Abstract: The invention concerns a system for analyzing a body fluid comprising a collecting element which receives the body fluid in a reservoir, a test element designed to detect an analyte in the body fluid, a transfer device for making a fluidic connection between the collecting element and the test element, and a detection unit which detects an analyte-specific measurement signal on the test element during a measurement interval. According to the invention it is proposed that the transfer device always brings the test element into contact with the body fluid located in the reservoir during the measurement interval and that the transfer device is configured to physically separate the test element and the collecting element from one another after the measurement interval.

Abstract: Sample conditioning systems and methods especially useful for converting non-elemental forms of mercury to elemental form. The systems involve a reactor having a heater, with the reactor configured such that a heated sample is flowed through a calcareous sorbent during heating and then cooled in the presence of a solid metal that is more chemically active or less noble than mercury. The methods may be used as a part of an emissions monitoring process to insure compliance with emission standards and to precisely gage the amount of abatement needed.

Abstract: In order to provide a method for collecting a droplet attached on an external surface of a needle into a capillary tube, the present invention is a method for collecting a droplet attached on an external surface of a needle into a capillary tube, the method comprising steps of: (a) preparing a substrate comprising a capillary tube; a flexible thin film; a liquid-repellent film; and a hole; (b) moving the needle in the Z-direction to move the droplet from the external surface of the needle to the surface of the liquid-repellent film; (c) allowing the droplet to arrive at an inlet of the capillary tube by moving the needle more in the Z-direction, so as to suck the droplet into the capillary tube by a capillary phenomenon.

Abstract: Systems and methods include processing devices used to fragment nucleic acids to average nucleic acid sizes ranging from between about 5 kbp and about 20 kbp. A processing device may include an inlet portion and a channel upstream from a shearing region arranged so that a relatively constant pressure is established and maintained (e.g., a pressure that changes by less than about 40%) at an entrance of the shearing region during a majority of sample flow through the shearing region. In some embodiments, after forcing the sample through the shearing region once, the processing device may be taken out of the centrifuge, inverted and placed back into the centrifuge so that the sample is forced through the shearing region again.

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: Sample preparation device that allows for a complete bind, wash, elute, buffer-exchange and concentration process to be carried out without sample transfer between multiple devices. The device includes a reservoir, a column for holding chromatography media, a holder region for holding a filtration device, and an outlet. The filtration device plugs into the holder region of the centrifugal device, and the assembly can be placed in an optional holder. The assembly, with or without the optional holder, can be placed in a conventional centrifuge tube for centrifugation. The entire bind, wash, elute, buffer exchange and concentration steps can be carried out with the apparatus without any pipette transfers (and the associated sample losses. The sample preparation device also can be used for binding and washing steps, in which case the filtration device is not needed, and for buffer exchange and concentration steps, in which case the media is not needed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reactor cell assembly that utilizes a novel design and that is wholly or partially manufactured from Aluminum, such that reactions involving Hydrogen, for example, including solid-gas reactions and thermal decomposition reactions, are not affected by any degree of Hydrogen outgassing. This reactor cell assembly can be utilized in a wide range of optical and laser spectroscopy applications, as well as optical microscopy applications, including high-temperature and high-pressure applications. The result is that the elucidation of the role of Hydrogen in the reactions studied can be achieved. Various window assemblies can be utilized, such that high temperatures and high pressures can be accommodated and the signals obtained can be optimized.

Abstract: A dye binding method for protein analysis is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing an initial reference dye solution of unknown concentration from an initial reference dye concentrate and creating an electronic signal based upon the absorbance of the initial reference dye solution. Thereafter, an electronic signal is created based upon the absorbance of a dye filtrate solution prepared from the initial reference dye solution and an initial protein sample. The absorbance signals from the reference dye solution and the dye filtrate solution are sent to a processor that compares the respective absorbances and calculates the protein content of the protein sample based upon the difference between the absorbances.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to an apparatus and a method for detecting liquids or substances from liquids in spatially separate reaction zones. The embodiments further relate to the use of the apparatus in a plug-in module or a chip card which can be used for rapid immunological tests, for example, with the help of a reading device. The liquids or substances from liquids are detected by means of a sensor array which includes at least two sensors and on which at least one diaphragm is arranged. Individual sensors are spatially separated from each other on a plane by means of walls. The diaphragm can be filled with liquid that is to be analyzed. Sealed reaction chambers are created when pressure is applied to the diaphragm. Pores in the diaphragm are completely closed in the zone of the walls while the pores are merely reduced in size and liquid can continue to be exchanged in zones directly above the sensors.

Abstract: The method for processing a sensor chip in accordance with the present invention has: 1) providing an acoustic wave operation system and a biochemical sensor chip, wherein the acoustic wave operation system has a piezoelectric transducer generating at least one cycle of longitudinal acoustic waves by a driving voltage and wherein a probe is immobilized on a surface of the biochemical sensor chip; 2) arranging the piezoelectric transducer at a distance from the biochemical sensor chip and filling therebetween with a medium for transmitting longitudinal acoustic waves; and 3) applying longitudinal acoustic waves to the biochemical sensor chip to remove an adsorbate bound to the probe.

