Abstract: Test method checks and compensates ion yield variances in a mass spectrometer and includes feeding an eluate of a chromatographic separation to the spectrometer, continuously ad-mixing a separate target analyte solution at known concentration and constant flow rate to the eluate, injecting the mixture into the spectrometer and generating a detector signal for the mixture. A spectrogram is captured which includes an integration line and a mass-spectrographic peak of the target analyte, the integration line being a lasting background signal underlaid to the mass-spectrometric analysis of the eluate, then evaluating the spectrogram by capturing an integrated mass-spectrographic peak area above the integration line and an area which is found under the integrated peak area of the target analyte by perpendicular drop lines from the peak integration line and forming a mathematical relationship from the determined mass-spectrographic areas.

Abstract: A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.

Abstract: An inlet valve charges an inner chamber of a system or sample container with liquid and has a first pipetting axis, an inlet opening, it supplies liquid by a laboratory pipette that is automatically reclosed and also has a valve body with a blocking element, a pressing part and a throat, a valve space enclosing the valve body at least partly near the throat, a spring mechanism and a sealing element. The throat connects the blocking element to the pressing part and has an open passage region which opens into the liquid passage of the pressing part and into the valve space. The spring mechanism presses a sealing surface of the blocking element against the sealing element in a closed position of the valve body. The valve body can be brought to an open position by pressing the pressing part against the spring mechanism.

Abstract: Method for registering filling potential of a waste container of a microplate washing device has a needle for aspirating liquids, a waste container, a pump for generating a partial vacuum and a pressure sensor for determining air pressure in the container, a sensor controller, and a first valve for blocking the line between the needle and the waste container. The pump and needle are connected to the container and the method includes closing the first valve, generating a partial vacuum in a test range, closing a further valve between the container and the pump, opening the first valve, triggering a partial vacuum dissipation in the container, measuring a test time for the partial vacuum dissipation in the test range, comparing the test time to a known threshold time, and deciding that the waste container is fillable or not.

Abstract: An optical measuring apparatus and method for analysis of samples contained in liquid drops provided by a liquid handling system has a liquid handling tip. A light source irradiates the liquid drop; a detector measures sample light; and an optics system with first optical elements transmits irradiation light, and a processor processes the measurement signals. The liquid drop is suspended at the liquid handling orifice of the liquid handling tip in a position where the liquid drop is penetrated by a first optical axis defined by the light source and the first optical elements. The liquid drop is physically touched only by the liquid handling tip and the liquid sample inside the liquid handling tip. A mutual adaption of the size and position of the liquid drop with respect to the first optical elements is achieved.

Abstract: A laboratory system and a method for controlling a laboratory system comprises multiple subsystems; each subsystem being configured to receive and carry out a command; and a master control device configured to process command groups and/or command(s) within the same command group simultaneously; to process command groups and/or command(s) of different command groups sequentially; and within a command group, to process command group(s) and/or command(s) grouped into a command group before processing other commands command group(s) and/or command(s).

Abstract: Digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within a gap of at least one disposable cartridge. It is also provides additional space for collecting and/or storing waste fluids in this digital microfluidics system. It includes at least one waste hollow which is fluidly connected with a gap of a disposable cartridge that includes a bottom layer with a first hydrophobic surface and a top layer with a second hydrophobic surface. The waste hollow is located next to at least one individual waste electrode that is positioned next to at least one individual electrode of an electrode array. Each individual waste electrode is operatively connected to a central control unit and covers in each case a waste electrode area.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses (100) for the capacitive determination of the fill level in the individual containers (5.1, 5.2) of a group (10) of regularly disposed containers of the same dimensions, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a transmitter electrode (201.1) and a receiver electrode (201.2, 201.3) as well as a circuit for carrying out a capacitive measurement. The measuring circuit comprises a transmitting circuit (57) and a receiving circuit (58) and the apparatus (100) comprises a horizontal base plate (200) having a plurality of electrodes (201.1, 201.2, 201.3) which protrude in one direction in relation to a horizontal plane defined by the base plate (200) and which are uniformly mutually spaced apart such that a plurality of working zones of the same dimensions are formed. A plurality of connections (202) are provided through which some of the electrodes (201.1) are connectable to the transmitting circuit (57) and controllable by said circuit and some of the electrodes (201.2, 201.

Abstract: Micro cuvette assembly for examining biological samples has a first partial plate with one or more first cuvette surfaces and a second partial plate opposite the first and which also has one or more second cuvette surfaces. In an active position of the assembly, the second cuvette surfaces are arranged parallel and in register with the first cuvette surfaces and are spaced apart from the first cuvette surfaces whereby one or more micro cuvettes are formed. The first and second partial plates also have openings arranged in register with the cuvette surfaces and transparent bodies are provided as the cuvette surfaces. The first and second plates are completely penetrated by these openings and the transparent bodies are manufactured from a different material than the partial plates and span the openings close to a first surface of the partial plates.

Abstract: Laboratory table has a frame with front and rear frame parts, at least one detent element, at least one detent extension and at least one replaceable tabletop element on the frame. Each tabletop element has at least one fixing mechanism for interacting with the frame parts and for holding a corresponding detent element and detent extension in fixing positions. A detent element or detent extension in each case is spaced apart from the fixing mechanism. The frame part opposite to the frame part the fixing mechanism is interacting with comprises a detent element or a detent extension that in each case is brought into a mutual fixing position with a corresponding detent extension or detent element of the corresponding tabletop element. The corresponding detent extension is thus guided in a detent element parallel to a tabletop axis of the corresponding tabletop element.

