Abstract: In a method for processing successive fluidic sample portions provided by a sample source, sample reception volumes are filled successively temporarily with at least a respective one of the sample sections, and the sample sections are emptied successively out of the sample reception volumes in such a way, that, while emptying, it is avoided to bring two respective ones of the sample sections, which have not left the sample source directly adjacent to one another, in contact with one another.

Abstract: Passivated substrates are provided for use in assays, comprising at least one covalently bonded ligand having specific binding activity for a molecule, and at least one covalently bonded blocking agent, wherein said ligand is directly bonded to the substrate surface. In certain embodiments, the ligand and blocking agent are covalently bonded only to the substrate surface, and not directly bonded to each other. In certain other embodiments, the ligand and blocking agent have at least one additional covalent bond to one another. Methods for preparing and using passivated substrates in bioassays are also provided.

Abstract: A process for automatically creating a measurement method suitable for plasma ion source mass spectrometry, including: semi-quantitatively measuring all elements in the sample that affect the measurement; determining a plasma condition based on the total concentration of the semi-quantitatively measured elements; for each of the semi-quantitatively measured elements, estimating signal strengths of the element and an interference component in the sample to be measured and based on the resultant estimates, estimating the concentration of the element; and, based on the estimated signal strengths of the elements and the interference components and the estimated concentrations of the elements, creating at least one mass spectrometry method including at least one of: (1) a plasma condition; (2) an internal standard to be added to the sample; (3) a tuning condition for the collision/reaction cell; (4) a mass-to-charge ratio used in the mass spectrometer; and (5) an integration time used in the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A spiral pumping stage includes both centripetal and centrifugal pumping channels, so that the gas is pumped from the periphery to the center of the pumping stage throughout a first group of pumping channels and it is pumped from the center to the periphery of the pumping stage throughout a second group of pumping channels. Thanks to this inventive arrangement, both the gas coming from a previous pumping stage or a main pump inlet arranged upstream the pumping stage according to the invention and the gas coming from the additional side inlet can be effectively pumped by the pumping stage according to the invention.

Abstract: A sample separation apparatus for separating a liquid sample includes a first separation unit for separating the sample, a first fluid drive for conducting the sample to be separated through the first separation unit, a second separation unit, arranged downstream of the first separation unit, for further separating the sample, a second fluid drive for at least partially conducting the sample through the second separation unit, and a fluidic valve having interfaces fluidically coupled to the first and second fluid drives and being switchable for performing the separation of the sample. The apparatus is configured for adjusting a pressure at a predefined position to a predefined value, wherein the predefined position is in a fluidic path between an outlet of the first separation unit and an inlet of the second separation unit or in fluid communication with this fluidic path.

Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a nanofluidic device sensing device is provided. In certain embodiments, the device contains: a) a channel comprising a floor and a ceiling, b) an array of charge sensors in the floor and/or ceiling of the channel, arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel; c) a capture area in the floor and/or ceiling of the channel at the entrance end of the channel; and d) a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned to provide an electrophoretic force along the longitudinal axis of the channel. Other embodiments, e.g., methods, are also described.

Abstract: A microscope includes a spatial light modulator configured for adjusting the perspective angle of a view imaged at the light detector. The spatial light modulator is positioned at a pupil plane, or at an equivalent conjugate plane thereof, in the illumination light path or in the detection light path. The microscope enables perspective views of a sample at different angles, which may be utilized to generate a three-dimensional image of the sample.

Abstract: A fluidic chip device configured for processing a fluid, wherein the fluidic chip device comprises a plurality of layers laminated to one another, wherein at least a part of the layers comprises a patterned section of an alternating sequence of bars and fluidic channels for conducting the fluid under pressure, the patterned section being configured for being displaceable in response to the pressure, and a pressure detector responding to the displacement of the patterned section by generating a detector signal being indicative of a value of the pressure.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum pump includes a first set of pumping stages having rotor discs with a first diameter and a second set of pumping stages having rotor discs with a second different diameter and further comprising an intermediate pumping stage that is particularly adapted for matching the change in the diameter of the pump rotor discs. According to the invention, the intermediate pumping stage comprises a rotor disc having an outer portion in the radial direction that is axially tapered from its inner diameter to its outer diameter and a corresponding stator stage including a spacer ring that is axially tapered from its periphery toward its center.

Abstract: A sample sprayer includes a first conduit for conducting a liquid sample, a second conduit surrounding the first conduit to define an annular passage for conducting a gas, a sprayer tip in which a fluid interaction region receives the liquid sample and the gas. The sprayer tip is configured to produce a sample spray by contact between the liquid sample and the gas in the fluid interaction region and emit the sample spray from the orifice. An adjustable positioning device is configured to translate the first conduit along the longitudinal axis in response to adjustment of the positioning device, wherein an axial position of the first conduit is adjustable relative to the orifice.

