Abstract: A metering head comprising: a carrier having parallel attachments, a stop plate having first holes through which the attachments extend, each attachment having: a tube with a projecting supporting protrusion, a sleeve with a tapering at the bottom end, an elastomer O-ring that encloses the tube, and the sleeves can be shifted between a release position and a clamping position; in the clamping position, the sleeves with the taperings are pressed into the O-rings and expand them, a first shifting apparatus shifting the sleeves between the release position and the clamping position, a second displacement apparatus shifting the stop plate between a stop position and an ejection position, wherein the second shifting apparatus has rocker arms pivotably mounted on the carrier, transmission shafts that are coupled to the sleeves, and ejection shafts which are securely connected to the stop plate.

Abstract: A pipette home position locating mechanism and a manual pipette equipped with such a home position locating mechanism. The home position locating mechanism is spring-biased but compressible in a proximal-to-distal direction. The spring preload force of the home position locating mechanism is selected to be greater than force of exerted by a stroke spring of the pipette to which the home position locating mechanism is attached while the stroke spring is at its blowout position, but less than the combined force exerted by the stroke spring at its blowout position and a blowout spring of the pipette in its preload position.

Abstract: A system and method for processing fluid in a fluidic cartridge is provided. The system comprises a fluid pathway for passing a liquid sample therethrough from an upstream end to a downstream end, a sample processing chamber within the fluid pathway having an inlet valve upstream of the sample processing chamber, a downstream sample processing region within the fluid pathway downstream of the outlet valve and a bypass channel coupled to the fluid pathway at a junction between the outlet valve and the downstream sample processing region, the valve system configured such that surplus liquid downstream of the outlet valve may be evacuated through the bypass channel when the outlet valve is closed, thereby leaving a metered volume of liquid sample between the inlet valve and the downstream sample processing region.

Abstract: A multichannel pipette with a base body, several spigots for clamping up pipette tips, arranged parallel side by side in a row, protruding from the base body and mounted on the base body so as to be movable in their longitudinal direction, at least one displacement equipment with a displacement chamber and a displacement member dislocatable therein, wherein the displacement chamber is connected to connection holes in the spigots in order to eject or aspirate air through openings of the connection holes in lower ends of the spigots, a first drive device, connected to the displacement member and adapted to dislocate the displacement member in the displacement chamber, first spring elements, engaging on the spigots and on the base body, wherein the spigots are dislocatable upward in their longitudinal direction from a starting position against the spring action of the first spring elements.

Abstract: A multi-function dispense head operable by a single motor. The dispense head includes a pipette housing having carriage driven pipette rods and carriage driven pistons and a wash/ejector head movable by the pistons. The carriage is attached to the pipette rods and vertically moves the rods through the pipette housing as needed for various pipette functions. The pistons are pushed into movement by the carriage and, in a lower position, into contact with a lower ledge along a bottom portion of the movable head forcing the lower ledge downwardly to eject pipette tips. The pistons also move the wash/ejector head when the movable head performs a wash function.

Abstract: A device for analysing a clinical sample comprises at least one depot chamber for receiving one or more reagents and at least one process chamber, whereas the process chamber is integrated in a first support member and the depot chamber is integrated in at least a second support member, whereas the support members are arranged in that the process chamber is connectable with the depot chamber by a relative movement of the first and second support member with respect to each other. According to the invention, the device further includes a pump element for transferring the substances inside the device from one chamber to another.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of controlling environmental conditions within a fluidic system, where such environmental conditions can affect the operation of the system in its desired function, and fluidic channels, devices, and systems that are used in practicing these methods. Such methods are generally directed to environmental control fluids, the movement of such fluids through these systems, and the interaction of these fluids with other components of the system, e.g., other fluids or solid components of the system.

Abstract: A microfluidic passive device and a method for determining clotting time are described, of a fluid medium such as blood, of low production cost which can therefore be disposable. When optimised to determine blood clotting time, it requires a minimal whole blood sample (<5 ?L) and it is particularly suited to INR or PT determination, which can be used autonomously by patient without venipuncture. Monitoring, and processing means to interpret the results are comprised in an external coagulometer device. A production method for the manufacture of the microfluidic device is also provided.

