Abstract: A waste funnel system for pouring liquids into a container. The waste funnel system has an adapter with a closure that can be mounted to an opening of the container. A funnel body has a cover that is pivotally connected to the funnel body and is used to open and close an inlet end of the funnel. The funnel body is also assembled in the adapter, thereby permitting different size funnel bodies to be assembled with the same container closure. A ventilation path extends between the funnel body and the adapter to permit vapors to be displaced from an interior of the container. In addition, a screen disposed in a liquid path between inlet and outlet ends of the funnel body prevents objects from passing through the funnel system.

Abstract: A filtering unit including an upper container for receiving fluid to be filtered, a lower container for receiving the fluid from the upper container and an intermediate filter cassette. The filter cassette includes a support member connected with a flat filter member, such as a membrane filter, and can be removed with respect to each of the upper and lower containers. The filter cassette may be inserted within the upper container with sealing engagement between the support member and the internal wall of the upper container. The various disclosed embodiments include the ability to serially connect multiple filter cassettes generally between the liquid contained in the upper container and the lower container.

Abstract: A reagent reservoir with a patterned bottom for full extraction of a liquid reagent by a multiple head pipettor. The bottom wall includes a plurality of recesses, each corresponding to a head of a multiple head pipettor. Each recess opens upwardly to receive the pipettor head, and includes a top edge, a bottom and surrounding side wall portions that angle outwardly from the recess bottom to the top edge. The recesses promote flow of the liquid reagent to the recess bottoms and prevent liquid hangup between recesses to eliminate waste of the liquid reagent. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the top edges between adjacent recesses meet at an angle to form a pointed peak.

Abstract: A filtering unit including an upper container for receiving fluid to be filtered, a lower container for receiving the fluid from the upper container and an intermediate filter cassette. The filter cassette includes a support member connected with a flat filter member, such as a membrane filter, and can be removed with respect to each of the upper and lower containers. The filter cassette may be inserted within the upper container with sealing engagement between the support member and the internal wall of the upper container. The various disclosed embodiments include the ability to serially connect multiple filter cassettes generally between the liquid contained in the upper container and the lower container.

Abstract: A multi-slide assembly includes various components that alone or in combination facilitate testing of test samples with minimal manipulation of assay components. Moreover, the various device components permit centrifugation, culturing and analysis of each test sample to be performed in the same assembly. A frame retains a plurality of reaction vessel assemblies between a pair of opposing channels that are configured to slidably receive the opposing ends of each reaction vessel assembly. A strip cap seals the openings in each reaction vessel using cap members having sealing rings circumscribing the external walls thereof to form compression seals with internal walls of the reaction vessels. Furthermore, in a method of making a multi-well slide assembly, an ultrasonic welding process removably bonds a plurality of wells to a slide plate to provide an adequate seal therebetween during centrifugation, yet still enable separation thereof by an operator.

Abstract: A container, cartridge and method for holding, dispensing and mixing a fluid material comprised of at least two component fluids in an aseptic manner. A cartridge includes a cartridge body for holding one component fluid and having first and second ends. A seal is affixed to the first end of the cartridge body and a movable portion is sealed to the second end of the cartridge body. A movable member is fully disposed within the cartridge body and aseptically sealed between the first and second ends. The movable member may be moved in response to movement of the movable portion at the second end such that the movable member breaks the seal and the fluid material is thereby dispensed from the first end. This allows a fluid component, such as a concentrate, to be readily mixed with another fluid, such as water, under aseptic conditions and immediately contained within an aseptic environment of the container.

Abstract: A multi-slide assembly includes various components that alone or in combination facilitate testing of test samples with minimal manipulation of assay components. Moreover, the various device components permit centrifugation, culturing and analysis of each test sample to be performed in the same assembly. A frame retains a plurality of reaction vessel assemblies between a pair of opposing channels that are configured to slidably receive the opposing ends of each reaction vessel assembly. A strip cap seals the openings in each reaction vessel using cap members having sealing rings circumscribing the external walls thereof to form compression seals with internal walls of the reaction vessels. Furthermore, in a method of making a multi-well slide assembly, an ultrasonic welding process removably bonds a plurality of wells to a slide plate to provide an adequate seal therebetween during centrifugation, yet still enable separation thereof by an operator.