Abstract: A method for monitoring content of a coating solution for coating components includes supplying a tank with the coating solution containing a concentration of a solvent and a concentration of a coating material. The concentration of the coating material is tested using a titration process. The titration process may include controllably contacting a volume of the coating solution with a reagent solution to form a mixture and using a color processing device to obtain input color data of the mixture to detect an end-point of the titration process. One or both of the solvent and the coating material is supplied to the tank based on an amount of coating solution contacted with the reagent solution when the color processing device detects an input color data signaling the end-point of the titration process.

Abstract: A reagent cartridge which can be exchangeably inserted into an analyzer and having a plurality of reagent bags furnished with connecting lines, each of which may optionally be connected to an input device of the analyzer, and method for operating the analyzer are disclosed. Each reagent bag has an analyzer-controlled multi-way valve with at least two valve positions at the point where the respective connecting line departs, such that the first valve position opens a fluid path between the connecting line and the reagent bag, while the second valve position closes off the reagent bag and opens a fluid path between a ventilation source, e.g. ambient air, and the connecting line. The connecting lines of the reagent bags departing from the multi-way valve open directly into a common rail or a collector valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the luminescence and the fluorescence of a sample, comprising: a light tight optics box capable of receiving a pipette tip containing a sample; an optical sensor located within the optics box and capable of being disposed in both a luminescence reading position and a fluorescence reading position; an excitation light fiber optic bundle and a sample transmission fiber optic bundle; an excitation light assembly that projects excitation light onto a first terminus end of the excitation light fiber optic bundle; and an in-line filter located along the sample transmission fiber optic bundle.

Abstract: A tube assembly, system and method for biological sample collection. In one embodiment, the tube assembly of the present disclosure includes a first tube, a second tube, a mechanism for securing the first and second tubes. The securing mechanism orients the first ends of the first and second tubes in a manner such that the first end of the second tube extends beyond the first end of the first tube to create an interstitial space between the outer diameter of the first tube and the inner diameter of the second tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for evidence specimen collection having integral reagent holders to hold reagent vials and having drying agent or desiccant holding areas that permit the renewal of the desiccant and permit the introduction of variously size desiccant qualities to allow modulation of the specimen drying time to achieve early stabilization of specimens while holding the specimen in an isolated drying area during storage and shipment and for simultaneous collection of multiple evidence samples with simultaneous storage, drying, marking, evidence security and shipping provided and with the provision for simultaneous storage, drying, marking, evidence security and shipping provided for a control specimen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device in the form of an integrated structure in which a droplet may be transported by a digital microfluidic array and transferred to a microfluidic channel. In one aspect of the invention, a hybrid device comprises a first substrate having a digital microfluidic array capable of transporting a droplet to a transfer location, and a second substrate having a microfluidic channel. The first and second substrates are affixed to form a hybrid device in which an opening in the microfluidic channel is positioned adjacent to the transfer location, so that a droplet transported to the transfer location contacts the channel opening and may enter the channel. The invention also provides methods of performing separations using a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device and methods of assembling a hybrid digital microfluidic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a natural substance that is capable of complexation with Ni2+, Cu2+ and/or Fe2+ ions, wherein an extract containing natural substances is led over a stationary phase loaded with Ni2+, Cu2+ and/or Fe2+ ions, which is suitable for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC).

Abstract: A method for operating an analytical apparatus for determining concentration of an analyte, especially an oxidizable substance, in a sample liquid, comprises the steps of: placing the analytical apparatus in maintenance operation; operating a metering system, which includes a pump, especially a peristaltic pump, and a supply line, for metering single volume units of a sample liquid from a source via the supply line into a reactor, wherein there exists in the reactor a temperature, which is greater than the boiling temperature of the sample liquid, so that a volume unit of the sample liquid metered into the reactor transforms at least partially into the gas phase following entry into the reactor, especially due to heat transfer from contact with a surface within the reactor, especially directly after contact with the surface within the reactor, and wherein a carrier gas is flowing through the reactor; registering at least one measuring transducer signal for detection of the transforming of the volume unit of t

Abstract: An apparatus for punching and extracting analytes from a dried biological fluid spot includes a tube and a sorbent bed. The tube includes a proximal tube opening, a distal tube opening, and a distal section. The distal section includes a tube wall having a tapered diameter that reduces down to the distal tube opening. The apparatus may also include a tube extension that includes an extension wall having a tapered diameter that reduces from a proximal extension opening to a distal extension opening. The tube extension is movable between an attached position and a detached position. At the attached position, the tube extension is secured to the tube by frictional contact between the extension wall and the tube at the distal tube opening. At the detached position the tube extension is physically separate from the tube. The sorbent bed is disposed at an axial distance from the distal tube opening and in the tube or the tube extension. The sorbent bed has a composition configured for solid phase extraction.

Abstract: A magnetic separation unit is provided, including a first member made of non-magnetic materials comprising a trench extending within the first member and a second member made of magnetic materials including a protrusion portion protruding over a surface of the second member, wherein the first member connects the second member such that the trench functions as a fluid channel formed between the first and second members, and the protrusion portion of the second member is contained by the trench of the first member.