Abstract: A dosing device comprises a housing. The housing has a slot-shaped opening in the axial direction. The respective region of a setting cylinder located inside the housing can be seen from the exterior through the opening. The setting cylinder can be radially rotated or set by way of a setting wheel. Quantitative indications of the discharge volumes for various syringe types at various settings are arranged in columns on the setting cylinder in the form of a table. The cylinder is oriented relative to the window in the housing such that at a given angular setting of the cylinder the correct discharge volume is visible in the window for every syringe type.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus can include a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and a pump unit in operative engagement with the fluid handling network. The pump unit can have an infusion mode, in which the pump unit is operable to deliver infusion fluid to the patient through the patient end, and a sample draw mode, in which the pump unit is operable to draw a sample of the bodily fluid from the patient through the patient end. The apparatus can include a spectroscopic analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample; a processor in communication with or incorporated into the spectroscopic analyzer; and stored program instructions executable by the processor to obtain measurements of two or more properties of the sample.

Abstract: An agitator (1) is for a liquid analysis system (3, 50). It has a chamber (5) for reception of a sample liquid. A passageway (6) from the bottom of the chamber (5) ends in an agitator chamber (7). A side wall of the agitator chamber (7) is formed by a diaphragm (8). The diaphragm (8) is connected to an electric motor (9) with an eccentric drive for reciprocating movement of the diaphragm (8). A gas inlet (10) in the opposite side of the body (2) is connected by a passageway (11) to the agitator chamber (7). The agitation chamber has a domed internal face opposed to the diaphragm, by which about 10% of the agitation chamber (7) volume is displaced by the inward movement of the diaphragm (8). Also, advantageously, there is a uniform application of displacement force within the agitation chamber (7) by virtue of the domed internal surface.

Abstract: A pipetting device having a modular pipetting unit including a pipetting tip for pipetting of fluid samples and a pump conduit for transferring a negative or positive pressure to the pipetting tip is disclosed. The pipetting tip and a portion of the pump conduit adjoining the pipetting tip mutually define a fluid sample conduit for receiving the fluid samples. The modular pipetting unit is detachably attached to an automated positioning device for positioning the modular pipetting unit. A system and method for pipetting of fluid samples using such a pipetting device are also disclosed wherein pipetting of the fluid samples is performed in such a manner that each pipetted fluid sample volume is smaller than a volume of the fluid sample conduit.

Abstract: A mechanically-actuated vacuum-controlled fluid collection system includes a mechanically-actuated vacuum controller (MAVC) to draw fluid into a chamber through the opening to the chamber. The system may include a releasable seal to seal the opening, and the MAVC may include a spring-loaded plunger to create a vacuum within the chamber when sealed. The system includes multiple fluid chambers, and may further include a single actuator or multiple corresponding actuators. The system may be configured to add a pre-loadable reagent to fluid drawn into the one or more chambers, and may be configured to add the reagent in proportion to a volume of the fluid. The system may be controllable to release collected fluid to another device, such as for assay and/or transport. The system may be configured to draw a liquid biological sample such as urine, and may include a fluid interface to draw fluid from a biological sample container.

Abstract: A biochemical processing apparatus is provided having a stage receiving a biochemical reaction cartridge which includes chambers and flow paths communicating therebetween, a moving system for moving liquid via the flow paths, and a detector for detecting the presence of the liquid in a chamber and/or the amount of the liquid. In addition, a determining device determines a result of the movement of the liquid from the information of the liquid in the chamber detected by the detector.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pipette comprising a mechanism with which the stroke length of a piston can be changed by rotating the piston rod. The pipette comprises a locking mechanism which prevents the rotation of the piston rod when the piston has been pushed a certain distance downwards from its upper position, but does not prevent the rotation when the piston is in its upper position.

Abstract: A method is described for distributing samples within an automated analyzer from a linear arrangement of sample vessels to a processing plate in a two-dimensional n×m arrangement wherein samples are sorted, followed by transfer with a pipetting device with a linear arrangement to a processing vessel in a two-dimensional n×m arrangement and subsequent processing of samples using a second pipetting device which has a two-dimensional n×m arrangement.

Abstract: A clinical diagnostic sample analyzer for analyzing a sample of a patient is disclosed. The analyzer includes a telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly with a sample probe concentrically housed within a piercing probe and a venting mechanism. The closed-tube sampling assembly is used for aspirating a sample from a sample tube for analysis by a clinical diagnostic sample analyzer.

