Abstract: A method of dispensing an analytic reference material includes providing a dispensing device including an ampoule having at least two storage lumens extending axially along the length of an ampoule body, an analytic reference material subunit in each of the storage lumens, distal gaskets sealing the analytic reference material subunits from a distal end of the ampoule, and an outlet lumen. The method also includes providing a plunger assembly coupled to a proximal end of the ampoule, the plunger assembly in communication with the storage lumens and depressing the plunger assembly to force the distal gaskets into gasket seats in the dispensing device and expelling the analytic reference material subunits from the storage lumens via the outlet lumen to form the analytic reference material.

Abstract: An acoustic displacement flowmeter for determining flow rate of a fluid has a fluid flow line defining a flow path for the fluid. The fluid flow line has an inlet and an outlet. A controllable valve is positioned along the fluid flow line for opening and closing the flow path as desired, and an acoustic displacement transducer having a fluid port is coupled to the fluid flow line upstream from the controllable valve. The outlet of the fluid flow line extends through a wall isolating fluid exhausted from the outlet of the fluid flow line from electrical and/or mechanical components residing inside the flowmeter, thereby preventing the exhausted fluid, if explosive, from contacting such electrical and/or mechanical components which may act as potential ignition sources. Preferably, a manifold having a rigid body is provided in which the fluid flow line is formed.

Abstract: A container used for chromatographic sample analysis has (a) at least one silica uppermost layer, which is deposited onto the container using a liquid phase deposition process, and, optionally, (b) at least one indicator present in at least part of the at least one silica uppermost layer for visually distinguishing the container from other containers, and/or determining the “use status” of the container, and/or identifying the proper orientation of the container when it is to be put in use, and/or providing a means of decoration, identification, or counterfeit detection. In one preferred embodiment, the indicator is thermochromic. In another preferred embodiment, the indicator is photochromic.

Abstract: A gas chromatography inlet liner comprises a glass tube formed by a glass wall, the glass wall having pore channels formed therein, and an indicator present in the pore channels in at least part of the inlet liner. The indicator may be any element, compound, dopant, or mixture additive that modifies color or transparency of the inlet liner.

Abstract: An automated capillary zone electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends is spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a container connected to the detection end of the capillaries. The container is provided with valving which facilitate cleaning the capillaries, loading buffer into the capillaries, introducing samples to be electrophoresced into the capillaries, and performing capillary zone electrophoresis on the thus introduced samples.

Abstract: An acoustic displacement flowmeter for determining flow rate of a fluid has a fluid flow line defining a flow path for the fluid. The fluid flow line has an inlet and an outlet. A controllable valve is positioned along the fluid flow line for opening and closing the flow path as desired, and an acoustic displacement transducer having a fluid port is coupled to the fluid flow line upstream from the controllable valve. The outlet of the fluid flow line extends through a wall isolating fluid exhausted from the outlet of the fluid flow line from electrical and/or mechanical components residing inside the flowmeter, thereby preventing the exhausted fluid, if explosive, from contacting such electrical and/or mechanical components which may act as potential ignition sources. Preferably, a manifold having a rigid body is provided in which the fluid flow line is formed.

Abstract: A silica substrate for subjecting a sample to electrophoresis has an —OH concentration of less than 100 parts per million.

Abstract: A gas chromatography inlet liner comprises a glass tube formed by a glass wall, the glass wall having pore channels formed therein, and an indicator present in the pore channels in at least part of the inlet liner. The indicator may be any element, compound, dopant, or mixture additive that modifies color or transparency of the inlet liner.

Abstract: An automated capillary zone electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends is spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a container connected to the detection end of the capillaries. The container is provided with valving which facilitate cleaning the capillaries, loading buffer into the capillaries, introducing samples to be electrophoresced into the capillaries, and performing capillary zone electrophoresis on the thus introduced samples.

Abstract: An automated capillary zone electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends is spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a container connected to the detection end of the capillaries. The container is provided with valving which facilitate cleaning the capillaries, loading buffer into the capillaries, introducing samples to be electrophoresed into the capillaries, and performing capillary zone electrophoresis on the thus introduced samples.

Abstract: An automated capillary zone electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a container connected to the detection end of the capillaries. The container is provided with valving which facilitate cleaning the capillaries, loading buffer into the capillaries, introducing samples to be electrophoresced into the capillaries, and performing capillary zone electrophoresis on the thus introduced samples.

