Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for performing assays on a solid phase to measure the level of analyte in a sample. Such a system may perform immunoassays using electrochemiluminescence (ECL) including a counterbalanced orbital shaking apparatus for assay consumables.

Abstract: A flow cell and cartridge assembly may be loaded into a processing system, such as for genetic sequencing. The system locates the assembly and is then actuated to move the assembly to a desired reference position in both X- and Y-directions. Further actuation causes clamps to contact the flow cell, the cartridge, or both to exert a hold-down force during processing. Further hold-down forces may be provided by a vacuum chuck. Fluid connections are also made by manifolds that contact the flow cell. The hold-down forces counteract the forces needed for sealing the manifolds to the flow cell.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for processing a surface with a vertical microfluidic probe head. The method includes positioning the microfluidic probe head so as for the edge surface to face a surface to be processed. Next, the method dispenses processing liquid via each orifice of the first one of the sets of n orifices, so as for the dispensed processing liquid to process the surface; and aspirates liquid via each orifice of the second one of the sets of n orifices.

Abstract: The present invention is an article or device to facilitate the heating of rounded vessels and other rounded objects comprising a flexible polymeric support having a plurality of folds so as to form the flexible polymeric support into a plurality of nested, concentric hollow cylindrical portions whose respective upper edges can be arranged and fixed into two or more configurations to accommodate at least two respective spherical section contours of respective different sizes. The present invention facilitates the heating of rounded, regularly-shaped or irregularly-shaped vessels or objects by presenting a flexible polymeric support surface. The flexible polymeric support surface is sufficiently malleable so as to be adapted for heating such objects or containers, and may be incorporated into an arrangement or system for heating such a container or object, and/or for stirring its contents, while being supported by the article or device of the present invention.

Abstract: Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from a pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device. The pipette tip couplers include a proximal elastomeric element, a distal elastomeric element, and a coupler stop shoulder surface between the elastomeric elements. The pipette tips include a groove in a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical section, a tip stop shoulder surface at the interface of the first and second cylindrical sections, a third cylindrical section distal to the second cylindrical section, and a sealing seat surface at the interface of the second and third cylindrical sections. When the pipette tip is mounted on the pipette tip coupler, the proximal elastomeric element abuts the tip groove, the coupler stop shoulder surface abuts the tip stop shoulder surface, and the distal elastomeric element abuts the sealing seat surface.

Abstract: Methods and devices for forming droplets are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods and devices form droplets having different diameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sampling within a conveyance system are provided herein, such systems and methods being particularly useful in batch sampling of food products for a targeted biological agent. In one aspect, the sampling system includes a conveyance system and one or more sampling devices positioned along a conveyance path such that at least one portion of the batch contacts a sampling medium of the one or more sampling devices. In another aspect, sampling devices are provided that allow a sampling member to be secured in a sampling position for batch testing and readily removed after sampling and tested. The systems, devices and methods herein provide improved sampling coverage of the entire batch and reduce waste and inefficiency as compared to conventional batch sampling methods.

Abstract: Provided is an electric pipette system, including: an operating condition receiving milt configured to receive an operating condition of a manipulation operation to foe occur next; a suction/discharge operating unit configured to perform at least any one of a suction operation and a discharge operation of a liquid by an electric pipette based cm the operating condition; an information collecting unit configured to collect various types of information during the suction operation or the discharge operation of the liquid; and an information recording unit configured to record the information.

Abstract: A device for pipette tips having a refill pack, a plate having holes, pipette tips, a shell below the plate, an inner lid above the plate which has a base and side walls and a latch; a holder having a bottom; an outer lid having a base and side walls; a pivotal connection for the lid and holder; a support projecting from a side wall engaging the bottom of a lid side wall; a second latch having a support which latches with the first latch; an unlocking button having an actuator on the outside of the second lid side wall and a pressing element on the inside of the second lid side wall which may be pressed against the outside of the first lid side wall to deform the first lid side wall and undo the latching between the first and second latches.

