Abstract: Apparatuses and a method for plate-based oligonucleotide synthesis are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus used in oligonucleotide synthesis includes a machined block to receive a commercially-available synthesis plate. A keeper is used to apply pressure to the commercially-available synthesis plate, and a sealing element is used to seal the commercially-available synthesis plate to the machined block. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

Abstract: A dosing device is proposed which is designed for dosed output of a fluid. The dosing device has a block-shaped channel body, through which a dosing channel system passes. The dosing channel system has a fluid infeed opening and a plurality of fluid output openings. The fluid output openings are formed by the channel apertures of narrowed output sections of a plurality of output channels of the dosing channel system. The entire dosing channel system, including the output channels, is formed in the block-shaped channel body. The dosing channel system is preferably structured such that the flow velocity of the fluid channelled through during operation is at least substantially the same throughout with the exception of in the output sections of the output channels.

Abstract: A pipette calibration and volume offset mechanism. The calibration and volume offset mechanism is provided to facilitate user selectable calibration or volume offset operations of a pipette to which the calibration and volume offset mechanism is installed, through axial displacement of a threaded element that effectively moves the home position of the pipette. An offset counter of the calibration and volume offset mechanism is rotationally coupled to the threaded element during a volume offset operation to indicate offset magnitude, but decoupled from threaded element during a calibration or recalibration operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a kit and method for testing harmful heavy metals onsite, which can determine the presence or absence of harmful heavy metals and the degree of contamination with harmful heavy metals dissolved in water or contained in sediment, soil, deep-sea mining tailings and the like. The kit includes a receiving member and a diagnostic solution containing a biosurfactant, which is accommodated in the receiving member and undergoes an ion exchange reaction with a liquid including harmful heavy metals or a solid sample from which harmful heavy metals are leached in a liquid phase.

Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor plate to rotate around a first axis, a bucket attached to the rotor plate and to rotate around a second axis, and a stop plate to rotate around the first axis between an open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the stop plate engages the bucket to fix an angular position of the bucket relative to a plane of rotation of the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly further includes a housing for a sensor array component, the housing disposed in the bucket and including a solution inlet, a solution outlet, a transfer basin, a solution retainer disposed between the solution outlet and the transfer basin, and a collection reservoir in fluid communication with the transfer basin. The solution inlet and the solution outlet to engage ports of a flow cell of a sensor array.

Abstract: Provided are devices, systems, and methods for the identification, quantification, and profiling of microscopic organisms. The methods for the identification, quantification, and profiling of microscopic organisms include, for example, the selective enrichment of microscopic organisms from a heterogeneous sample; subsequent loading of the microscopic organisms into microfluidic channels or reaction chambers; direct amplification of nucleic acids from single, isolated microscopic organisms; and examination of amplification products using digital High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis.

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: A method for the detection of hydrocarbon contamination in a sample is disclosed. The method includes contacting a sample with a molecular probe. The molecular probe has a photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive. The photoluminescence from the molecular probe is collected. The method includes determining whether the photoluminescence is indicative of a hydrocarbon contaminated sample. A test strip for the detection of hydrocarbon contamination in a sample is also disclosed. The test strip includes a molecular probe embedded in a substrate and/or immobilized to the substrate, the molecular probe having a photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive to hydrocarbon contaminated sample.

Abstract: An adapter for connecting an array of pipette tips having through bores with conical upper ends to a multichannel air displacement pipettor having a plurality of ports with compliant internal sealing surfaces. The adapter comprises a planar base with an array of openings extending between its top and bottom surfaces. Sealing tubes project upwardly from the top surface, and tip mounting tubes project downwardly from the bottom surface, with pairs of sealing tubes and tip mounting tubes being arranged coaxially and in communication with respective ones of the openings in the base. The tip mounting tubes are externally dimensioned and configured for insertion into the conical upper ends of the pipette tips, and the sealing tubes are externally configured and dimensioned for insertion into the ports of the pipettor and into sealing interengagement with their compliant internal sealing surfaces.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the deposition of reagents onto cells or tissue samples are disclosed. Also disclosed are reagent compositions suitable for dispensing via a droplet-on-demand system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipette tip, which can be used in in-vitro diagnostics, in particular in the diagnostic testing of body fluids, such as in coagulation testing. The Pipette tip contains two constituents in a spatially separated manner. The present invention furthermore provides a method of performing such diagnostics, e.g. coagulation analysis, and to the use of the pipette tip in such diagnostic testing.

