Abstract: A cover member for use in the treatment of a sample on a substrate is disclosed. The cover member has fluid flow features and is adapted for use in an instrument, such as a laboratory instrument. The cover member comprises at least one orientation feature detectable by the instrument for ascertaining an orientation of the cover member. An automated method for detecting orientation of a cover member in a sample treatment assembly is also disclosed, in which a processor compares data corresponding to one or more images collected from the sample treatment assembly, with data representing a reference image to determine if a cover member is in the sample treatment assembly.

Abstract: A system for asservation of at least one hair including a hair root and a hair shaft are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes transport and/or storage containers, or cultivation containers. Also disclosed are methods for transporting and/or storing hair, for culturing keratinocytes from hair, and for generating induced pluripotent stem cells from keratinocytes.

Abstract: A system for dispensing vessels to an analyzer is disclosed. The system comprises a disc rotatable about an axis and comprising a groove, a drum arranged above and coupled to the disc to rotatable together about the axis, the drum comprising slots arranged along and around the axis, each slot comprising an input interface for stacking vessels in the slot and an output interface for dispensing the vessels, the output interface comprising a retainer, a crank translatable in a linear forwards and backwards direction orthogonal to the axis between a first, second, and third position. The crank comprises a pin for rotating the disc and bringing a slot into a dispensing position upon translation between the first and second position, the crank comprising an actuator pin for actuating the retainer in the dispensing position upon translation of the crank between the second and third position to dispense the vessels.

Abstract: In one embodiment described herein, a cartridge is provided comprising a cartridge frame; a plurality of diluents each in an expandable container; a plurality of reagents each in an expandable container; and a plurality of mixing vessels comprising empty expandable containers.

Abstract: An automated analyzer includes: a special washing information storage unit that stores special washing information for avoiding carry-over of a pretreatment specimen dispensing nozzle; a first special washing liquid dispensing unit that dispenses a special washing liquid used for special washing to a pretreatment container; and a special washing control unit that controls the first special washing liquid dispensing unit, a pretreatment table, and the pretreatment specimen dispensing nozzle based on the special washing information and information on specimens consecutively dispensed by the pretreatment specimen dispensing nozzle for causing the first special washing liquid dispensing unit to dispense the special washing liquid to the pretreatment container and for causing the pretreatment specimen dispensing nozzle to suck the special washing liquid from the pretreatment container.

Abstract: An automated sample inspection system is provided with a conveyance line for conveying sample carriers; an empty sample carrier line for conveying empty sample carriers; and a buffer line for temporarily holding empty sample carriers supplied from the empty sample carrier line to the conveyance line. According to the depletion status of the buffer line of each processing system, and the depletion status of other processing systems adjacent to each processing system, the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line to the buffer line of each processing system, and the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line of each processing system to the empty sample carrier line of another adjacent processing system are determined. Consequently, delays in the processes in the system can be suppressed due to the suppression of the depletion of sample carriers.

Abstract: A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

Abstract: A pipette tip supply mechanism includes: a pipette tip storage unit for storing a plurality of tapered shaped pipette tips; a belt for transporting a pipette tip supplied from an opening of the pipette tip storage unit; and a belt drive unit that drives the belt in a transport direction. The belt is inclined upwards toward the transport direction so that the pipette tip is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the pipette tip on a surface of the belt and the pipette tip is rolled to orient the longitudinal axis of the pipette tip along the transport direction in conjunction with the drive of the belt in the transport direction.

Abstract: Pipette tip coupler and a disposable pipette tip for a pipette device comprises a stepped coupler shoulder complementary to an axially stepped pipette tip shoulder; a plurality of circumferentially disposed elements or segments carried by the coupler at a location superior to the coupler shoulder; and a distal elastomeric element carried by the coupler at a location distal to the coupler shoulder wherein the plurality of elements or segments have a circumferential, radially translated state that provides an abutment with a first working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip while compressing the distal elastomeric element into sealing abutment with a second working surface formed in the interior surface of the tip and while abutting the proximally facing axial stop surface of the tip with the distally facing axial stop surface of the coupler to define an axial coupling position of the pipette tip on the pipette device.

Abstract: A device is described including a lid, a collection portion support, and a collection portion with a surface for receiving a biological sample, the lid includes a window and a window holder, the surface defines a first plane, the collection portion includes a first, a second, and a third position markers, each position marker indicates a center point marker, the center points define a second plane that has a line of intersection with the first plane, the device has an interior volume defined partially by the collection portion support, the collection portion, the window, and the window holder, the window allows visual inspection of the position markers, the collection portion support has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the interior volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated microphysiological device and fabrication methods thereof, as well as methods of use to perform biological assays.

