Abstract: An environmentally enhanced pipette tip rack includes a molded fibrous cellulose shell and an injection molded plastic tip deck; the shell and other features of the rack are configured for strength, minimal contamination, and to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods to directly quantify molecular entities and, compounds, inactive ingredients, compositions or formulations across and into specific layers of biological membranes, such as the skin. Exemplary methods enable the determination of the amount of drug into and across tissues as well as the measurement of the effect of chemicals/compounds on membranes, mainly the skin.

Abstract: A sterilization challenge device for verifying the efficacy of a sterilization process includes a container, an insert member, a sterilization indicator, and a cap. The container includes an open end, a closed end, a chamber configured to contain the biological indicator and the insert member, and at least one hole arranged proximate the open end. The cap is configured to engage with the container to close the open end, and the at least one hole is configured to provide a flow path for the gaseous sterilant into the chamber.

Abstract: An automated method for preparing a sample suspension. The sample suspension can be used for both MALDI and antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). A suspension is prepared, and a portion of that suspension is removed for a first analysis (e.g. MALDI), leaving a remaining volume. The turbidity of the remaining volume is measured. If the turbidity is below a first threshold, the suspension is not used for a second analysis (e.g. AST) and is subjected to a concentration protocol to raise the turbidity of the suspension. If the turbidity is within a predetermined range, a volume of the suspension is calculated that will deliver a predetermined amount of sample to a vessel for the second analysis. If the turbidity of the suspension is above the predetermined range, and the suspension has not been diluted a predetermined number of times, the suspension is diluted according to a dilution protocol.

Abstract: A biological sample collection system can include a sample collection vessel having a closed first end and an open second for receiving a biological sample. The system can additionally include a sealing cap configured to associate with the sample collection vessel, a reagent chamber secured within an interior space of the sealing cap and retaining a measure of sample preservation solution, a shim circumferentially associated with a proximal end of the reagent chamber and spanning the distance between the reagent chamber and the interior sidewall of the sealing cap, and a plug having a diaphragm configured to selectively engage the shim and form a seal for retaining the sample preservation solution within the reagent chamber. Associating the sealing cap with the sample collection vessel displaces the diaphragm from the shim and breaks the seal formed therebetween, opening a fluid path between the reagent chamber and the sample collection chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus, and its drive circuit and drive method are provided in the present disclosure. The drive circuit includes at least one switch unit, where the switch unit includes a first signal input terminal, a signal output terminal, first and second control signal terminals, a signal terminal, a first module, a second module, and a third module. The first module is electrically connected to the first signal input terminal, the signal output terminal and the second module; and the second module is electrically connected to the first control signal terminal. The first control signal terminal is configured to control the first module and the second module to be in conduction or disconnection, and the second control signal terminal is configured to control the third module to in conduction or disconnection, thereby controlling the signal output terminal to output a first or second signal.

Abstract: A blood clotting time measurement cartridge that can keep an amount of blood constant while simplifying a configuration and easing a blood injection operation, and a blood clotting time measuring device using the cartridge. The cartridge includes a measurement flow channel wherein blood is housed and transmission of light detects whether there is blood in a predetermined position, an introduction opening on one end side of the channel from which blood is introduced, a communication opening on the other end through which it is possible to cause, by suction or pressurization of air or blood introduced from the introduction opening, the blood in the channel to make a reciprocating motion so as to pass through the predetermined position, a partition wall that partitions a blood injection space connected to the introduction opening, and an absorption member on an outer side of the partition wall that absorbs blood beyond the wall.

Abstract: Provided is a method for analyzing the metal impurity content that includes passing water to be analyzed through a monolithic organic porous anion exchanger, thereby allowing the monolithic organic porous anion exchanger to capture metal impurities in the water to be analyzed; passing an eluent through the monolithic organic porous anion exchanger which has been allowed to capture metal impurities in the water to be analyzed, to collect an effluent, thereby obtaining a collected eluent containing metal impurities in the water to be analyzed eluted from the monolithic organic porous anion exchanger; and measuring the content of each metal impurity in the collected eluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sample tube for polymerase chain reaction. The sample tube includes a sample tube body having an annular side wall and a bottom wall connected to annular side wall, wherein the annular side wall and the bottom wall form an accommodating space for accommodating a reaction mixture; and a first extension member extending from the bottom wall to the accommodating space, wherein, to carry out PCR, the reaction mixture immerses the first extension member, such that the light from the light source enters into the reaction mixture via the bottom and the bottom wall of the sample tube and the first extension member sequentially.

Abstract: An automatic analysis device and an automatic analysis system capable of executing separate operations by respective analysis units even in a device configuration where a same control part controls two or more analysis units, the automatic analysis device including a biochemistry analysis unit; an electrolyte analysis unit; one analysis unit control CPU for controlling operations of the biochemistry analysis unit and the electrolyte analysis unit; and a storage part for storing time charts of operations having different purposes for the biochemistry analysis unit and the electrolyte analysis units. Two or more of the biochemistry analysis units and the electrolyte analysis units operate independently to each other based on the time charts stored in the storage part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the determination of impurities in polyalkylene ethers and polyalkylene amines comprising the steps i) introducing polyalkylene ethers or polyalkylene amines as an analyte into a chromatography column containing monolithic silica gel as a stationary phase, ii) eluting the analyte with a liquid elution agent having such a polarity that the analyte is in adsorptive equilibrium with the stationary phase during chromatography, iii) detecting the components of the analyte at the exit-side end of the chromatography column, receiving a chromatogram, which shows different components of the analyte and its qualitative amount depending on the elution time of the individual components, and iv) identifying bands in the chromatogram having a low height or area compared to the band with the largest height or area as an indication of the presence of impurities in the analyte. The method allows in an easy manner to identify impurities in the sample.

