamber is connected to the downstream liquid handling structure, for supplying liquid to the downstream liquid handling structure. The downstream liquid handling structure facilitates flow of an aqueous liquid through the detection chamber and into the downstream liquid handling structure by capillary action. The downstream liquid handling structure includes a flow-halting feature to halt the flow of the liquid by capillary action when the downstream liquid handling structure has filled with the second volume of liquid.

Abstract: A microfluidic liquid handling device is configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device can include an upstream liquid handling structure, a metering structure and an overflow region. The metering structure is configured to receive liquid from the upstream liquid handling structure. The overflow region is separated from the metering structure by a wall. The wall has a first surface portion on the side of the overflow region which has an extent in a direction perpendicular to the direction of action of the centrifugal force, in a substantially tangential or circumferential direction, relative to the axis of rotation. The first surface portion faces radially outwards. Advantageously, the structure of the wall facilitates accurate metering.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber comprising an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing images of a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of an imaging device that can include stepping a focus mechanism of the imaging device through a plurality of focus values and capturing a plurality of images of the sample at each of the plurality of focus values as the sample flows through the field of view of the imaging device. In this way, image capture can proceed before a focus value has been determined and capture images that are in focus can be used for further processing subsequently.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing images of a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of an imaging device that can include stepping a focus mechanism of the imaging device through a plurality of focus values and capturing a plurality of images of the sample at each of the plurality of focus values as the sample flows through the field of view of the imaging device. In this way, image capture can proceed before a focus value has been determined and capture images that are in focus can be used for further processing subsequently.

Abstract: A holder for a pipette having a bulb is disclosed. In use, the bulb of the pipette is inserted into the holder and the user can hold the holder rather than the bulb to use the pipette. In this way, the holder enables the pipette to be held without any application of force from the user directly on the bulb. This enables the user to accurately draw a desired amount of liquid into the pipette. The holder comprises an aperture through which the bulb is accessible. The user can dispense liquid from the pipette by actuating the bulb through the aperture.

Abstract: A holder for a pipette having a bulb is disclosed. In use, the bulb of the pipette is inserted into the holder and the user can hold the holder rather than the bulb to use the pipette. In this way, the holder enables the pipette to be held without any application of force from the user directly on the bulb. This enables the user to accurately draw a desired amount of liquid into the pipette. The holder comprises an aperture through which the bulb is accessible. The user can dispense liquid from the pipette by actuating the bulb through the aperture.

Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing images of a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of an imaging device that can include stepping a focus mechanism of the imaging device through a plurality of focus values and capturing a plurality of images of the sample at each of the plurality of focus values as the sample flows through the field of view of the imaging device. In this way, image capture can proceed before a focus value has been determined and capture images that are in focus can be used for further processing subsequently.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing images of a liquid sample during flow is disclosed. One approach to obtaining images of the sample which are in focus is to carry out a focusing algorithm in order to focus an imaging device on the sample once the sample has started flowing. However, this typically takes dozens of seconds or even minutes. There is provided a method of capturing images of a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of an imaging device that comprises stepping a focus mechanism of the imaging device through a plurality of focus values and capturing a plurality of images of the sample at each of the plurality of focus values as the sample flows through the field of view of the imaging device. In this way, image capture can proceed before a focus value has been determined and capture images that are in focus can be used for further processing subsequently.

Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber comprising an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

Abstract: A device configured for rotation about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The device includes a detection chamber having opposed first second ends and two optical features defining an optical path through the detection chamber, between the first and second ends. The detection chamber includes a first liquid inlet disposed at the first end on a first side of the optical path, a first liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on the first side of the optical path and a second liquid outlet disposed at the second end of the detection chamber on a second side of the optical path. The first side of the optical path is radially outwards of the second side of the optical path.

Abstract: A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.