Abstract: According to a method of determining a size of a sample polynucleotide, a sample polynucleotide is subjected to electrophoresis in the presence of a fluorescent compound having a first fluorescence spectrum. Detection of light of the first fluorescence spectrum is indicative of the presence of the sample polynucleotide. One or more size standards are also subjected to electrophoresis, optionally in the presence of the sample polynucleotide. If more than one size standard is used, the different size standards typically have different mobilities. The size standards are generally essentially or completely free of polynucleotides. Migration coordinates, e.g., migration times, of the sample polynucleotide and size standard(s) are determined. A size of the sample polynucleotide can be determined using the migration coordinate of the sample polynucleotide and the migration coordinate(s) of the size standard(s).

Abstract: An electrophoretic system having a plurality of separation lanes is provided with an automatic color calibration feature in which each lane is separately calibrated. For each lane, a dye matrix standard is created using reference fragments which migrate either before, or after, the sample fragments being electrophoresced, during the same electrophoresis run. These dye standards are detected automatically for the purpose of determining coefficients used to identify sample fragments mixed together with the reference fragments. This allows for calibrating the dye standard matrix for each of a plurality of lanes each time the electrophoresis system is used.

Abstract: An automated capillary zone electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a container connected to the detection end of the capillaries. The container is provided with valving which facilitate cleaning the capillaries, loading buffer into the capillaries, introducing samples to be electrophoresced into the capillaries, and performing capillary zone electrophoresis on the thus introduced samples.

Abstract: An electrophoretic separation system configured to determine a size of each of a plurality of sample polynucleotides includes a plurality of sample separation lanes, such as capillaries. Each separation lane is configured to subject a number plurality of respective sample polynucleotides and a respective internal standard polynucleotide (ISP) to electrophoresis. The system also includes a ladder separation lane for subjecting at least two members of polynucleotide ladder to electrophoresis. A processor of the system is configured to determine migration coordinates of (1) the ISP and sample polynucleotides subjected to electrophoresis within each separation lane and (2) at least two of the PLMs. The processor also transforms the migration coordinates of the sample polynucleotides of each separation lane from a migration dimension of their respective separation lane to a migration dimension of the polynucleotide ladder.

Abstract: The present invention provides capillary an electrophoresis system and method for multiple simultaneous analysis of a sample. The system and method of the invention allow the ends of a plurality of capillaries to simultaneously contact a single body of electrophoresis sample contained in a compartment of a container, such as a sample contained in a well of a micro-titer tray.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system is provided for processing a substrate 110. The system 100 includes a heated muffle 115, a chamber 120 having an injector assembly 130 for introducing chemical vapor to process the substrate 110, and a belt 105 for moving the substrate through the muffle and chamber. The belt 105 has an oxidation-resistant coating 175 to reduce formation of deposits thereon. The coating 175 is particularly useful for resisting formation of chromium oxides on belts made from a chromium-containing alloy. In one embodiment, the oxidation-resistant coating 175 comprises a securely-adhered oxide layer 185 that is substantially free of transition metals. Preferably, the oxidation-resistant coating 175 comprises aluminum oxide. More preferably, the coating 175 comprises an aluminum oxide layer 185 securely adhered over a nickel aluminide layer 180.

Abstract: An electrophoretic system having a plurality of separation lanes is provided with an automatic color calibration feature in which each lane is separately calibrated. For each lane, a dye matrix standard is created using reference fragments which migrate either before, or after, the sample fragments being electrophoresced, during the same electrophoresis run. These dye standards are detected automatically for the purpose of determining coefficients used to identify sample fragments mixed together with the reference fragments. This allows for calibrating the dye standard matrix for each of a plurality of lanes each time the electrophoresis system is used.

Abstract: An automated electrophoretic system is disclosed. The system employs a capillary cartridge having a plurality of capillary tubes. The cartridge has a first array of capillary ends projecting from one side of a plate. The first array of capillary ends are spaced apart in substantially the same manner as the wells of a microtitre tray of standard size. This allows one to simultaneously perform capillary electrophoresis on samples present in each of the wells of the tray. The system includes a stacked, dual carrousel arrangement to eliminate cross-contamination resulting from reuse of the same buffer tray on consecutive executions from electrophoresis. The system also has a gel delivery module containing a gel syringe/a stepper motor or a high pressure chamber with a pump to quickly and uniformly deliver gel through the capillary tubes. The system further includes a multi-wavelength beam generator to generate a laser beam which produces a beam with a wide range of wavelengths.