Abstract: The nozzle (3) is in its lower part formed respectively for receiving a pipette exchangeable tip (19) and is in its upper part releasably connected with the holder (2). In the holder (2) a pressure sleeve (6) is placed as being slidably borne in the holder (2). The pressure sleeve (6) is via a pressure sub-assembly seated in the holder (2) pressed to the sealing means placed between the pressure sleeve (6) and the nozzle (3). The plunger (1) is slidably borne in the pressure sleeve (6) and in the pressure sub-assembly. Due to this, leakproofness of the plunger (1) in the nozzle (3), which is indispensable for a correct and reliable pipette operation, is provided in PIPETTING, ADJUSTMENT or CALIBRATION MODES of the pipette. Simultaneously, in MAINTENANCE MODE of the pipette the sealing means automatically slide out from an abutting surface (2c) of the holder (2).

Abstract: An improved metering apparatus includes a metering pipette (1) and a metering attachment (2). The metering pipette (1) includes a metering body (3) and a piston (4) which is longitudinally displaceably guided in the metering body (3). The metering attachment (2) is connected or connectable to the metering pipette (1). It includes a stop body (16) having a stop (17) for the piston (4) (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A device for receiving and dispensing liquids has a plurality of piston-cylinder units (1, 1?, 1?) which are respectively arranged on a piston plate (2) and a cylinder plate (3). The liquid is received and dispensed by displacing the pistons (1?) in the cylinders (1?) by changing the distance between the plates (2, 3), perpendicularly to the plate planes, by means of a drive mechanism (6) and a plate guiding system. The volume can be determined by an upper abutment (4) and a lower abutment (5), at least one of said abutments being regulatable by a regulating means (8). The device is suitable for handling precise volumes of a larger number of piston-cylinder units (1, 1?, 1?) in a technically simple manner.

Abstract: A pipette device including a metering liquid receptacle designed to be filled, at least in part, with working fluid and which has a pipette opening as a first tapering of cross-section of flow, a pressure change device which is designed to change the pressure of the working fluid in the metering liquid receptacle, and a throttle point in a pipette duct designed to be filled with working fluid as a further tapering of cross-section of flow. The throttle point is arranged fluid-mechanically between the metering liquid receptacle and the pressure change device and is dimensioned in such a way that a ratio of a flow resistance of the pipette opening for dispensed metering liquid to a flow resistance of the throttle point for working fluid, which flows through the throttle point when the metering fluid is dispensed, is less than 0.5.

Abstract: A system for titrating liquids, with a syringe or tip, comprising a holding device and at least one tag and a metering equipment, comprising an additional holding device for holding the syringe or tip on the holding device, a reading device for reading the tag of the syringe or tip held by the additional holding device, a driving device having a motor, which is detachably coupled with a plunger of the syringe when the same is held by the additional holding device, or which is coupled with a plunger which is arranged in a cylinder which is coupled with the tip via a fluid conduit, when the same is held by the additional holding device, an operating device for operating the metering equipment and a control device, connected with the operating device, the reading device and the driving device, which controls the movement of the plunger depending of the tag of the inserted syringe or tip.

Abstract: A cell isolation apparatus in which tissue and fluid that are accommodated in a container are pipetted by a pipette, and cells are isolated from the tissue, the cell isolation apparatus includes: a nozzle to which the pipette is attached; a pump which is connected to the nozzle; a controller which is configured to control an operation of the pump to cause air to be ejected from the nozzle or to be sucked into the nozzle, thereby causing the pipette to perform pipetting; and a condition inputting unit in which a user inputs a condition of control of the controller.

Abstract: A multi-channel wellplate filling system has a peristaltic pump for pumping fluid through multiple flexible tubes. The system also includes multiple pipette tip mounting shafts arranged in a linear array and in fluid communication with a respective flexible tube of the tubing set. Disposable pipette tips are mounted on the pipette tip mounting shafts. A controller operates the peristaltic pump in reverse and forward directions respectively in order to aspirate liquid into disposable pipette tips mounted on the pipette tip mounting shafts and dispense liquid in a metered amount from the disposable pipette tips into a wellplate positioned on a wellplate platform in the system. The system can also be converted into a wellplate wash station.

