Abstract: A channel chip includes a substrate made of a material capable of transmitting light. The substrate includes a groove to form a channel for allowing a fluid to flow. A film is made of a material capable of transmitting light. The film is bonded to the substrate with a pressure sensitive adhesive agent to seal the groove.

Abstract: Methods for activating and/or reactivating a metal oxide surface for deposition, immobilizing, and/or growing a biological sample (e.g., an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, functionalized particle, a polymer, etc.) thereon are disclosed. The metal oxide surface (e.g., zirconium oxide) can be activated and/or reactivated by exposing the metal oxide surface to various activation and/or treatment protocols capable of enhancing a slide's activity relative to the activity of an untreated slide. The activation and/or treatment protocol can include subjecting the slide (or at least the metal oxide layer) to an oxygen plasma treatment and/or a peroxide solution for an amount of time sufficient to activate and/or reactivate the metal oxide surface. Activated sequencing slides capable of incorporation, for example, into various embodiments of a flow cell for use in NGS platforms are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic execution of different treatment operations in connection with staining of tissue specimens on microscope slides, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises an assembly of vessels (4) for receiving different liquids for staining of the tissue specimens, a loading station (2) for microscope slides (28), a conveyor (5) for transfer of carriers with microscope slides from vessel to vessel in accordance with a treatment program, an unloading station (8) for treated microscope slides, and a control unit (18) for controlling the treatment operations in accordance with a data program. The apparatus comprises different levels (I, II) having units for execution of the relevant treatment operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the automatic opening and closing of reaction vessels. It comprises a holding device for the non-rotatable holding of one or more reaction vessels, a gripper for the gripping of a lid for the reaction vessel, wherein the gripper has gripping jaws to take hold of the lid, and a holding arm with a rotating mechanism for rotatable holding of the gripper. The gripping jaws are arranged in such a way that, when the lid is inserted into the area between the gripping jaws, it is held by the latter through frictional contact, and the gripper has no active operating device for opening and closing the gripping jaws.