Abstract: A liquid delivery method according to the present invention performs a procedure including supplying a first liquid into a microchannel and collecting the first liquid from within the microchannel, and then, dispensing a first amount of a second liquid without hermetically sealing a pipette tip insertion hole, then, dispensing a second amount of the second liquid in a state where the pipette tip insertion hole is hermetically closed to supply the second liquid into the microchannel.

Abstract: Plug-closing processing units are provided with: a first plug chuck parts that grasp plugs; and a second plug chuck part located above the first plug chuck parts, wherein the first plug chuck parts each include at least two first supports that grasp the plugs from more than one direction, and the second plug chuck part is provided with a plug-closing mechanism that includes a second support disposed in the radial direction of plugs and having an inclined lower end surface. Thus, provided are a plug processing device capable of stable plug-opening processing and plug-closing processing on a conveyor line for a specimen container, and a specimen test automation system including the plug processing device.

Abstract: Aiming to provide a method capable of reciprocatingly delivering various liquids without bringing air into a microchannel, a detection system and a detection apparatus for implementation of this method. In order to achieve at least one of the above aims, provided is a method of inserting a pipette tip into a liquid injection portion of a detection chip including: the microchannel; the liquid injection portion connected to one end of the microchannel; and a reservoir connected to the other end of the microchannel, injecting and aspirating the liquid by the pipette tip, and reciprocatingly delivering the liquid into the microchannel.

Abstract: An integrated technological platform enabling real-time quantitative multiparameter metabolic profiling, utilizing either or both of extra and intracellular optical sensors, individually or simultaneously. A scalable embedded micropocket array structure, generally fabricated on fused silica substrates, facilitates the integration of multiple, spatially separated extracellular sensors for multiparameter analysis in a container formed with the use of an activation mechanism forming part of a device configured to hold the container during the measurements. The creation of hermetically sealed microchambers is carried out with a pneumatically and/or mechanically and/or electromechanically driven device that is “floating” within the holding device and that is optionally equipped with a vacuum/suction mechanism to hold a component of the container at its surface.

Abstract: A method that allows a user to dispense a desired volume of solution from an acoustic dispensing apparatus by allowing the user to select the drop volume to be dispensed. A typical drop volume is in the range of one to twenty-five nanoliters. The method comprises the steps of creating two or more burst curves that give the relationship between liquid level and burst value, using data from the burst curves to create two or more calibration functions, and using data from the calibration functions to create a dispensing data set that is used to set the burst parameter required to dispense the selected drop volume.

Abstract: In some aspects, a keyed cap for a container is provided. Furthermore, in some aspects, a keyed container device including a container and the keyed cap for the container is also provided. Still further, in some aspects, a keyed containing system including a container, keyed cap for the container, and an electronic device having a keying element that is adapted to mate or otherwise fit with a specific keying element on the keyed cap. If a keyed cap has a keying element that does not correctly correspond to a specific keying element on an electronic device, then the keyed cap will not properly mate with the keying element on the electronic device. For example, the two keying elements that do not match may not fit sufficiently far enough within each other to permit the piercing member on the electronic device to reach a septum on the cap.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring amines in a solution, including: preparing an indicator-metal complex, wherein the indicator-metal complex comprises an indicator and a metal; introducing the indicator-metal complex to a solution, wherein the solution contains an amount of amine, wherein the amine activates the indicator-metal complex causing a change in fluorescence intensity of the indicator-metal complex; and measuring the amount of amine in the solution by measuring the change in fluorescence intensity of the indicator-metal complex.

Abstract: Disclosed are transfer dispensers for assay devices. These dispensers provide for transfer of a single assay component into a single well in the assay device. This ensures that the assay conducted in each well contains only a single component.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall, an inlet, a switching region, and a plurality of outlet channels downstream of the switching region. The microchannel is formed in a microfluidic chip substrate and configured to accommodate a flow of liquid through the microchannel. The microfluidic device includes a valve operatively coupled to the switching region comprising a sealed reservoir. A side passage extends between the reservoir and the interior of the microchannel via an aperture in the side wall and is configured to accommodate a volume of liquid between the interior of the microchannel and the reservoir. The microfluidic device includes an actuator integrated into the microfluidic chip and configured to increase an internal pressure of the reservoir and move at least a portion of the volume of the liquid from the side passage into the microchannel to deflect a portion of the liquid flowing through the microchannel.