Abstract: A device and method for generating vapor concentrations of a chemical. The device comprises a reservoir including a mixing chamber and a delta tube inlet section attached to the mixing chamber for supplying a first mixture of a carrier gas and a vapor of the chemical to the mixing chamber. A dilution gas inlet section is also attached to the mixing chamber and supplies a stream of dilution gas to the mixing chamber to blend with the first mixture of the carrier gas and the vapor of the chemical resulting in a second mixture of the carrier gas, the vapor of the chemical, and the dilution gas. An exit port section attached to the mixing chamber directs the second mixture of the carrier gas, the vapor of the chemical, and the dilution gas to an analyzer or system after it emerges from the reservoir.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a sample dispenser including an internal standard and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a fluid dispenser that includes a fluid chamber. A portion of an inner wall of the chamber includes an internal standard. The chamber is configured such that fluid introduced to the chamber must interact with the portion of the chamber wall that includes the internal standard prior to flowing through an outlet of the chamber. The dispenser additionally includes a member coupled to the chamber such that it can control movement of fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal force-based microfluidic device for a multiplexed analysis and an analyzing method using the same are provided. The microfluidic device includes a platform and a microfluidic structure including a plurality of chambers formed within the platform, and valves positioned between the chambers. The microfluidic structure includes a sample separation chamber connected to a sample injection hole, and a plurality of reaction chambers accommodating two or more types of markers specifically reacting with different types of target materials, separately by type. At least one of the target materials is a standard material, and at least one of the markers is a standard marker specifically reacting with the standard material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the height of a tip of a mixing element, such as a needle probe, compares the mixing efficiency observed at two heights separated by a predetermined distance. The heights can be incrementally adjusted to determine the location of the bottom of a mixing vessel and, by extension, the approximate location for placing the mixing element for efficient mixing of solutions in the mixing vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed here are pipette tips useful for acquiring or dispelling liquids, and include one or more design that may increase fluid delivery precision and/or accuracy, and may reduce certain repetitive motions.

Abstract: An improved deposition aid for manual sample preparation, particularly on flat MALDI sample supports, comprises a holder for a sample support with several sample sites, which is adapted to standardized sample supports for ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption and a device which projects a two-dimensional optical image, or a suitable sequence of images, onto the sample sites. The image, or sequence of images, is constructed such that a selected sample site or group of selected sample sites is highlighted in a way which can be perceived by the human eye, at least with respect to neighboring, not-selected sample sites. The deposition aid also includes an interface for confirming the manual deposition and/or a device for the automatic detection of a manual deposition process; and a guidance system which selects a sample site or group of sample sites, and controls the device accordingly.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that helps determine the association of a substance with the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The substance may be biological substance or a chemical in nature.

Abstract: A method of fragmenting a DNA sequence having a starting size of at least 10000 base pair into fragments having a mean size smaller than or equal to 1300 bp, wherein the DNA sequence is put in a solution, the solution comprising the DNA sequence is put in a container and the container is placed in a liquid bath which is subjected to the action of ultrasound waves such that the ultrasound waves travel through the liquid bath to excite the container and the solution so as to shear the DNA sequence, and wherein the ultrasound waves have a frequency falling in the range between 28 kHz and 80 kHz.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process and related article for functionalizing a porous membrane by contacting the membrane with a polyacid polymer at low pH to stably adsorb a polyacid layer on the membrane pore surface. The resulting functionalized membrane is characterized by a high density of free acid groups, resulting in a higher specific capacity for its intended application. The process allows functionalization of porous membranes in a very simple, one-step process. Such functional membranes may find multiple uses, including rapid, selective binding of proteins for their purification or immobilization.

