Abstract: Methods and systems for venting a well that receives a liquid. The method includes providing a microplate including a well that has a cavity with an open inlet and a closed end. The cavity extends between the open inlet and the closed end. The cavity is defined by a wall surface having a cross-sectional contour that includes at least one continuous section and at least one discontinuity section. The method also includes depositing a liquid into the open inlet of the well. The liquid enters the cavity and flows toward the closed end to at least partially fill the well. The liquid flows along the continuous section of the wall surface and remains separated from the discontinuity section of the wall surface, thereby maintaining a gas exhaust path along a spacing between the liquid and the discontinuity section as the liquid flows toward the closed end.

Abstract: A fluidic device for conveying liquid to a well of a microplate. The device includes a support structure configured to be mounted along the microplate. The device also includes a microfluidic tube coupled to the support structure. The tube has an inlet, an outlet, and an open-sided channel that extends longitudinally therebetween. The tube has a cross-section that includes an interior contour with a gap therein. The gap extends at least partially along a length of the tube. The tube is configured to convey liquid to the well of the microplate when the tube is held in a dispensing orientation.

Abstract: A fluidic device for conveying liquid to a well of a microplate. The device includes a support structure configured to be mounted along the microplate. The device also includes a microfluidic tube coupled to the support structure. The tube has an inlet, an outlet, and an open-sided channel that extends longitudinally therebetween. The tube has a cross-section that includes an interior contour with a gap therein. The gap extends at least partially along a length of the tube. The tube is configured to convey liquid to the well of the microplate when the tube is held in a dispensing orientation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for venting a well that receives a liquid. The method includes providing a microplate including a well that has a cavity with an open inlet and a closed end. The cavity extends between the open inlet and the closed end. The cavity is defined by a wall surface having a cross-sectional contour that includes at least one continuous section and at least one discontinuity section. The method also includes depositing a liquid into the open inlet of the well. The liquid enters the cavity and flows toward the closed end to at least partially fill the well. The liquid flows along the continuous section of the wall surface and remains separated from the discontinuity section of the wall surface, thereby maintaining a gas exhaust path along a spacing between the liquid and the discontinuity section as the liquid flows toward the closed end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drug product tracking (or other pharmaceutical, health care or cosmetics products, and/or the packages or containers they are supplied with) using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 has one or more collocated pitches ? which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The encoded element 8 may be used to label any desired item, such as drugs or medicines, or other pharmaceutical or health care products or cosmetics.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.

Abstract: A composition including an item and an optical identification element that is physically associated with the item. The optical identification element includes a binder material and one or more materials embedded in the binder material. The one or more materials provides a composite X-ray diffraction pattern when illuminated by an X-ray beam. The composite X-ray diffraction pattern being indicative of a code. The code relating to information about the item.