Abstract: The present invention presents a method of fabrication for a physiological sensor with electronic, electrochemical, and chemical components. The fabrication method comprises steps for manufacturing an apparatus comprising at least one electrochemical sensor, a microcontroller, and a transceiver. The fabrication process includes the steps of substrate fabrication, circuit fabrication, pick and place, reflow soldering, electrode fabrication, membrane fabrication, sealing and curing, layer bonding, and dressing. The physiological sensor is operable to analyze biological fluids such as sweat.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: A microparticle producing system using microfluidics and a controlling method thereof, and specifically, to a microparticle producing system that may stably transport droplets produced using microfluidics without agglomeration or destruction, compared to the conventional art, and a method of controlling the microparticle producing system to transport the droplets more stably in the microparticle producing system. By the microparticle producing system and the controlling method thereof, which are disclosed herein, droplets produced by the microparticle producing system using microfluidics may be stably transported without agglomeration or destruction, resulting in more effective microparticle production.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for determining the total organic carbon of a sample in a liquid medium includes a reactor block made of a metallic, electrically conductive, and corrosion-resistant material, the reactor block including a housing wall for accommodating a light source, the housing wall including an inlet into and an outlet from the reactor block and a flow chamber in which digestion of the sample for determining the total organic carbon occurs, the flow chamber configured to accommodate the light source and to route the sample to be irradiated with light, wherein the measuring apparatus further includes at least one conductivity measurement device, wherein the reactor block is an external electrode of the conductivity measurement device. A method for determining the total organic carbon of the sample using the measuring apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: An online HPLC dissolution test system includes a dissolution tester and a liquid chromatograph. An autosampler of the liquid chromatograph includes at least one flow vial, a sampling needle and an injection port. the flow vial is connected to the dissolution tester via a pipe and is for storing a sample solution supplied from the dissolution tester therein. The sampling needle is for collecting the sample solution by sucking from the flow vial. The injection port is for injecting the sample solution from the sampling needle into the analysis channel. The controller of the liquid chromatograph includes an immediate analyzing execution part configured to cause the autosampler to execute immediate analyzing operation for sucking the sample solution in the flow vial with the sampling needle and directly injecting the sample solution into the injection port when the sample solution is supplied from the dissolution tester to the flow vial.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dialysis based in vitro drug release study method which mainly involves the use of a dialysis cartridge (A), a dissolution vessel (B), a receiver media vessel (C) and tubing's on the inlet and outlet ports (D, E, F, G) of the cartridge. When the pharmaceuticals complex dosage form is added to the dissolution vessel, diffusion of the soluble drug through the membrane of the dissolution cartridge assists in determining the release of drug from the complex dosage form. This study can be done by various methods as required by the complex dosage form. If the dosage form needs to go through dissolution followed by diffusion, the setup as described in Experiment 1 is arranged and the study is performed accordingly and if the dosage form needs to go through diffusion step only, the setup as described in Experiment 2 is arranged and the study is performed accordingly.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for any type of fluid system. Exemplary fluid systems include: sanitary and/or storm sewer systems; hydrological power generation, heating and cooling systems; energy exploration, excavation and transmission, specifically hydraulic fracturing known as “fracking”. The system and method utilize chemical sensors and other detection devices, a power source and circuitry to communicate with hand-held devices and/or other local or remote data terminals. Since sewers and other water infrastructure are often used to dispose, transport, store and transform liquids or other materials in addition to human waste and/or waste fluids from other human activity, monitoring effluent and chemical composition of liquids can provide data useful for a wide range of purposes.

Abstract: A high-resolution in situ sensing system and method for providing continuous measurements of at least one dissolved analyte including a sample processing cell having at least a first conduit defining a first passage with at least one selectively-permeable wall capable of passing a portion of the sample liquid into a processing, fluid. The at least one selectively-permeable wall substantially resists flow of another portion of the sample liquid therethrough. Processing fluid is directed through the first conduit while moving the sample liquid and the reagent fluid relative to each other in one of a stationary, concurrent or a countercurrent flow relationship to achieve either partial or full equilibration between the sample liquid and processing fluid to generate at least partially equilibrated reagent fluid and a processed sample in a substantially continuous manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preprocessing apparatus and a preprocessing method for measuring and analyzing air pollution, and provides the preprocessing apparatus and the preprocessing method, in which there is included a cyclone main body, a block made of aluminum or copper and provided at an outer circumferential edge of the cyclone main body, and a cooling means surrounding the block, such that contaminated gas introduced into the cyclone main body is cooled within a predetermined range, and as a result, it is possible to remove moisture contained in combustion gas by crystallizing the moisture, and to separate particulate matters from the combustion gas based on a cyclone principle.

