Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein that are configured for use in laboratory testing, such as, for example, during a procedure including the monitoring and detection of chemical reactions. For example, the systems and devices described herein can be used during a procedure to monitor and detect polymerase chain reactions (PCR). In some embodiments, a sample container includes a container body that defines an interior volume and has an open end in fluid communication with the interior volume. A cap is sealingly engageable with the open end of the container body. The cap defines a receptacle that is configured to extend within a portion of the interior volume of the container body when the cap is sealingly engaged thereto. The receptacle can receive therein a sensor, such as, a temperature sensor that can monitor the temperature of a sample material disposed within the container body.

Abstract: An oestrus detector 100 includes a reservoir portion 135 which contains a colored liquid. The detector 100 further includes a generally planar portion 110 that is attached to and sealed from the reservoir portion 135, except for an open or closed passage 111 in a seal line separating the reservoir portion 135 and the generally planar portion 110. In use the liquid is squeezed from the reservoir portion 135, through the passage 111, and into the generally planar portion 110, when the reservoir portion 135 receives pressure.

Abstract: A rack robot lifts and transfers sample tube storage racks or plates with a refrigerated enclosure maintained, e.g., at ?20° C. The samples are normally held in ultra-low temperature, e.g., ?80° C., or cryogenic freezers. From time to time, the racks or plates need to be roved from the ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezers for processing and the rack robot transfers the racks or plates to the various processing stations within the refrigerated enclosure, such as tube picking, barcode reading, or frost removal stations.

Abstract: A motorized multi-cuvette rotatable carousel positions cuvettes around a stationary axis. A rotatable cuvette holder plate positions cuvettes in the carousel. The cuvette holder plate has spring tensioning elements that hold cuvettes in a precise position within the cuvette holder plate. A cuvette positioning arm is attached to the rotatable carousel assembly. The positioning arm geometrically positions the cuvette for depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood glucose monitoring system, a strip accommodation device, a strip storage device, and an automated blood collection device, wherein the blood glucose monitoring system has the strip accommodation device formed integrally therewith, the strip accommodation device being configured to convert a rotary motion of a cover of an operating member into an upward linear motion and to eject one of a plurality of strips through an ejection hole, thereby easily storing the strips therein, preventing the contamination of the strips from the foreign matters like outside moisture, and accurately and easily measuring the concentration of the glucose in the blood.

Abstract: A device for capturing suspended bioparticles in a liquid medium, includes: a tube (101) including first and second ends, the first end of the tube being closed by the surface of a filter membrane (102) rendered stationary by adhesion onto the cross-section of the walls of the tube, a piston (104) including a rod (107) connected to a bearing element (108), the rod sliding along an axis parallel to the wall of the tube (101), and a block (103) of hydrophilic absorbent material placed inside the tube (101), inserted between (i) the inner surface of the filter membrane (102) and (ii) the piston (104) bearing element (108).

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier. The sample carrier includes at least one sample channel carrying at least one sample, at least one agent chamber carrying at least one agent to be moved to the at least one sample channel to facilitate processing of the at least one sample, and the at least one agent chamber includes at least one chamber cover covering at least one opening of the at least one agent chamber, inhibiting flow of the at least one agent from the at least one agent chamber to the at least one sample channel. The sample processing apparatus further includes a chamber opener configured to facilitate opening the at least one chamber cover. The sample processing apparatus further includes a fluid mover that moves the agent out of the at least one agent chamber after the at least one chamber cover is opened and into the at least one sample channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue sample handling apparatus, in particular for grasping histological samples after infiltration of an embedding medium such as, for example, paraffin, which is characterized in that a sample is immobilizable on the handling apparatus, in particular in a sample holding position, by means of negative pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated sequential sample preparation system using a sequential centrifuge for preparing samples for analysis. Methods of more efficiently preparing discrete samples sequentially for subsequent analysis are also provided. The apparatus and methods for sequentially preparing discrete samples provide improved operating efficiencies over conventional preparation processes that use batch centrifugation systems. Such advantages include reducing dwell time, increasing system throughput, reducing sample preparation system footprint, and improving precision of the analytical process. The integrated sequential preparation system with the integrated sequential centrifuge further provides the capability of handling critical or STAT samples without compromising the operating efficiencies achieved by preparing discrete samples in a sequential manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

Abstract: A sample transfer mechanism of the present invention is characterized broadly by a sample gripping method in which a downward part of a sample vessel is gripped and a cover that achieves an effect as a guide such that gripping arms that grip the sample vessel avoid contact with other objects and bypass surrounding objects, particularly, the sample vessels in approaching and retracting motions. To enhance the effect as the guide and to ensure that the sample vessels can be mounted with a high degree of integration, the shape of the cover and disposition of the sample transfer mechanism are characterized in a number of manners. Thus, a sample transfer mechanism that can perform a transfer process safely with high throughput even under conditions in which a variety of types of sample vessels is mixed together and the sample vessels are mounted with a high degree of integration is provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of a vitamin D metabolite in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally comprise ionizing a vitamin D metabolite in a sample and detecting the amount of the ion to determine the presence or amount of the vitamin D metabolite in the sample. Also provided are methods to detect the presence or amount of two or more vitamin D metabolites in a single assay.