Abstract: Microfluidic contaminant traps of certain representative embodiments illustratively comprise: an inlet configured to connect directly or indirectly to a sample inlet of a gas chromatography (GC) system; an outlet configured to connect directly to an inlet of a GC column or indirectly to the GC column via another fluidic component; an interlayer comprising a channel; an upper layer disposed over and bonded to the interlayer; and a coating disposed over the channel. The coating reduces interactions of analytes from a sample provided at the inlet of the microfluidic contaminant trap with the microfluidic contaminant trap.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a target nucleic acid is disclosed, which includes: (a) fragmenting a nucleic acid sample to create a target fragment comprising a target nucleic acid and two probe-complementary portions; (b) contacting said fragmented nucleic acid sample with a probe comprising two target fragment-complementary portions complementary to the probe-complementary portions of the target fragment; (c) rendering the fragmented nucleic acid sample single-stranded; (d) allowing the probe-complementary portions to hybridise with the target-fragment complementary portions; (e) if the probe in step (b) is not immobilised, immobilising the probe-target fragment hybrid on a solid phase via immobilisation moiety; (f) separating non-immobilised nucleic acid fragments from the solid phase; (g) contacting the solid phase with a ligase to ligate ligatable 5? and 3? ends of the target fragment whereby the target fragment is circularized; and (h) amplifying said circularized target fragment.

Abstract: A light source having first and second wire-grid polarizers and a laser that emits a beam of linearly polarized light that is characterized by a propagation direction is disclosed. The first wire-grid polarization filter is characterized by a first linear polarization pass direction and a first actuator for causing the first linear polarization pass direction to rotate relative to the beam of linearly polarized light. The second wire-grid polarization filter is characterized by a second linear polarization pass direction and a second actuator for causing the second linear polarization pass direction to rotate relative to the beam of linearly polarized light. A controller sets the first and second linear polarization pass directions to provide linearly polarized light having a specified polarization direction.

Abstract: A secondary stage sample separation device for separating at least a portion of a fluidic sample includes a fluidic interface configured for forming a detachable fluidic coupling between a primary stage sample separation device and the secondary separation device so that the fluidic sample separated by the primary stage sample separation device is fluidically supplyable to the secondary stage sample separation device via the fluidic interface for further separation, wherein the secondary stage sample separation device is further configured for separating at least a portion of the supplied fluidic sample independent of a flow rate of the fluidic sample supplied from the primary stage sample separation device at the fluidic interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and rapid method for preparing purified transposase complexes that are highly suited for fragmenting DNA. The method includes forming transposase complexes with oligonucleotide adapters in cell lysate, then purifying the complexes from the other substance in the cell lysate. Purification is accomplished using a specific binding pair, in which one member of the pair is bound to an oligonucleotide adapter of the complex and the other member of the pair is bound to a solid substrate. The bound complexes can be immediately used in DNA fragmentation reactions to produce solid substrate-bound DNA fragments, which can be used for any number of purposes, including as templates for amplification and sequencing.

Abstract: A representative embodiment is directed to a fitting for fluidically coupling a GC column to another structure. The fitting comprises: a first end configured to receive a ferrule having a tubular element disposed therein, the tubular element being oriented in a first direction; and a second end fluidically connected to the first end and having an opening to provide a fluid from the tubular element in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The second end comprises a substantially planar portion, and the planar portion is configured to make a substantially gas impermeable seal with another element of a GC system.

Abstract: A device for determining a leakage of fluid in a piston pump, wherein the piston pump comprises a piston arranged in such a manner that it can reciprocate in a piston chamber for delivering fluid, wherein the device comprises a control unit for controlling the piston in such a manner that the piston executes two piston chamber evacuation processes with different evacuation times, in each case for at least partial evacuating of fluid located in the piston chamber, and a determination unit for determining the leakage based on a comparison of fluid quantities evacuated from the piston chamber in the two piston chamber evacuation processes.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) utilizes an ion dispersion device and a position-sensitive ion detector or an energy-sensitive ion detector to enable measurement of time of flight and kinetic energy of ions arriving at the detector. The measurements may be utilized to improve accuracy in calculating ion masses.

Abstract: An infrared microscope includes a sample stage configured to support a sample; an objective configured to focus radiation emanated from the sample to an intermediate image plane between an objective and an infrared detector; and a magnifying assembly including a first set of reflective elements provided in a fixed position and a second set of reflective elements.