Abstract: Described is a liquid inlet valve having a housing configured to receive the opening of a sample bottle, a valve, a nozzle positioned within the housing, and a tube that extends downwardly from the housing. The liquid inlet valve is useful for transferring liquid samples from a sample bottle to a solvent phase extraction (SPE) disk of a bottle extractor system for purposes of conducting environmental analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting or measuring binding affinity between different compositions. The methods include contacting one or more magnetic beads having a surface including a first composition with a substrate having a surface including a second composition; applying a rotating magnetic field to the one or more magnetic beads effective to cause the one or more magnetic beads to move across the surface of the substrate; measuring the movement of the one or more magnetic beads across the substrate surface to determine a translational velocity; and determining a binding affinity between the first and second compositions from the translational velocity.

Abstract: A flow conduit system (100, 200a, 200b) suitable for biochemical sensing, the flow conduit system (100, 200a, 200b) having a first flow cell conduit (1) with one or more sensing areas for biochemical sensing; a first selector valve (4); a first inlet/outlet conduit (2) which fluidly connects the first flow cell conduit (1) to the first selector valve (4); a first injection conduit (6) having a first end and a second end; a second injection conduit (7) having a first end and a second end; a fluid injecting means (8) fluidly connected to the second ends of each of the first and second injection conduits (6, 7) so that the fluid injecting means can selectively inject fluids into the first and/or second injection conduits (6,7); wherein the first injection conduit (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junction (9), and the second injection conduits (6) is fluidly connected, at its first end, to the first inlet/outlet conduit (2) by a valveless junction (9

Abstract: Provided is a microparticle measurement device that can deliver a liquid that is used in the analysis of microparticles in a stable manner. The microparticle measurement device includes a plurality of first tank units to which a liquid is supplied from the outside, and which are respectively arranged in parallel, and a bulb unit that is connected to the plurality of first tank units, and which switches to a state in which it is possible to deliver the liquid to a flow channel through which microparticles flow. According to this microparticle measurement device, in addition to performing liquid delivery from a portion of first tank units, in which the replenishment of liquid has been completed, to a flow channel, it is possible to supply liquid from the outside to first tank units other than the first tank units that are delivering liquid.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopy technique allows an analyte, a paramagnetic particle, and a spectral enhancement particle to combine in solution and for the combination product to be localized by a magnetic field for analysis. The spectral enhancement particle may be comprised of an active SERS metal particle with or without a material coating. The spectral enhancement particle may function as a reporter for the presence of the analyte or merely increase the magnitude of the Raman spectrum of the analyte. The technique is applicable to both immunoassays and chemical assays. Multiple spectral enhancement particle reporters may be measured in a single assay that can detect multiple analytes using the SERS effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to continuous flow systems, in particular thermocyclers for the automated and continuous cycling of fluid between a plurality of temperature zones in the amplification of nucleic acids. The invention also relates to an improved sample port for introducing a volume of a liquid sample into a continuous flow system.

Abstract: A device and methods are provided for efficient and quick capture of target cells through a main microchannel having capture elements immobilized thereon and manipulating a velocity profile of a sample as it passes through the main microchannel. The cell capture device may have a main microchannel with a depth slightly larger than the diameter of the target cells and a plurality of side microchannels. The side microchannels may have a depth smaller than the diameter of the target cells. The device and methods may be used for early cancer detection.

Abstract: A system and methodology for the detection of threat substances is described. The detector system consists of a method to evaporate the sample into a primary separator and thermal release of trapped target materials into a secondary separator like conventional GC. The GC column is thermally ramped to elute all substances and the end of the column terminates into an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source of an axial ion mobility spectrometer (AIMS). Both polarity ions are pulsed into a single construction separator tube at different timing. Their arrival time is detected on a collector plate, which allows registering their ion mobility spectra of both polarities for a single GC peak.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the amount of various materials in a liquid sample. Because the apparatus is particularly resilient it can be used repeatedly with very harsh liquid samples such as boot water from an oil refinery. The apparatus uses at least one volume and/or concentration independent optical analysis method to determine at least one of: the pH, amount of chloride, and/or amount of iron in the sample. The optical property can be colorimetric, fluorescent or both and result from adding dyes, complexing agents, turbidity inducing compounds, and other optically effecting reagents to the sample. Because the measurements are concentration and volume independent they can be done continuously, quickly, and avoid the inconvenient start and stop procedures in prior art measurement regimens.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting substances in an air sample, the apparatus including: a source of air pressure differential; a cyclone connected to the source of air pressure differential; an air input port connected to the cyclone, to receive the air sample; a substance output port connected to the cyclone, to receive the substances; an input port configured to disperse a finely separated material so that it mixes with said sample; and a detector located at the substance output port, to detect a chemical change in at least one of the substances and the finely separated material.