Abstract: A sample treatment apparatus is designed to directly monitor a pressure signal from a pressure sensor to examine pressure fluctuations resulting from a sample's sway before a discharge of the sample, so that the discharge is performed after the confirmation of the absence of pressure changes. The apparatus has a detection function that allows a discharge to be started even before a pressure fluctuation vanishes completely, by allowing the operator to set a desired number of pressure monitorings, monitoring time, or pressure amplitude. The detection function also allows an alarm to be raised when a pressure fluctuation has not fallen within a given range. The sample treatment apparatus therefore allows discharge of more accurate amounts of samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Abstract: A light beam guided liquid delivery device for tracking the placement of a sample by a liquid delivery device into a receptacle like a milliliter or microliter scale tube, or a microtiter plate, includes a liquid delivery device and a light beam generator. The light beam generator may be positioned on the outside or inside of the liquid delivery device. The light beam generator may be adapted to shoot a light beam below the tip of the liquid delivery device, whereby, a user may track the placement of the tip of the liquid delivery device via the light beam.

Abstract: A manually directed, multi-channel electronic pipetting system is designed to transfer liquids from a standard multi-well plate, deep-well plate or reservoir into another multi-well plate. The preferred pipetting head includes an array of 96-tip fittings. A deck with at least one but preferably two or more wellplate nesting receptacles holds one or more multi-well plates or reagent reservoirs for access by an array of disposable pipette tips mounted to the pipetting head. The electronic motion control system includes a control handle that is mounted to a load cell, the carriage for the pipetting head and is held in the palm of the user. In use, the user grasps the control handle and operates the system in a manner similar to one using a handheld electronic pipettor.

Abstract: A manually directed, electronic multi-channel pipettor uses servo controlled motors to drive a carriage and pipetting head in response to a user's manipulation of a control handle. The pipetting head include an array of tip fittings, e.g. 96. The system includes a check processor to avoid unintended motion in case of system faults or crashes. The system requires substantial force to attach the array of tips, and therefore includes controls that require both of the user's hands be occupied during the tip attachment process.

Abstract: Pipette with adjustable volume of aspirated liquid built of a handle (1) and of a nozzle (3) and of coupled with them: an exchangeable pipette tip ejection mechanism, a drawing up and discharging mechanism with a plunger (12) arranged in said pipette nozzle (3), a plunger working stroke adjustment mechanism with at least one driving member (16), a manually actuated lock mechanism locking a drive assembly of an adjustment screw of a plunger working stroke, an engaging mechanism which engages said plunger working stroke adjustment mechanism with a counter (14) of an aspirated liquid volume by said pipette, a calibration mechanism for a change of a pipette calibration coefficient, whereas said driving member (16) of said drive assembly of said adjustment screw of the plunger working stroke is accessible from outside through at least one window (38) in a wall of said handle (1), said pipette is characterized in that said lock mechanism of said drive assembly of said adjustment screw of the plunger working stroke

Abstract: The invention relates to a microdispenser (1) for dispensing a liquid sample in a dispensing device, with a sample container (2) for receiving the liquid sample, and with a nozzle (7) for dispensing the sample located in the sample container (2). The microdispenser (1) with the filled sample container (2) can in this case be stored independently of and fluidically separately from the dispensing device, without the sample escaping from the sample container (2) during storage.

Abstract: A pipette core member is used in a pipette for sampling a sample. This pipette core member includes: a pump body including a reservoir communicated with one suction/discharge port of an electroosmotic flow pump, the electroosmotic flow pump and the reservoir being integrally formed; and a capillary connected to the electroosmotic flow pump and communicated with the other suction/discharge port of the electroosmotic flow pump. The capillary is secured to the pump body.

Abstract: A self dispensing reagent cartridge includes a vessel with a movable piston at one end and a puncturable self sealing septum at an opposite end. A hollow needle is located in alignment with the septum. The vessel is moved toward the needle to enable the needle to puncture the septum. The piston is then moved toward the septum to enable a predetermined amount of liquid in the vessel to be transferred outwardly of the vessel through the needle in an amount corresponding to the piston stroke.

Abstract: A device for automatically aspirating and/or dispensing liquids with precision, comprising a housing having an opening at a lower end with a fixed tip protruding out of the lower end; an interchangeable cartridge disposed inside the housing, the cartridge having a holding frame and a spool of tubing provided in the frame such that one end of the tubing is aligned with the tip; and an actuator enabled to automatically extrude part of the tubing so as to accommodate a preselected volume of liquid, aspirate and/or dispense the liquid through the extruded tubing, and disconnect the extruded tubing from the device.