Abstract: An immunoassay apparatus may include: a sample dispenser part that dispenses a sample into a first reaction container; a reagent dispenser part that dispenses, into the first reaction container,: a solid-phase reagent containing a solid-phase carrier; a labeled reagent; and a releasing reagent that releases, from the solid-phase carrier, an immune complex including a target substance and a labeled substance; a measurement part that measures a signal based on the labeled substance in the immune complex in a second reaction container; a container supply part that stores a plurality of reaction containers; a transfer part that transfers the first reaction container so that the sample dispenser part and the reagent dispenser part perform a dispensing operation to the first reaction container, and that transfers the second reaction container so that the immune complex dispended from the first reaction container is dispensed into the second container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (32) for the bottom part of a multichannel pipetting system, comprising two sampling-cone-holding end pieces (6) and also two aspiration chambers (36a, 36b) that engage respectively with the two end pieces, the two aspiration chambers (36a, 36b) being concentric.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a medical-sample filtration device includes: a container including at least one wall forming an internal surface, a first aperture adjacent to a first end of the wall, and a second aperture adjacent to a second end of the wall; a movable insert positioned within the container and including an external surface of a size and shape to reversibly mate with the internal surface of the container; a positioning unit affixed to the internal surface close to the second aperture; a filter unit affixed to the second aperture; a sample conduit affixed to the filter unit; a valve unit attached to the sample conduit; and a connector operable to close the valve when the movable insert is in a predefined position relative to the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soft stopper penetrating dispensing device and a soft stopper penetrating dispensing method. A purpose of the present invention is to suction and discharge liquid with respect to a soft stopper sealed container sealed with a soft stopper such as a rubber stopper without removing the soft stopper. The soft stopper penetrating dispensing device includes a dispensation available punching head which is provided to be relatively movable relative to a stage where the soft stopper sealed container sealed with the soft stopper is able to be placed, a punching tip which has a through-hole along the vertical direction and is made of a hard material and formed in a tapered shape, a dispensing needle tip which is movably provided relative to the head by the dispensing moving mechanism provided in the dispensation available punching head and is able to suction and discharge the liquid.

Abstract: A biological sample processing device includes a base, a purification unit, a metering unit and a first tube. The purification unit is disposed on the base and is configured to purify a sample. The metering unit is disposed on the base and has an inlet, at least one metering trough and an overflow trough. The inlet is connected to the purification unit via the first tube, and the metering trough is connected between the inlet and the overflow trough. The sample from the purification unit is configured to enter the metering unit through the inlet to be moved toward the metering trough, and to be moved toward the overflow trough after the metering trough is filled with the sample.

Abstract: A sampling device for withdrawing a plurality of samples from a fluid container. The sampling device includes a support member for mounting into a port of a fluid container and a plurality of rotatable inserts, each insert having a through conduit forming an eccentric aperture within the distal end surface of insert, the through conduit being alignable and misalignable with a respective through passage of the support member by rotating the insert relative to the support member. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of withdrawing a sample from a fluid container and the use of cylindrical elements to that effect.

Abstract: An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method for dispensing a particle-laden fluid from a fluid holding and dispensing micro-feature. In some implementations, the apparatus includes: a chamber having one or more surfaces that define a volume to receive fluid containing particulate matter, and an outlet port to dispense at least a portion of the fluid from the chamber. The outlet port may have a normal vector that, when the apparatus is positioned to dispense the fluid, is substantially perpendicular to gravity. The apparatus may be used to measure a number of individual particles from the fluid that flow through the outlet port over a period of them, measure a total volume of the fluid dispensed through the outlet port over the period of time, and calculate a concentration of the particulate matter within the chamber. In some implementations, the particle-laden fluid may be whole blood.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having a pipetting chamber, a set of pipettor cartridges docked in the pipetting chamber, a gantry system mounted on a ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system including at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track, and a carrier configured to transport each of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, the carrier configured to move each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pipette assembly that includes a pipette device, a pipette tip, and an expanding mandrel collet coupling device coupling the tip to the pipette device, the coupling device comprising a central body, a spacer with cogs circumscribing a central body, an expanding mandrel collet circumscribing the spacer having an annular base and circumferentially spaced apart upwardly extending collet arms wherein the cogs protrude through spaces between the arms, and an elastomeric element circumscribing the central body. The collet arms are attached to the annular base and configured to expand between a first and a second greater circumference for engaging a first interior working surface of the tip in concurrence with the elastomeric element sealing against a second interior working surface below the first surface and in concurrence with an abutment between the cogs and a stepped interior shoulder of the pipette tip disposed between the first and second working surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a microfluidic device, which comprises a substrate with a channel defined therein, on an upper surface of the substrate, wherein a bottom wall of the channel comprises several contiguous steps having an asymmetric profile along a main direction of the channel, so as to form a ratchet topography. The device further comprises a lid, opposite to and at a distance from the upper surface of the substrate, so as to face the bottom wall of the channel. The bottom wall and the lid are designed to allow like sign charges to accumulate thereat, in presence of a polar liquid confined in the channel between the bottom wall and the lid, so as to allow displacement of nanoscale particles in the polar liquid, along said main direction of the channel, under application of an alternating force to said nanoscale particles, in operation of the device.