Abstract: A conveyor system including a conveyor unit including a carriage guide element defining a conveyor track, and a self-propelled conveyor carriage movable along the conveyor track and configured to move a container holder along a travel path; and a plurality of receiving locations arranged along the travel path. The self-propelled conveyor carriage includes two gripping arms mounted movable between a gripping position in which the gripping arms are configured to grip and lift a container holder arranged in one of the receiving locations, and a release position in which the gripping arms are configured to release the container holder and deposit the container holder in one of the receiving locations.

Abstract: A microfluidic system for performing nucleic acid synthesis includes a microfluidic reactor site. A first reactor site valve is coupled upstream of the reactor site. A second reactor site valve is coupled downstream of the reactor site. The system includes a plurality of microfluidic inlets to couple to multiple pressurized reagent containing chambers. A plurality of reagent valves are coupled to individually control a size of droplets of reagent provided by respective pressurized reagent containing chambers. A pressurized gas source is coupled to propel droplets downstream to the microfluidic reactor site.

Abstract: Milk is consumed in large quantities across the world and quality of milk is important to consumer. Multilayer packaging is one of solution to maintain quality of milk for prolonged period. However, quality of milk may change due to issues in handling, transportation, environment, and packaging. Currently available techniques fail to detect milk quality when packaging is opaque. Hence, common methods that are used for detecting quality of milk cannot be easily used over packaged milk. Present application provides non-invasive method and system for detecting quality of packaged milk. More specifically, system uses a sensing technique enabled in a capacitive Near-field communication (NFC) tag and an NFC enabled device for detecting quality of the packaged milk in real-time. In particular, the capacitive NFC tag is configured to provide milk quality information on NFC enabled device when NFC enabled device comes near capacitive NFC tag configured on packaged container.

Abstract: A device consisting of a digital camera with a microscope objective lens, a disc where plant material can be mounted and automatically rotated, and two other cameras for determining the plant material's shape and size, that allows images of intact cannabis trichomes to be taken, without destruction or damage to the plant material, and automatically counts and calculates the density of the trichomes on the inflorescence surface. This does not require taking any plant cuttings, does not require the use of a microscope or microscope slides, and allows multiple measurements to be taken of a single inflorescence sample in quick succession, without the need for manual image analysis.

Abstract: A support tile for a container for use with histological samples can be held at a downwardly inclined angle. A planar support, having a histological sample coupled to an underside, can be supported by the support tile with a space therebetween for fluids to flow through. The support tile top includes an inclined ramp for fluid deposition, beginning a flow path down the support tile. A spreader step disperses fluids more uniformly across the support tile. The spreader step can be angled, such as convex, facing the flow path direction and delay the fluid flow through the flow path central portion until flow is dispersed to the flow path sides for more uniform flow across the sample. An aggregator at a support tile bottom directs fluid flow from sides toward the flow path central portion for wicking of the fluid by an end stop to drain from the support tile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the readily automated methods for the separation of biomolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids. More specifically, the invention relates to a separation device, which includes at least one column provided with a bottom liquid inlet/outlet and adapted to receive a separation media. At least part of an elongated frit has been arranged substantially parallel to the column side walls, segregating the separation media from the bottom liquid inlet/outlet. The elongated frit may be shaped as a tube and should have a porosity that serves to retain separation media within the column during sample processing. Further, the invention relates to a method of separating at least one target molecule from a liquid, which method comprises providing at least one column provided with a bottom liquid inlet/outlet and optionally with a top liquid inlet.

Abstract: A system performs a non-destructive measurement of a density gradient to automatically replicate and dispense the density gradient. The system obtains measurements at points along a length of the density gradient and generates a profile of the density gradient based on the measurements. The system uses the profile to replicate the density gradient of components in a second container. The system inserts a distal end of a probe into the second container, and pumps separate components into a manifold and mixing chamber connected to a proximal end of the probe to automatically dispense the density gradient in the second container.

Abstract: A laboratory sample cassette (1) comprises a main body (2) having a writing surface (3), and at least two protrusions (14) extending from the writing surface (3). Each said protrusion (14) has substantially the same height from the writing surface (3).

Abstract: An electrode loss measuring apparatus includes an electrode which moves in a roll-to-roll state between an unwinder and a rewinder and on which a plurality of reference points are marked at predetermined intervals. The apparatus further includes a reference point detector configured to detect the reference points marked on the electrode, a position measurer configured to derive a position value of the electrode according to a rotation amount of the unwinder or the rewinder, and a position value of the corresponding reference point in conjunction with the reference point detector when the reference point detector detects the reference point, and a calculator configured to calculate a loss amount of the electrode by comparing the derived position value of the reference point with a position value of a set reference point when an interval between the reference points is changed due to a loss of a portion of the electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a bile duct chip that is a bile duct chip (200) including a membrane (210) through which substances are movable from one surface to the other surface, a first substrate (221) having a recessed part that forms a first flow path (220), and a second substrate (231) having a recessed part that forms a second flow path (230), in which the first substrate (221), the membrane (210), the second substrate (231) are stacked in this order, the recessed part of the first substrate (221) has an opening portion facing the one surface of the membrane (210), the recessed part of the second substrate has an opening portion facing the other surface of the membrane (210), the one surface of the membrane (210) forms a part of the first flow path (220), the other surface of the membrane (210) forms a part of the second flow path (230), the first flow path (220) and the second flow path (230) communicate with each other through the membrane (210), and bile duct epithelial cells (222) are disposed on a surface of