Abstract: Relates to a microplate carrier (1) for a microplate (2), in whose wells (3) magnetic particles (5), which are suspended in a liquid (4), with or without samples adhering thereto are located, the microplate carrier (1) comprising permanent magnets (6) generating magnetic fields which are implemented to collect and retain the magnetic particles (5) on the floor (14) and/or on the walls (7) of the wells (3) of this microplate (2). The microplate carrier (1) according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises two permanent magnets (6) situated diametrically opposite in relation to the well (3) for each well (3) of the microplate (2), which have the same polarity directed toward the well (3) and whose magnetic axis (25) is at least essentially perpendicular to the footprint of the microplate (2) to be placed. A corresponding method based on the use of the microplate carrier (1) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Microplate reader with optical measuring/detection device has housing, a microplate support and a moving unit. The moving unit moves the microplate support out and into the housing and horizontally within the housing. The reader has an integrated lid holding apparatus within the housing for lifting and placing a microplate lid on the microplate. The lid holding apparatus moves the microplate lid and/or the microplate support for moving the microplate in one respective vertical direction. A method for optically measuring a microplate in such a microplate reader places a covered microplate on the microplate support, retracts it into the housing, lifts the lid from the microplate, measures the microplate with the lifted lid, replaces the lid, and extends the support and the covered microplate out of the housing.

Abstract: A control method for a computer-controlled liquid handling workstation which comprises a work surface, a motorized liquid handling robot with at least two pipettes each having a cone, and a control computer, to which the liquid handling robot is connected. A control program, activated in the control computer, enables the pipetting robot to position the pipette at specific positions on the work surface. The pipettes and at least one position are visualized as icons, using a visualization device. Upon selecting at least one pipette and designating a position, using an input mechanism, the selected pipette is moved down and up immediately after its selection, and moved to the designated position immediately after designating the position. These movements are carried out prior to selecting at least one action and its execution, enabling the operator to confirm the selection of the pipette and the designation of the position.

Abstract: A method of detecting an original arrangement of laboratory articles of a laboratory work station records reference digital images with a digital camera. An image is displayed and visible regions with characteristic features are selected by a user within an input device. Reference image sections and corresponding reference image parameter files are produced and stored. A current arrangement of laboratory articles is compared with a previously recorded original arrangement. Detection of the current arrangement occurred by recording current digital images with a digital camera and creating current image sections defined by X/Y parameters of the reference image parameter files from the current digital images. A computer-based comparison of the processed current image sections with the processed reference image sections occurred and an analysis of this comparison and the display of agreements, deviations and errors is found.

Abstract: Relates to a micro cuvette assembly (1), comprising a first partial plate (2) with one or more first cuvette surfaces (3) and a second partial plate (4) which is arrangeable relative to the first partial plate and has at least one or more second cuvette surfaces (5) which, in an active position of the micro cuvette assembly (1), are arranged in register plane-parallel to the first cuvette surfaces (3) and spaced apart by a distance (6), thus forming, in the active position of the micro cuvette assembly (1), one or more micro cuvettes (7) in which a liquid volume (8) applied previously to one of the cuvette surfaces (3,5) is held between these two cuvette surfaces (3,5).

Abstract: A gripper claw has replaceable gripper fingers and two gripper jaws each with a first jaw flange. The jaws are fastened to respective jaw flanges and are movable on linear guides, toward and away from one another. Each jaw has a holding mandrel, with holding cone. Each finger is reversibly insertable into one gripper jaw and has a finger base with depression complementary to a respective cone. The cone has a length that is at least one-third of its largest diameter, and its smallest diameter is at most 90% of the largest cone diameter. The jaws and the bases form a holding mechanism which holds the fingers in a stop position on a respective gripper jaw and they form a stabilizing mechanism that, with the holding cone, prevent tilting of the fingers.

Abstract: A laboratory table has a frame with a front frame part and a rear frame part and replaceable tabletop elements positionable on the frame. A detent rail is arranged on the front or rear frame part, having detent openings. Each of these detent openings is for the insertion and sliding guiding of a detent bolt of a tabletop element. In addition, the tabletop elements has at least one detent bolt for insertion and sliding guiding in one of the detent openings of these detent rails. Each tabletop element has at least one fixing mechanism, which is spaced apart from the detent bolt, and which fixes the tabletop element in a locking position and holds the detent bolts, which are guided parallel to a plate axis of the tabletop element in the detent rail in a fixing position.

Abstract: In a control method for a computer-controlled liquid handling workstation with a work surface, a motorized pipetting robot with at least one pipette, and a control computer, to which the pipetting robot is connected, a control program activated in the control computer enables the pipetting robot to position the pipette at specific positions on the work surface and to execute a specific action using the pipette. The interface includes an input mechanism, visualization mechanism, interface software, and an electronic memory. The visualization mechanism visualizes the positions at which containers are situated on the work surface of the liquid handling workstation and a selection of the specific actions executable using the pipettes.

Abstract: A method of selecting pipetting parameters of a pipetting device for dispensing or pipetting a specific volume of a liquid sample, includes a fluid column of a fluid chamber of the pipetting device set into oscillation at the beginning of the aspiration, the pressure is monitored with the pressure transducer in the fluid chamber, and the pressure changes generated during aspiration into measuring signals are recorded. These measuring signals are processed by a computer or micro-processor and reproduced as a pressure curve, which is characteristic for the fluid column with the aspirated liquid sample, and which is compared with known pressure curves. Based on this comparison, pipetting parameters of the pipetting device are selected for the dispense or for pipetting a specific volume of the liquid sample. Selectable pipetting parameters include a speed of a movement of a pump piston of the pipetting device.