Abstract: Mechanical pipette with adjustable volume value of aspirated liquid is built of a handle (1) and a nozzle (3) and coupled with them: an ejection mechanism of a pipette exchangeable tip (8), a drawing up and discharging mechanism with a plunger (33) mounted in said pipette nozzle (3), a plunger working stroke adjustment mechanism, a manually actuated lock mechanism of a drive assembly of an adjustment screw of the plunger working stroke, a mechanical counter, a drive mechanism of a mechanical counter and a calibration mechanism for correction of the pipette accuracy deviation. The calibration mechanism comprises, mounted in the mechanical counter, releasable coupling means for complete disengagement of a revolvers assembly from the mechanical counter drive mechanism in CALIBRATION MODE, further, engaged with them, changeover means for changing over the pipette into CALIBRATION MODE and resetting means of the indication of the liquid volume value on the counter in CALIBRATION MODE.

Abstract: A diagnostic device is provided that includes a plurality of retainment regions, with the retainment regions that are separated by at least one dissolvable barrier. The retainment regions can be interconnected through at least one fluid processing passageway. A retainment region can include a container such as a retainment region, well, chamber, or other receptacle, or a retainment region such as a surface on which the material is retained. The retainment regions can include a reaction retainment region, one or more reagent retainment regions, each containing unreacted reagents, and a sample retainment region. A pressure-actuated valve can be positioned in each fluid processing passageway interconnecting the one or more reagent retainment regions with the respective intermediate retainment regions interposed between each of the one or more reagent retainment regions and the reaction retainment region. The dissolvable barrier can be a fluid flow modulator in the at least one fluid processing passageway.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic pipettor is designed particularly to be programmed and operated with one hand for the convenience of the user. It uses a capacitance touchpad control for programming, and a separate run button for the operating mode. Internal components are located so that the center of gravity of the pipettor is located within the palm of the user. Flash memory stores an empirically derived table that correlates aspiration volume to motor steps and a separate empirically derived table the correlates dispensing volumes to motor steps.

Abstract: The invention provides hand-held pipettor in accordance with an embodiment that includes a piston that is received in one end of a cylinder, a pipettor tip that is removably secured to an opposite end of said cylinder, a manually driven unit that reciprocates the piston through a selected stroke to aspirate fluid into and to expel the thus aspirated fluid from the pipettor tip, a mechanism including a stepper motor responsive to control signals for adjusting a range of the stroke, and a voice recognition system that decodes verbal commands and outputs the result to a central processing unit, which in turn generates the control signals.

Abstract: A biochemical processing apparatus is provided having a stage receiving a biochemical reaction cartridge which includes chambers and flow paths communicating therebetween, a moving system for moving liquid via the flow paths, and a detector for detecting the presence of the liquid in a chamber and/or the amount of the liquid. In addition, a determining device determines a result of the movement of the liquid from the information of the liquid in the chamber detected by the detector.

Abstract: Syringe for use with a metering device comprising a centring element with an axial through-passage in a receiver for a syringe cylinder and an axially displaceable piston receiver for a syringe piston, comprising syringe cylinder syringe piston, the syringe cylinder comprising an outlet at the bottom, centring flange at the top on the external periphery for inserting into the receiver, cylindrical piston movement area connected to the outlet, with a first internal diameter, in which the syringe piston is sealingly guided, and at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe cylinder a centring region for inserting the centring element, which has a second internal diameter, which exceeds the first internal diameter and is at least 16.2 mm, the syringe piston at the upper end has a coupling piece for inserting into the piston receiver.

Abstract: Improved instrument pad surgical drape for use during surgical procedures is disclosed which is resistant to melting caused by high intensity light generated from sources such as fiberoptic illumination systems. The instrument pad and drape comprise an infrared energy reflective film/foam laminate that may also have a high coefficient of friction which is useful for retaining surgical instruments in place and preventing them from slipping off the pad during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: Novel adhesives comprising an elastomer composition comprising (1) at least 30 percent by weight of a triblock terpolymer elastomer having polystyrene end blocks and rubber poly(ethylene-butylene) midblocks; (2) at least 10 percent by weight of a diblock copolymer elastomer of styrene and ethylenebutylene; and (3) at least 30 percent by weight of non-liquid polyisobutylene, e.g. having a molecular weight of at least 800,000, or a copolymer containing at least 95% by weight of isobutylene; said adhesive composition further containing at least one tackifying resin in an amount sufficient to provide the desired balance of adhesive properties, e.g. tack; and adhesive tapes including same.