Abstract: A coating formula and method for surface coating non-porous surfaces. Microfluidic devices including said coating achieve desired properties including increased hydrophilicity, improved adhesion, stability and optical clarity.

Abstract: Cassette (50) performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (50), flowing over wide array (20) of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1×10?1 to 5×10?3, are heated in region (34) preceding and including bubble removal system (128). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (32). External actuations of displacement pumps (30, 37) and valves (137 A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (150, 152). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (131). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage (134, 135) to reaction (133) to waste (139), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bilayer membrane produced using a microchannel capable of easily forming bilayer membranes such as planar lipid bilayer membranes in large quantities, and a production method thereof. A process for producing a bilayer membrane of the present invention comprises forming a state where two liquid phases or liquid and gaseous phases each containing amphipathic molecules are alternately arranged in a microchannel, discharging one of the two liquid phases or the gaseous phase of the liquid and gaseous phases through branch minichannels formed in the wall on one side or in the walls on both sides to contact the remaining liquid phases adjacent to each other, and thereby forming a side-by-side arrangement of bilayer membranes comprising the amphipathic molecules.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method includes determining an amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in dialysate flowing through a dialysis system using a CO2 sensor associated with the dialysis system, determining, using a pH sensor associated with the dialysis system, a pH level of the dialysate, and calculating a level of bicarbonate in the dialysate based at least in part on the determined amount of CO2 measured in the gas and the determined pH level of the dialysate.

Abstract: A method and a device for the assessment of at least one parameter of particles in a liquid analyte material are disclosed. The method comprises providing a device having a sample compartment with an exposing domain, an inlet through which a volume of a liquid sample representing the analyte material can been introduced, and a flow system comprising at least a channel allowing at least a portion of the volume of the liquid sample to flow within the device. The volume of the liquid sample passes into the exposing domain of the sample compartment, which can quantitatively detect spatial image data and process the detected image electromagnetic signals from the sample in the exposing domain of the device. A spatial image representation of the exposing domain, and processing the detected image presentation obtaining the assessment of the at least one parameter is generated in the device.

Abstract: A single injection gradient with a biosensor, both structural and methodological, achieves the binding of analyte to immobilized ligand over a wide concentration range without the necessity of regeneration of the sensing area. A gradient of concentrations adjacent to or within a flow cell facilitates kinetic analysis of interactions without requiring multiple discrete volumes or injections to achieve a range of concentrations. A continuous gradient fluid is preferably formed directly adjacent to the flow cell inlet or a region of sample/buffer dispersion at an injection point into a flow channel of a flow cell. The analyte gradient may be flowed through the flow cell from a low analyte concentration. Multiple component gradients are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods of sorting particles from a particle stream in a flow cytometer. The methods include: calculating sort decision making parameters using the raw event data values from a flow cytometer and a sort logic; performing sort logic computations using the sort logic definition and the sort decision making parameters to generate sort decisions; converting the sort decisions into sort commands; and sending the one or more sort commands to the flow cytometer. Sort logic computations may include algorithmically using conditional branching logic, and may include sort logic equations having mathematical functions characterizing one or more regions of interest in multidimensional data space. Such mathematical functions may be determined based on one or more parameters provided by a user. Also disclosed are corresponding systems having a flow cytometer and a computer.

Abstract: A device for volumetric metering a liquid biologic sample is provided. The device includes an initial chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, a first valve, a second valve and a third valve. The chambers are each configured so that liquid sample disposed in the respective chamber is subject to capillary forces. Each chamber has a volume, and the volume of the initial chamber is greater than the volume of either the second or the third chambers. The valves each have a burst pressure. The burst pressure of the first valve is greater than the third burst pressure. The first valve is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The second valve is disposed between, and is in fluid communication with, the initial chamber and the third chamber. The third valve is in fluid communication with the third chamber.