Abstract: Saliva sample collection systems are configured with special attention to ease-of-use for the unskilled user and safe transport and delivery by a conventional delivery services such as Federal Express. A sealed cavity is formed by tight coupling of two primary elements: a receiving vessel element and a sealing cap element. The receiving vessel has integrated therewith: a standing means, a fill-line window, a funnel system, a knife, a threadset, and containment tube among others. A complementary cap element includes a cooperating threadset, label receiving surface, gripping surface, seal means and reservoir with piercable thin-film membrane. These two primary elements may be accommodated in an application-specific shipping container which support two shipping modes whereby the system may be shipped safely to and from a donor user each way in a different shipping mode.

Abstract: Devices for the in vitro aggregation of cells. The devices are characterized by containing special ground cavities allowing cluster formation to take place when a cell suspension is seeded onto the device. Further, the present invention relates to a method for aggregating cells and the use of the devices of the present invention for the aggregation of cells.

Abstract: A miniature sieve apparatus is described and includes a first sieve, a separator and a second sieve from top to bottom. The first and second sieves are formed with at least one first mesh and a plurality of second meshes, respectively. The first and second meshes are misaligned with each other in a vertical direction of the first and second sieves. The miniature sieve apparatus is provided to separate or screen microparticles with different sizes, such as target cells, bio-medical particles, organic or inorganic microparticles. Additionally, the invention also provides a manufacturing method of the miniature sieve apparatus, and the same material is applied to manufacture the sieves and the separators. Thus, the problem caused by the residual thermal stress due to different material can be solved. Therefore, the cost of the miniature sieve apparatus can be lowered as the yield rate thereof is improved.

Abstract: Reaction containers (110) each comprising a plurality of treatment parts (wells) (501-506) are placed side by side in a reaction container set so as to be movable independently of each other in the direction of arrangement of the treatment parts (wells). A plurality of stems (401) correspond to the respective reaction containers (110) and are disposed above the reaction containers to be vertically movable and disposed in the direction crossing the direction of movement of the reaction containers. Control is performed so that when the reaction containers (110) and a stem mechanism (111) are operated together and one of the treatment parts (501-506) of each of the reaction containers (110) comes immediately below the stem mechanism (111) in accordance with a treatment procedure, a stem (401) corresponding thereto, a magnetic chip (402) attached thereto, or the cover (405) thereof can go into and out of the treatment part.

Abstract: A junction for transporting sample racks in an analytical system having one or more work cells for processing samples and a method thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the junction may include multiple main transport lines, a turntable and one or more bypass transport lines. The multiple main transport lines can transport first sample racks and second sample racks having different sizes. The rotatable transport line can alternately connect to one or more of the main transport lines. Each of the one or more bypass transport lines can interconnect two of the main transport lines and bypass the turntable. Each of the bypass transport lines can be curved such that transport of the second sample racks through each of the bypass transport lines is enabled and transport of the first sample racks through each of the bypass transport lines is disabled.

Abstract: An improved tube including a closure portion, a strap integrally connected to the closure portion and being configured for defining a living hinge, a body portion having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall generally circumscribing the longitudinal axis, and being integrally and hingedly connected with the closure portion by way of the strap. The body portion including a sample portion being generally elongated along the longitudinal axis and being configured for elastic deformation along a portion of its length, including in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis so that at least a portion of the wall structure compressively and resiliently deforms and engages a wall defining an opening in a sample block of a polymerase chain reaction amplification device, and the first outer wall dimension of the sample portion reduces to a smaller second outer wall dimension.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte. Such methods and devices may comprise at least one sensing element that comprises at least one optically responsive layer that comprises at least a highly analyte-responsive sublayer and a minimally analyte-responsive sublayer. Methods of making and using such sensing elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air purifier includes a pump that supplies air to an air purifying unit, a filter arranged at an outlet of the air purifying unit, and pipes and that connect these components. The air purifying unit includes an activated carbon tube constituted by a glass tube filled with granular activated carbon, and a soda lime tube constituted by a glass tube filled with granular soda lime. According to a preferred embodiment, three each of the activated carbon tubes and the soda lime tubes are provided, and the activated carbon tubes and the soda lime tubes are connected alternately in series by tubes so that one activated carbon tube is arranged at a most upstream part and one soda lime tube is arranged at a most downstream part.