Abstract: A pyrolysis system for evaluating a source rock sample from a subterranean reservoir and methods are described. The pyrolysis system includes a reactor vessel including a body with an open end, a cover attachable to the body, a heating system, a collector assembly. The body and the cover define a sealable chamber; a source rock sample holder sized to be received inside the sealable chamber; and a sensor system. The sensor system includes a direct sensor assembly associated with the source rock sample holder, sized to be received inside the sealable chamber, and operable to measure properties of the source rock sample in the source rock sample holder; and a pyrolysis products sensor assembly in fluid communication with the collector assembly of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A specimen holder includes a body, a sleeve, and a wireless transponder. The body has distal and proximal portions, the distal portion including a surface that carries a specimen upon engagement of the body with the specimen, and the proximal portion including a first pair of parallel surfaces. The sleeve has distal and proximal portions, a side wall, and an internal cavity at least partially enclosed by the side wall. The distal portion of the sleeve includes a second pair of parallel surfaces. The wireless transponder is sized to be positioned within the internal cavity of the sleeve. The sleeve is attachable to the body by capturing one of the first and second pairs of parallel surfaces between the other of the first and second pairs of parallel surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extraction apparatus capable of simultaneously extracting target materials from multiple biological samples and, more particularly, to a target material extraction apparatus in which magnetic bar blocks can be replaced according to kinds of multi-well plates to be inserted into a cartridge. When used, the target material extraction apparatus of the present invention is operated in such a manner that among various plates multi-well having different numbers of wells, multi-well plates suitable for a use purpose are loaded into a cartridge within the apparatus and magnetic bar blocks equipped with magnetic bars suitable therefor are selected and loaded. Thus, the apparatus has the advantage of selectively applying various multi-well plates to one installment according to the number of samples from which a target material is extracted or to the amount of the target material to be extracted.

Abstract: A method of forming a microfluidic device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate, forming electrodes partially into the first dielectric layer, and forming a second dielectric layer on the electrodes. The method includes filling, with a metal material, two wells formed in the second dielectric layer such that the metal material is in direct contact with the electrodes. The method includes forming a third dielectric layer on the metal material and second dielectric layer. The method includes filling, with a structural material, a channel formed between the wells such that the structural material does not directly contact the electrodes. The method includes forming a fourth dielectric layer on the third dielectric layer and the structural material, extracting the structural material through at least one vent hole in the fourth dielectric layer, and forming a fifth dielectric layer on the fourth dielectric layer.

Abstract: This invention provides a high-efficient single-cell collection method using a specially designed collection well and collection pipet tip for particle/cell collection from the collection well. The structures of the collection well and pipet tip eliminate fluidic dead volume in the collection, resulting in all (or most) of the particles/cells can be brought into the collection pipette tip with the flow. The advantages of this invention in cell manipulation include high cell collection efficiency, low cell damage and easy operation procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and methods for counting cells in a liquid sample are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for counting cells in a liquid sample includes: a flow-splitting chamber fluidly coupled to a collection chamber; an input tube configured to deliver a liquid sample to the flow-splitting chamber; a spaced apart array of posts along a flow path configured to redirect the liquid sample into a plurality of streams; a plurality of sensing zones corresponding to the plurality of streams; and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein each sensing electrode is disposed in a corresponding sensing zone of the plurality of sensing zones and configured to detect a change in electrical impedance as the liquid sample flows through the plurality of sensing zones.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the reduction of the volume of a sample; the method comprises an acceleration step, during which a container containing the sample is accelerated so that a part of a liquid component of the sample flows out of an opening of one end of the container; according to some embodiments, the container is made to rotate around a rotation axis passing through the container; the container is orientated radially relative to the rotation axis with its opening facing outwards.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and combining a sample, and in particular, a biological sample, with a reagent, and uses thereof. The apparatus comprises a sample collection container and a complementary sealing cap. A sealed reagent reservoir containing a reagent, such as a preservative reagent, is provided in a lower portion of the collection container. A piercing insert is nested within the collection container, above the seal of the reagent reservoir. Following the collection of the sample into the collection container, the action of sealing the collection container with the cap causes the piercing insert to engage with and disrupt the seal on the reagent reservoir, thereby exposing the collected sample to the reagent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a diagnostic system includes an instrument coupled to a client device and having at least one sample processing bay. The diagnostic system has a software architecture including instrument software (ISW) associated with the instrument. The ISW receives an assay definition file (ADF) that has a control file and an assay analysis module (AAM) file. The processing bay prepares and senses the sample according to parameters in the OPUS file and then generates sensor scan data. The diagnostic system then analyzes the sensor scan data and prepares a report according to the AAM file.