Abstract: The invention features methods and apparatus for concentrating a nucleic acid. Methods of the invention include providing an initial suspension of a nucleic acid and an initial liquid, contacting the initial suspension with a housing having a filter that does not pass the nucleic acid, pressurizing the housing to produce a filtrate and a nucleic acid retentate from the initial solution, and detecting the volume of the nucleic acid retentate. Apparatus of the invention include a chamber configured to hold a filter housing containing a nucleic acid suspension, a pressure source to filter the suspension, and a detector to depressurize the housing upon detecting the volume reaching a predetermined threshold. The methods and apparatus described herein are useful in filtering, concentrating, and reconstituting nucleic acids, such as mRNA, in processes such as complete buffer replacement.

Abstract: A rapid virus and pathogen detector using RF and Dielectric Spectroscopy. The targeted virus or pathogen is identified by active illumination by RF energy and analysis of the response RF signal.

Abstract: A microvalve (8), comprising a first flow guide channel (841) for communicating with microchannels (401, 402, 403, 404) in a chip and a second flow guide channel (842) for communicating liquid storage recesses (11, 12) in the chip to the ambient atmosphere, wherein the first flow guide channel and the second flow guide channel do not communicate with each other. Also provided are a microfluidic chip (100) and a method for controlling the flow of a plurality of fluids in a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip (100) comprises a microvalve capable of controlling the flow of a fluid. The microfluidic chip has three position states, so as to control different fluids in the chip to sequentially flow in the chip. The microfluidic chip and the microvalve have simple structures, are convenient to assemble, are reusable, and can avoid the possibility of mutual contamination between fluids.

Abstract: A cassette for use in concentrating matter in a sample suspension, the cassette comprising a housing having a support and an enclosed sample-receiving channel, the enclosed sample-receiving channel having an upper portion and a base connected by at least two walls; in which the upper portion is configured to have a width less than a width of the base and a depth greater than 400 ?m.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that includes a cartridge and a reader. The cartridge can contain a patient sample, such as a blood sample. The cartridge is inserted into the reader and the patient sample is analyzed. The sample can be processed for data collection and analysis to provide interpretative results indicative of a disorder, condition, disease or infection of the patient. For example, the data collection and analysis can determine one or more hemozoin characteristics.

Abstract: A sample preparation cartridge for use with a sample preparation device, the cartridge includes a housing defining plural separate segments, at least one of said segments comprising a fixed section of a pipette component; and a moveable head comprising a pipette tip, the head being configured, in use, to be moved between a position in which the pipette tip is in sealed engagement with the fixed section of pipette component and a position in which pipette tip is positioned adjacent to another of said plural segments. With the present invention a disposable sample preparation cartridge and corresponding analytical reader can be provided in a very cost effective and simple manner.

Abstract: Sensors employing bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators are used to assay characteristics of blood. The BAW sensors may be used to sense viscosity of a sample comprising blood to determine coagulation properties of the blood. The viscosity of the blood may be evaluated in the presence of agents that inhibit coagulation or that promote coagulation. The change in viscosity of the sample in the presence of such agents may provide information regarding whether the blood suffers from a coagulation disorder.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a device for supporting manual pipetting of liquids, to the use of such a pipetting support device, and to a method for pipetting liquid, for example from a number of first vessels to a number of second vessels, wherein a moving unit is movable in relation to a first plate and at least partially covers the first plate during use of the pipetting support device, and at least one edge of the moving unit provides guidance to support a manual pipetting procedure from said first plate to said second plate, or vice versa.

Abstract: The invention provides enrichment platform devices for size-based capture of particles in solution. The enrichment platform device is useful for label-free capture of any particle. The invention relates to enrichment platform devices using nanowires and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The invention provides methods for making the enrichment platform devices. The invention provides methods for using the enrichment platform devices for filtering particles, capturing particles, concentrating particles, and releasing viable particles.

Abstract: A nucleic acid test kit includes a lower circular fixing cover, a circular kit arranged on the lower circular fixing cover, a sealing film arranged at a top of the circular kit, and a lower lid arranged at a lower end of the sealing film. The bottom of the lower lid is pressed against the lower end of the sealing film, and a bottom of the sealing film is pressed against the top of the circular kit; and first bolts are rotatably connected to the lower circular fixing cover, and the first bolt is in threaded connection with the lower lid through first threaded hole. Air leakage detection can be performed after encapsulation is completed, which significantly improves the quality of encapsulation compared to traditional detection kits and increases encapsulation efficiency. The sealing film can block aerosol leakage from the kit, effectively preventing cross-contamination.

