Abstract: The invention relates to a pipette for transferring liquids, comprising the following: at least one piston-cylinder arrangement (3, 4), in which the cylinder (4) is arranged in such a way that it can be provided with a replaceable tip (8) for containing the liquid to be transferred; a piston actuating device (5) for drawing up and discharging the liquid; and a tip ejector device (6). Said ejector device comprises an ejection mechanism (16, 16′) which can be displaced along the cylinder in order to eject a tip (8) from the end of said 24 cylinder. A device (17) for actuating the ejection mechanism is also provided. The invention is characterized in that the ejector device (6) comprises a device for adjusting position (24, 24′, 33, 33′, 39, 39′), which is arranged in such a way that it is possible to modify the limit position reached by an ejection end (22, 22′) of the ejector device at the end of a stroke.

Abstract: A continuous form microstructure array device is constructed as a flexible elongate film laminate containing a plurality of microstructures or arrays of microstructures arranged serially lengthwise along the laminate. The laminate can be continuously drawn from a supply roll or stack, advanced within an analytic device and, when analysis is complete, taken up in a storage roll or stack. The device provides for high throughput microfluidic processing.

Abstract: A method and system for automated immunochemistry or chemistry analysis are provided. The method and system provide a sample aliquoting section, a reagent pipetting section having a plurality of independent reagent pipetting stations, each operating on a cycle of a first period of time, and an incubate and wash and read section operating on a cycle of a second period of time to match the throughput of the system, where the quotient of the first period of time divided by the second period of time is a whole number, and the number of the independent reagent pipetting stations being equal to the whole number. The respective cycles of the independent reagent pipetting stations are staggered apart by the second time period, such that at least one of the multiple independent pipetting stations is available for working with the incubate and wash and read section at each operating cycle of the second period of time.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for solid phase microextraction of target analytes from solid or fluid samples. The apparatus comprises gas tight enclosure means, means for introducing a sample including target analytes into the enclosure means, and means located within the enclosure means for extracting the target analytes from the sample, wherein the extraction means either samples a head space near the sample or samples the sample directly.

Abstract: The present invention absorbs and captures nucleic components from various specimens by a single stationary phase and finally recovers the nucleic components by eluting the captured nucleic components from the stationary phase. This invention enables recovery of nucleic components without reducing the concentrations of nucleic acids and detection of specific nucleic components such as specific viruses.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for enhancing the confidence index in detecting the presence and/or amount of an analyte suspected of being in a sample. In the method, a combination of at least two predetermined derivatives of the analyte is subjected to chromatographic separation. Then, the retention times of the derivatives as a result of the chromatographic separation are determined. The retention times are related to the presence of the analyte in the sample. Detecting a response from each of the derivatives enhances confirmation that the compound detected is the analyte in question further. The number and intensities of the responses is related to the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: An automated sample-on-solid-support processing system includes a treatment solution supply subsystem which feeds solvent to a dispenser to dispense a measured amount of treatment solution to each well of a multi-well plate. The dispenser measures the solution within a fill container having a plurality of reservoir wells corresponding to the number of wells in the multi-well plate. The fill container is contained within a reservoir chamber that is filled with an excess of solution. Each reservoir well is surrounded by a plurality of bores which drains excess solution from the top of the fill container so that a precise amount of solution is left in the reservoir wells when solution is drained out of the reservoir chamber. Gas pressure is introduced into the reservoir chamber to force the solution out of the reservoir well through a bundle of tubes, with one tube per well, and into the wells of the multi-well plate.

Abstract: A droplet dispensing system for forming and dispensing droplets of a liquid sample is provided. The droplet dispensing system is fabricated on the tip of a dispensing pin. The tip of the dispensing pin includes a droplet ejection nozzle, a filling channel, a chamber and an actuator for ejecting droplets on demand. The system further includes a holder for mounting the dispensing pin. The holder also contains a control circuit for activating the actuator.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for performing an assay comprising a micro-system platform, a CD-ROM device and an information processor, where the CD-ROM device under control of the information processor is capable of reading and writing data to the micro-system platform. The micro-system platform comprises a first section for storing data in a continuous circular data band, which is disposed in an inner portion of the micro-system platform, and a second section including at least one assay, which is formed in an outer portion of the micro-system platform. During operation, the CD-ROM device retrieves and stores data related to the performance of the assay in the circular data band. The information processor is operative for controlling the CD-ROM device in accordance with the data retrieved from the circular data band, and for analyzing the results of the assay.

Abstract: A continuous form microstructure array device (20) is constructed as a flexible elongate film laminate containing microstructure arrays (26) arranged serially along the laminate. The laminate can be continuously drawn from a roll, passed through a processing and analysis device and rerolled or stacked for storage.

Abstract: A reagent reservoir with a patterned bottom for full extraction of a liquid reagent by a multiple head pipettor. The bottom wall includes a plurality of recesses, each corresponding to a head of a multiple head pipettor. Each recess opens upwardly to receive the pipettor head, and includes a top edge, a bottom and surrounding side wall portions that angle outwardly from the recess bottom to the top edge. The recesses promote flow of the liquid reagent to the recess bottoms and prevent liquid hangup between recesses to eliminate waste of the liquid reagent. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the top edges between adjacent recesses meet at an angle to form a pointed peak.