Abstract: The present invention is a specially prepared fibrin foam, and a method of (and equipment for) making it, which is flexible, contains either open cells, closed cells or both, and having individual cell diameters between 0.001 and 2 mm. Typical ratios of reactants, to give the desired foam characteristics, include 50 cc (45-55 cc) of whole blood (prior to separation to the plasma component) with the subsequent addition thereto of 2 ml (1.5-2.5 ml) 3% hydrogen peroxide, 5000 units (4500-5500 units) thrombin and 1 gm (0.9-1.1 g) calcium chloride in 3 cc (2-4 cc) water. The present invention also includes specialty vessels and constructs, namely, automated, or semi-automated inner containers for the non-blood reactants, and a custom outer separation vessel having a punted based with an annular base lip as well as an upper tube shape tapering inward towards its top annular opening.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for characterizing material samples. In one aspect, a device for characterizing a sample includes a substrate configured for receiving a sample thereon; an optical fiber probe comprising a first end positioned near the sample and a second end that is bifurcated to include one or more first fiber configured for connection to a first light emitting device and one or more second fiber configured for connection to a spectrometer; a reflectance module coupled to the substrate; and a second light emitting device positioned near the sample. The optical fiber probe is configured for selectively obtaining at the spectrometer both a reflectance absorbance measurement of the sample associated with the first light emitting device and a photoluminescence measurement of the sample associated with the second light emitting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of loading a fluid into a fluidic element, wherein the method is performed in a fluidic system comprising the fluidic element, wherein the method comprises determining a volume that has flown into the fluidic element since a start time tstart, and at a switching time tswitch, switching the fluidic system to an operating state to stop flow into the fluidic element. The present invention also relates to a fluidic system configured for performing the method, and to a corresponding computer program product.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a portable system, method and kit for onsite adsorbent evaluation useful for quickly testing adsorbents used to remove unwanted contaminants from water sources, including ground water. The embodiments of the portable system, method and kit of the present invention may be used in remote locations including the location of the source water obviating the need for transporting contaminated water or performing sampling in a laboratory. Components of the system may include a plurality of fluid channels or paths. Each fluid path may or may not include a column containing the adsorbent under evaluation, passive sampler, sampling vessel, source tubing, treated water return tubing, taps at junctions and a pump to draw source water through the fluid path in the system.

Abstract: Provided herein are magnetofluidic cartridges of use in a wide variety of sample analysis applications, including nucleic acid amplification assays. The magnetofluidic cartridges include sample inlet wells and sample analysis wells for performing controlled serial elution techniques that enables execution of extraction/purification and splitting of analytes for multiplex detection via magnetic actuation only. Related magnetofluidic devices, kits, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a transporter, a first dispensing probe, a second dispensing probe, a reagent dispenser, a first reaction container transporter, a fluid dispenser, and a second reaction container transporter. The reagent dispenser is configured to dispense the reagent into the first reaction container at a first dispensing position by the first dispensing probe. The first reaction container transporter is configured to move the first reaction container, from the first dispensing position to a sucking position by the transporter. The fluid dispenser is configured to dispense the fluid including the reagent from the first reaction container at the sucking position into the second reaction container at a second dispensing position by the second dispensing probe. The second reaction container transporter is configured to transport the second reaction container containing the fluid from the second dispensing position to the first dispensing position by the transporter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic reactor for controlling a chemical reaction and a chemical reaction control method using the same, and more specifically provides a microfluidic reactor capable of controlling a chemical reaction on an expanded scale and a microfluidic reaction device including the same. In addition, the present invention provides an ultrafast synthesis method for controlling unstable intermediates using the microfluidic reactor and microfluidic reaction device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport method to be performed in an analysis system configured to transport a specimen to an analyzer configured to analyze an analyte contained in the specimen, the transport method comprising: cooling and preserving, in a cooling-and-preserving part, a quality control specimen containing an analyte having a known concentration; and controlling transport of the quality control specimen between the cooling-and-preserving part and the analyzer on the basis of a status of the analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test device. The device includes a testing element and a house configured to accommodate the testing element, where the house is formed by folding a paper-made card, and the testing element is located in the housing. The housing is allowed to be in different change states to test or assay an analyte in a sample.

Abstract: In a two-dimensional conveyance line employing an electromagnetic conveyance technique, carriers are conveyed in consideration of the length of a group of stagnated carriers, so as to reduce idle positions and ensure conveyance efficiency of a specimen inspection system and maximize the number of carriers conveyed simultaneously. Current is supplied to a winding of an electromagnetic circuit and an electromagnetic force is generated between the winding and a carrier with a magnet that holds a test tube to move the carrier. The processing efficiency of a specimen inspection system is improved by changing the current of the electromagnetic circuit to change a conveyance speed of the carrier to which the specimen sample is mounted, and by shortening the conveyance time, and reducing the conveyance speed of the carrier and increasing the number of carriers that are conveyed simultaneously as an alternative to detouring the carrier during congestion.