Abstract: A chromatographic optical detection system includes an optical detector disposed to receive light scattered from a stream of particles and configured to convert the received light to an electrical signal; a signal-processing unit in signal communication with the optical detector to receive the electrical signal, and configured to convert the electrical signal to digital pulses and count the digital pulses to output a first signal corresponding to a number of particles detected in a time interval, and configured to integrate and digitize the electrical signal to output a second signal corresponding to the number of particles detected in the time interval; and a data station in signal communication with the signal-processing unit, and configured to select the first signal, if the number of particles detected in the time interval is less than a threshold criterion, and to select the second signal if the number of particles detected in the time interval exceeds the threshold criterion.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines.

Abstract: This blood analyzer includes a sample preparation portion preparing a measurement sample free from a labeling substance from a blood sample and a hemolytic agent free from a labeling substance, a light information generation portion generating fluorescent information and at least two types of scattered light information from the measurement sample and a control portion performing a first classification of white blood cells in the measurement sample into at least four groups of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and others on the basis of the fluorescent information and the two types of scattered light information.

Abstract: There is provided a method for synthesizing colloidal nanoparticles comprising the step of creating a reactive three-phase foam containing reactants therein for synthesizing the colloidal nanoparticles.

Abstract: This invention provides a digital microfluidic manipulation device and a manipulation method thereof. This device comprises a PDMS membrane having a surface comprising a plurality of hydrophobic microstructures; a plurality of air chambers arranged in an array and placed under the PDMS membrane; and a plurality of air channels, each of which connects to a corresponding one of the plurality of air chambers. When a suction force is transmitted via one of the plurality of air channels to the corresponding air chamber, a portion of the PDMS membrane above the air chamber deforms toward the air chamber, so that the surface morphology and the contact angle of the liquid/solid interface of the surface comprising the plurality of hydrophobic microstructures are altered and thereby to drive droplets.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines.

Abstract: A machine for producing and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid consumer food products such as ice creams, whipped cream, yogurt and the like comprises a container for a basic product of the consumer food product, a feed and treatment circuit for the basic product, comprising a feed pump, dispensing means positioned at an outfeed end of the feed and treatment circuit, and a device for checking the bacterial load of the product during production/dispensing; an electronic control unit controlling and regulating the various steps for measuring the bacterial load.

Abstract: Mass cytometry method. In one aspect, the method includes providing a sample having at least one cell type and mixing the sample with material such as nanoparticles functionalized with affinity molecules for the at least one cell type. The sample is transported through a suspended microchannel resonator to record a mass histogram and a cell count for the at least one cell type is determined from the histogram.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining composition and completion of an experiment are provided. One-computer-implemented method for determining composition and completion of an experiment includes determining one or more characteristics of data acquired during the experiment and determining if the experiment is completed based on the one or more characteristics. One system configured to determine composition and completion of an experiment includes a processor configured to determine one or more characteristics of data acquired during the experiment and to determine if the experiment is completed based on the one or more characteristics. Another system configured to perform an experiment includes a measurement subsystem configured to acquire data during the experiment and a processor configured to determine one or more characteristics of the data during the experiment and to determine the composition of the experiment and if the experiment is completed based on the one or more characteristics.

Abstract: A concentration measuring apparatus for hydrogen sulfide includes an absorbing liquid that can absorb gaseous hydrogen sulfide as sulfide ion; a hollow fiber membrane contactor that contacts a gas flow with a flow of the absorbing liquid through a membrane, so that the absorbing liquid absorbs gaseous hydrogen sulfide in the gas flow as sulfide ion; a pump for a first channel that feeds the absorbing liquid to the hollow fiber membrane contactor; an oxidizer that exothermically reacts with sulfide ion; a pump for a second channel that feeds the oxidizer to the absorbing liquid; a first thermometer that measures a temperature of the absorbing liquid before the sulfide ion that the absorbing liquid has absorbed exothermically reacts with the oxidizer; and a second thermometer that measures the temperature of the absorbing liquid after the sulfide ion that the absorbing liquid has absorbed exothermically reacts with the oxidizer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sample supply device that alternates between the supply of samples from one sample line while cleaning a second sample line and then supplying a second sample from the second sample line while cleaning the first sample line. This is repeated in rapid succession to allow greater speed in analyzing a plurality of samples in a shorter amount of time.