Abstract: A method and system of sample aliquot storage for automated immunochemistry or chemistry instruments are provided. The method and system provide a sample aliquot storage unit having a sample storage wheel for storing sample vessels containing sample aliquots in a chilled enclosed environment, which are accessible by both a sample pipettor of a sample aliquoting station and a pick-and-place gripper. The pick-and-place gripper transports the sample vessels containing sample aliquots to multiple independent reagent pipetting stations respectively for sample aspiration of subsequent assay, and thereafter transports the sample vessels containing remaining sample aliquots back to the sample storage wheel to be stored in the chilled environment for reflex testing. When all the tests are completed, the pick-and-place gripper transports the sample vessels to a waste storage area.

Abstract: A method of assaying a specimen, comprising: preparing (i) a specimen, (ii) a liquid cell in which a liquid used for assaying a component in the specimen, such as a liquid reagent or a liquid diluent, is to be contained, and (iii) a mixing cell wherein the specimen and the liquid are mixed; supplying a liquid reagent into the liquid cell in an amount exceeding the amount required in the assay; pipetting a portion of the specimen and a portion of the liquid into the mixing cell using a pipetting tip; and washing the pipetting tip with the liquid remaining in the liquid cell.

Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way. Additionally, seals may be seated in grooves engraved in either the pipette tip or the pipette block to provide a sliding seal between the pipette block and pipette tip.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for drug level detection by using a simplified and effective deproteinizing step from body fluids, such as plasma, blood, urine, saliva, tear fluid, followed by drug extraction and measurement using an accurate technique, such as a colorimetric assay or a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography method. In a particular embodiment, the invention is directed to a method to quantify rifampicin in order to monitor its levels in body fluids and also to a Kit for rifampicin concentration measurement.

Abstract: A chemical analysis method for determining chemically related differences between subject biological material such as genetically modified plant material and control biological material such as genetically unmodified plant material, which method includes at least the following six steps. The first step is to contact the subject biological material with a fluid extractant, such as a mixture of water, isopropanol and potassium hydroxide, to produce a fluid extract of the subject biological material. The second step is to contact the control biological material with the fluid extractant to produce a fluid extract of the control biological material. The third step is to chromatograph the fluid extract of the subject biological material, for example, gas or fluid chromatography, to produce a chromatogram of the fluid extract of the subject biological material.

Abstract: An automatic tissue processor for processing tissue samples for histological analysis. The tissue processor in one configuration includes a retort chamber, a wax storage chamber holding multiple wax containers, a reagent storage chamber holding multiple reagent containers, and a fluid transporting system including a rotary valve operated by a Maltese Cross gear, for selectively connecting the retort chamber with a particular wax or reagent container to supply wax or reagents to the retort chamber. Differential heating of the wax chamber is accommodated by multiple heating elements, with indirect heating of the rotary valve and the fluid transporting system. A computerized central control system for automatic monitoring and control of such tissue processor is advantageously arranged to execute a reagent management program, which enables the central control system to automatically manage reagent usage and replacement.

Abstract: A pipettor uses no pistons in order to provide highly automated, precise and accurate pipetting operations. Additionally, a self-aligning pipette tip enables better engagement of such pipette tips by the pipettor. The pipette tips may be automatically engaged and locked into place by the pipettor and may be automatically disengaged to enable highly-automated pipetting processes for industrial and laboratory purposes. Open proximal ends of the pipette tips are engaged by a pipette block, which then forms a temporary seal with the individual pipette tips. Displacement of the pipette block with respect to the pipette tips increased or decreases the effective volume of the pipette tip allowing it to aspirate or expel fluids in a precise, accurate, and predictable way.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for efficient transport, transfer and movement of fluids. In particular, the invention provides fluidic micro-structures for controlled transport and movement of liquids in devices for analytical and other purposes. Devices of the invention include one or more features that can enhance performance of the fluid transfer, referred to as a pre-shooter stop, a butterfly structure, a cascade structure, a waste chamber inlet, a capillary driven sample inlet chamber, a capillary stop structure, a bifurcation flow-through structure, and a hydrophobic vent.

Abstract: In order to provide an automatic analyzer which ensures accurate absorbance measurement even when ultrasonic wave intensity for agitation of the sample and reagent or the like becomes excessive, multiple reaction vessels 8 are placed as follows: As viewed from the top of the reaction disk 15, the reaction disk 15 is divided into four parts, and the side wall of the reaction vessel 8 does not intersect with two light beams 20 which intersect with each other at right angles. Herein multiple reaction vessels 8 are located at an inclined position approximately at an angle of about 45 deg. This layout allows the reaction vessel 8 to have the surface exposed to ultrasonic wave 22 intersecting to the applied ultrasonic wave appropriately at right angles, and absorbance measuring surface 21 intersecting to the applied measurement wave appropriately at right angles.