Abstract: A pipette comprises a pipette housing, a neck configured to clamp on a pipette tip, and a drive apparatus. The drive apparatus comprises a drive element configured to displace a displacement element to draw a liquid sample into the pipette tip and to eject the liquid sample from the pipette tip. A scanning apparatus comprises a scanning element positioned proximate the neck and configured to be displaced relative to the pipette housing by a collar of the pipette tip when clamping the pipette tip onto the neck. A mechanical display apparatus is coupled to the scanning apparatus and comprises a display. When the pipette tip is clamped to the neck the scanning apparatus is configured to adjust the display depending on a height of the collar of the pipette tip relative to the neck, and the neck is configured to accommodate different collar heights.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automated demineralization of bone and decellularization of soft tissue include a mixing assembly communicatively coupled with a control and reporting system. The mixing assembly includes a housing that supports a cannister sub-assembly forming a mixing chamber having a reagent inlet, a reagent outlet, and an internal fluid agitator. A motor is operably coupled with the agitator and configured to spin the agitator in first and second directions relative to the cannister, thereby agitating fluid contained within the mixing chamber. At least one pump is configured to progressively inject measured quantities of a plurality of reagents into the mixing chamber. The associated control and reporting system includes a user terminal that displays a graphical user interface enabling a user to initiate an automated demineralization or decellularization procedure in which the mixing assembly demineralizes tissue placed within the mixing chamber. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Lateral loading methods of use in high-throughput methods for screening large populations of variant proteins are provided. The methods utilize a flow cell encompassing large-scale arrays of microcapillaries, where each microcapillary comprises a solution containing a variant protein, an immobilized target molecule, and a reporter element. Immobilized target molecules may include any molecule of interest, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules.

Abstract: Provided are assay devices, methods and microfluidic cartridges for analysis of fluids, such as whole blood. A fibrinogen assay cartridge is adapted to measure whole blood flow rates on exposure to thrombin and measures hematocrit for a plasma fibrinogen calculation. Multiple channel cartridges are provided to allow determination of multiple assays (e.g., coagulation panel) from a single sample on a single cartridge.

Abstract: A method of treating an isolated area of a sample with a liquid is disclosed. The method has the steps of generating an isolated area of a sample by a first fluid reservoir where the first fluid reservoir enclosing a distal end of a second fluid reservoir and the isolated area of the sample being sealed towards the remaining area of the sample, bringing the isolated area of the sample into fluid connection with the second fluid reservoir, dispensing a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a first direction, and aspirating the fluid from the first fluid reservoir into the second fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a second direction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and systems for isolating individual sperm from a semen sample using microfluidics. Examples include a microfluidics system for isolating individual sperm from a semen sample, the system including: a first laminar flow channel extending between a first inlet and a first outlet; a second laminar flow channel extending between a second inlet and a second outlet; and a third laminar flow channel extending between the first and second laminar flow channels and having a restriction configured to prevent passage of a single sperm through the third laminar flow channel, wherein flow of a semen sample through the first laminar flow channel at a pressure higher than flow of a liquid medium through the second laminar flow channel results in a single sperm being trapped by the restriction in the third laminar flow channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.

Abstract: A fully automated chemilumiescence immunoassay analyzer, including a sample and reagent receiving device for receiving a sample and a reagent, a dispensing device for aspirating and discharging the sample and the reagent, a mixing device for mixing the sample and the reagent in a reaction vessel, an incubation and luminescence detection device for incubation and luminescence detection, a magnetic separation cleaning device for separation cleaning an analyte and impurities in the reaction vessel, a reaction vessel grasping device for transferring the reaction vessel, and a liquid path device. The fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer has a simple structure and is convenient to operate, and also reduce the overall size such that the footprint thereof is small and the production cost is reduced, so that the analyzer is easy to achieve miniaturization, and is convenient for an operator to use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a substrate comprising a sample reception area and a sensing area. The method comprises the steps of: 1) applying a sample on the sample reception area; 2) rotating the substrate around a predetermined axis; 3) during rotation, at least part of the liquid travels from the sample reception area to the sensing area due to capillary forces acting between the liquid and the substrate; and 4) removing the wave of particles and liquid formed at one end of the substrate. The sensing area is closer to the predetermined axis than the sample reception area. The sample comprises a liquid part and particles suspended therein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are instruments and related methods for measuring oxidative potential (OP) in airborne particulates, particularly PM2.5. The instrument is formed from three main components: a sample injector, a sample incubator and a measurement system. The instrument provides an automatic measure of five OP endpoints in a relatively rapid time frame of less than 3 hours. In this manner, additional parameters beyond the gross particle concentration or mass per unit volume is obtained, including the biologically-relevant OP associated with PM2.5.