Abstract: Apparatus for immunoassay includes: a cartridge, including at least one test unit; a pin-film assembly, having a second sealing film, a plurality of pierce mechanisms, and a first actuation unit; a plurality of magnetic particles; at least one first magnetic unit; and at least one second magnetic unit. The test unit includes a plurality of fluid chambers, a plurality of pin chambers, a microchannel structure, a buffer chamber, a detection chamber and a waste chamber. The first actuation unit drives the pierce mechanisms to enable a working fluid to flow into the detection chamber storing the magnetic particles. As the second magnetic unit has a magnetic force larger than that of the first magnetic unit and can move reciprocatingly between a third position and a fourth position, the magnetic particles are driven to move reciprocatingly inside the detection chamber, thereby fully mixing the magnetic particles with the working fluid.

Abstract: A method and device for periodically perturbing the flow field within a microfluidic device to provide regular droplet formation at high speed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for the processing (for example washing, incubation, etc.

Abstract: A method of measuring a chemical vapor concentration is provided. A chemical vapor sensor measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectable level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The present invention, provides a flow cytometry apparatus for the detection of particles from a plurality of samples comprising: means for moving a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; means for introducing a separation gas between each of the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream; and means for selectively analyzing each of the plurality of samples for the particles. The present invention also provides a flow cytometry method employing such an apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, to a system, and to a method for the preparation and fractioned dispensing of samples of a fluid. The device of the invention comprises a body having formed therein guide means suitable for receiving a sample-taker member and for guiding it in translation through the device, and at least one preparation chamber enabling an aliquot of a fluid sample dispensed into the chamber by a said sample-taker member to be prepared in a stream of a suitable reagent. The guide means pass through the preparation chamber and communicate therewith to enable an aliquot of fluid to be dispensed into the chamber in a determined position of the sample-taker member in the guide means. The preparation chamber has an introduction orifice for introducing at least one reagent into the chamber for mixing the reagent with an aliquot, and at least one dispensing orifice for dispensing the mixture formed by said aliquot and said reagent to recovery and/or analysis means.

Abstract: A device to enhance sealing is provided. The device includes a body and a pressure cup. The pressure cup includes a channel, a first pressure channel, and a second pressure channel. The channel is formed in a surface of the body to surround a first portion of the surface. The channel is configured to hold an o-ring. The first pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the first portion of the surface. The second pressure channel extends through the body and opens into the channel. Pneumatic pressure within the second pressure channel is controlled to hold the o-ring in the channel when a second pressure within the first pressure channel changes.

Abstract: A polymer-based PLOT capillary column prepared by in situ copolymerization of a functional monomer, which usually contains the retentive chemistries, and a crosslinking monomer, which enhances the strength of the polymer matrix, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system comprising the polymer-based PLOT column coupled to a mass flow or concentration sensitive detector, for carrying out a chemical analysis method on samples separated by liquid chromatography using the column, and a process for using the system. Columns of the invention can be prepared in a robust fashion with a very narrow i.d., e.g., 5-15 ?m. Thus, they are suitable for commercial use in ultratrace LC/MS proteomic analysis. Columns according to the invention are characterized by high resolving power and high column-to-column reproducibility. When these columns are coupled on-line with, e.g.

Abstract: Methods for sampling a liquid flow are provided. The method includes supplying a continuous liquid flow from a continuous flow fluid input source to a surface along a first flow path. The method additionally includes sampling the continuous liquid flow by performing an electric field-based technique to split off a sample droplet from a portion of the liquid flow, whereby the sample droplet is distinct from the liquid flow and controllable independently of the liquid flow, wherein the electric field-based technique is performed by providing a set of electrodes on the surface and selectively biasing the set of electrodes, whereby the sample droplet is formed on one of the set of electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bubble excluder device (2) adapted for use with, and attachment to, a probe (6) for continuous measurement of the cell density of a culture in a liquid medium; the bubble excluder device comprising an inlet and an outlet to allow flow of liquid through the device and bubble exclusion means (20) to reduce or prevent ingress of bubbles from the liquid medium outside the device.

Abstract: An apparatus, intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is disclosed, that comprising: a sample distribution section for distributing urine samples to a first aliquot and a second aliquot; a first specimen preparing section for preparing a first specimen for measuring urinary particles, containing at least erythrocytes, by mixing a first stain reagent and the first aliquot; a second specimen preparing section for preparing a second specimen for measuring bacteria by mixing a second stain reagent and the second aliquot; and an optical detecting section comprising a light source for irradiating a light to a specimen being supplied, a scattered light receiving element for detecting scattered light emitted from the specimen, and a fluorescence receiving element for detecting fluorescence emitted from the specimen. A method intended for use in analyzing particles in urine is also disclosed.