Abstract: A chemical analysis system is disclosed wherein, in evacuating a preconcentrator housing (2) prior to desorption, a pump system (13) reduces an internal pressure of the preconcentrator housing to a level substantially equal to an internal pressure of a chemical analyzer such that flow restrictors and/or membranes (15) between the chemical analyzer (7) and the preconcentrator housing (2) may be omitted. The chemical analysis system includes a chemical analyzer (7), a preconcentrator housing (2) coupled to the chemical analyzer, the preconcentrator housing enclosing a temperature control element (5, 18) and a sorbent material (1), the temperature control element configured to heat the sorbent material to adsorb or desorb a chemical of interest; and a pump system (13) coupled to the preconcentrator housing and the chemical analyzer, the pump system configured to evacuate the preconcentrator housing prior to desorption of the chemical of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, and articles for extracting restrained liquid (e.g., surface tension-restrained liquid) from open wells in a chip, where the restrained liquid does not flow out of the wells due to gravity when the wells are held upside down. For example, the present invention provides extraction fixtures that may be attached to, and/or held adjacent to, a chip such that any restrained liquid that is forced out of the open wells is collected by, or flows through, the extraction fixtures. Also for example, the present invention provides assemblies composed of a extraction fixture attached to, and/or held adjacent to, a chip, and methods of subjecting such assemblies to a force such that at least a portion of the restrained liquid in the open wells is forced out and collected by, or flows through, the extraction fixture.

Abstract: The invention provides dendrimers, conjugates thereof, and methods of using dendrimer conjugates. In one embodiment, the invention provides novel polymeric dendrimers as a new class of fluorescent labels. The labels can include multiple fluorescent dye molecules conjugated to a single polymeric backbone or core, such as a dendrimer. The dendrimers can have regular or irregular branched polymeric network structures that allow for the chemical attachment of multiple dye molecules, multiple color dyes, and/or multiple functional groups, in a combinatorial fashion. The fluorescent dendritic nanoprobes (FDNs) thus provide a new class of fluorescent reporters for fluorescence microscopy and imaging.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional chromatographic method for the separation of N-glycans. The method comprises providing a glycan preparation that includes at least one negatively charged N-glycan. The glycan preparation is then separated by anion-exchange chromatography and at least one secondary chromatographic technique.

Abstract: A method of extracting an analyte from a sample is described. The sample is added to a sample container. A liquid solvent and a gas are added into the sample container. The addition of the gas is controlled to establish an elevated pressure within the sample container. The liquid solvent is heated to an elevated temperature that is below the boiling temperature of the liquid solvent at the elevated pressure. A type of gas is used that does not transition to a supercritical fluid at the elevated temperature and pressure used in the extraction process. The analyte can dissolve from the solid sample into the liquid solvent. Next, at least a portion of the liquid solvent containing the dissolved analyte can be removed from the sample container for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: This invention concerns a sample processing device capable of efficiently recovering biological molecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins. The sample processing device is capable of placing a reaction container having a plurality of reaction sites, and it comprises a nozzle mechanism with a nozzle capable of attaching and removing a dispenser tip for dispensing a solution into the reaction sites of the reaction container and a magnetic tip for generating a magnetic field that allows magnetic beads to migrate to a space among the plurality of reaction sites in the reaction container, and a drive control unit controlling the nozzle mechanism.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for reducing or eliminating pH excursions in cation and anion exchange chromatography.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding biological samples and methods of assembling the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a pair of rigid frames is described, each frame comprising an aperture. A biological sample storage medium is placed between the two frames so that the biological sample storage medium at least partly overlaps each of the apertures in the frames. The two frames are joined to fix the biological sample storage medium in place while allowing access to the biological sample storage medium via each of the apertures. The frames can be rigid and waterproof, and provide a robust storage media for biological samples. At least one pre-defined area of weakness can be provided in the frames, to allow removal of a portion of the frames, which may correspond to indicia on the storage medium.

Abstract: A microchip which includes, a liquid flow path through which a liquid sample including a sample flows; and a gas flow path in which compressed gas flows, wherein liquid sample inlet which communicates with the starting end of the liquid flow path and a gas supply port which communicates with a terminal of the gas flow path are formed on the same plane, and a sealing material is disposed so as to enclose the liquid sample inlet and the gas supply port.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic filter unit includes an inlet channel connected to a fluid chamber, into which a fluid including a target material is introduced, and a plurality of outlet channels connected to the fluid chamber, through which the fluid is discharged. A filtering method includes introducing a fluid including a target material into the hydrodynamic filter unit through the inlet channel, capturing the target material in the hydrodynamic filter unit, and discharging a remaining part of the fluid outside of the hydrodynamic filter unit through an outlet channel.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided. The microfluidic device has: a flow inlet and a flow outlet; a bypass channel defining a first flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet; and an auxiliary channel defining a second flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet, wherein the auxiliary channel defines a reagent area adapted to receive a reagent, and wherein the auxiliary channel joins the bypass channel at a primary junction downstream from the reagent area and upstream from the flow outlet.