Abstract: A manual-electronic pipetting device for pipetting a medium. The pipetting device includes a controller, a manually displaceable actuating element, at least one piston for aspirating and discharging the medium, a motor for driving the at least one piston in response to an actuation and/or displacement of the actuating element, at least one sensor for determining a displacement of the actuating element, and a data storage. The controller determines a pipetting protocol based on at least one sensor signal of the at least one sensor during a displacement of the actuating element, the controller further storing the pipetting protocol in the data storage, the pipetting protocol including data records indicative of a position and a speed of the at least one piston during the displacement of the actuating element.

Abstract: A system and method of fluid delivery for providing a surface fluid pattern. The system includes a fluid delivery head for fluid flow therethrough. The fluid delivery head includes a fluid delivery surface having surface openings defined therein and arranged across the fluid delivery surface as a two-dimensional display. Some of the surface openings are grouped as a surface opening unit. The surface opening unit includes at least one aspiration opening through which fluid can be provided to the fluid delivery surface and at least one injection opening through which fluid can be moved away from the fluid delivery surface. The surface opening unit includes at least three surface openings positioned as a two-dimensional display and outwardly of at least one other surface opening.

Abstract: Embodiments of lab automation workstations are disclosed in which the pod that performs pipetting operations is integrated with pipette tip-loading functionality. To generate the necessary tip-loading force, a dual drive system is used that is symmetric about the Y-axis to allow for offset or partial tip box loads by dynamically centering the drive force (e.g., the tip-loading force) over the reaction load. This minimizes the need for oversized linear motion components while still allowing for the generation of high tip-loading forces needed to properly load a large number of pipette tips simultaneously.

Abstract: An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container includes an automated tool head configured to rotate about a first axis, and to translate along a second axis different than the first axis, an analytic element positioner having an analytic element holder configured to releasably grip an analytic element, and a specimen transfer device carried by the tool head, wherein the tool head is configured to automatically position a working end of the specimen transfer device to obtain a specimen from a sample container held in the sample container holder, and to transfer the obtained specimen to an analytic element held by the analytic element holder, respectively, through one or both of rotation of the tool head about the first axis and translation of the tool head along the second axis.

Abstract: A wash station includes a wash nozzle for cleaning an exterior portion of a probe and a basin allowing for waste fluid to be collected. The wash nozzle includes a vertically-elongate cavity with side slits on opposing side portions. A fluid inlet port may be connected to a side portion of the cavity to provide fluid. Fluid may additionally or alternatively come from within the probe. The basin includes an elongate body with an opened end to receive and secure the wash nozzle. One or more access slots may be provided on opposing side portions of the basin. The probe passes through an access slot or over a portion of the basin and through a side slit of the nozzle to enter the cavity for cleaning. A geometry of the cavity allows the wash nozzle to fill to a predetermined level while waste fluid flows out through the side slits.

Abstract: A method for the contact metering of liquids having the following steps: a first liquid is introduced into at least one elongate hollow body, some of the first liquid contained in the elongate hollow body is pressed out of the lower end of the elongate hollow body as a contacting volume such that the contacting volume forms a drop suspended from the lower end of the elongate hollow body, at least some of the drop is immersed in a second liquid in a target vessel and the defined metering volume consisting of the contacting volume and a residual volume contained in the elongate hollow body is dispensed into the second liquid.

Abstract: Paraffin-embedded tissue is prepared removing paraffin from the tissue. The paraffin is removed by generating an electric field effective to produce plasma and direct charged species of the plasma to the paraffin, thereby rendering the paraffin responsive to the electric field. The electric field may move the paraffin out from the tissue due to electrostatic force. Movement of the paraffin may be assisted by moving an electrode utilized to generate the electric field relative to the paraffin. Movement of the paraffin also may be assisted by applying a solvent and/or heat energy to the tissue.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method for detecting aspiration in a clinical analyzer, including: acquiring, from a sensor, pressure measurement data; transforming the pressure measurement data into frequency domain data; generating a clean version of the frequency domain data by attenuating, using a filter, unwanted frequencies; comparing the cleaned version of the frequency domain data to one or more predetermined data points; and determining, based on the comparison, if an aspiration was properly performed. Other aspects are described and claimed herein.

Abstract: A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.