Abstract: A specimen container has a vessel having a reservoir and a specimen collection region. The specimen container also has a sleeve located within the vessel and moveable in the direction of the reservoir. Movement of the sleeve in the direction of the reservoir results in the specimen collection region and reservoir being brought into fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a measurement chip, a measuring device, and a measuring method which can accurately estimate an analyte concentration with a simple configuration. A measurement chip may include a propagation layer, an introductory part, a drawn-out part and a reaction part. Through the propagation layer, light may propagate. The introductory part may introduce the light into the propagation layer. The drawn-out part may draw the light from the propagation layer. The reaction part may have, in a surface of the propagation layer where a reactant that reacts to a substance to be detected is formed, an area where a content of the reactant changes monotonously in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a propagating direction of the light, over a given length in the propagating direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, apparatuses and methods for generating self-sustaining gaseous and non-gaseous gradients across a cell support structure and for culturing one or more cells or tissues under hypoxic conditions. Methods of generating one or more gas gradients across a cell support structure include providing a luminal container having a bottom wall that is a gas permeable membrane, positioning a cell support structure above the bottom wall, positioning one or more cells or tissues on the cell support structure, and generating one or more gas gradients between the bottom wall, across the cell support structure and into a luminal reservoir. An apparatus to produce hypoxic conditions for cell cultures includes a luminal container having a bottom wall, a cell support structure on the bottom wall, and a cover that sealably closes the open top, such that a hypoxic condition can be generated in the luminal reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic particle analysis device comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication via a main channel defining a main flow direction from an inlet end to an outlet end, the main channel being defined by a main channel wall extending from the inlet end to the outlet end and having a first cross-sectional dimension in the range of 20 ?m to 120 ?m and a second cross-sectional dimension of at least 100 ?m, the main channel wall at a vertex having an opening extending along the main flow direction and being open to an analysis section having surfaces at an analytical distance in the range of 5 ?m to 50 ?m and a sensor system for detecting a particle. The present invention also relates to a method of using the microfluidic particle analysis device for detecting particles or monitoring the concentration of particles.

Abstract: A biosensor includes a reaction part including a magnetic nanoparticle complex, a first electrode, and a second electrode; and a sample introduction part forming a passage so that a sample can be introduced into the reaction part from an outside of the biosensor. The magnetic nanoparticle complex includes a first capturing substance for capturing a first target substance, a magnetic nanoparticle, and a reaction substance that performs at least one of an oxidation reaction and a reduction reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating single cells. The apparatus includes: a fluid channel having an upper panel, a lower panel, and a flow path formed therebetween that is configured to convey a sample including a single cell; a single cell measuring unit including first and second electrodes provided on the fluid channel in a predetermined spaced relationship for applying electrical signals to the sample in the flow path, and a detection electrode provided between the first and second electrodes to detect the single cell in the sample in the flow path, such that the single cell measuring unit applies the electrical signals to the sample in the flow path, detects the electrical signals of the sample, and detects whether there is the single cell in the sample; and a single cell separation control device which outputs a single cell separation control signal when the single cell is detected by the detection electrode.

Abstract: A specimen processing apparatus performs processing on a specimen contained in a container. The specimen processing apparatus includes: holders having different shapes, each of the holders being configured to hold the container; a holder placement unit that comprises holder receiving portions having different shapes, the shapes of the holder receiving portions corresponding to the shapes of the holders; and a specimen processing unit that performs processing on the specimen contained in the container held by one of the holders placed on the holder placement unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for performing detection of microorganisms (e.g., viruses) with high sensitivity. The apparatus and method are well suited for point-of-care (POC) testing in resource-limited regions and are capable of being operated with very little manual intervention and without the need for lab equipment. A variety of viruses can be detected with high sensitivity, including, for example, coronaviruses, Zika virus and flu viruses.

Abstract: A system for electronically and optically monitoring biological samples, the system including: a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells configured to receive a plurality of biological samples, each of the wells having a set of electrodes and a transparent window on a bottom surface of the well that is free of electrodes; an illumination module configured to illuminate the wells; a cradle configured to receive the multi-well plate, the cradle having an opening on the bottom that exposes the transparent windows of the wells; and an optical imaging module movable across different wells of a same multi-well plate to capture images through the windows.

Abstract: A cartridge including a structural part with a hole surrounded at least partially by a recess, so that a wall is formed that separates the hole from the recess. The cartridge includes a liquid pack, wherein the liquid pack comprises a surrounding seal portion and a liquid containing portion. The liquid pack is arranged at least partially in the hole, in that a circumferential outer line of the seal portion protrudes over the hole.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques for optofluidic analyte detection and analysis using multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, spatially and spectrally multiplexed optical detection of particles is implemented on an optofluidic platform comprising multiple analyte channels intersecting a single MMI waveguide. In some embodiments, multi-stage photonic structures including a first stage MMI waveguide for demultiplexing optical signals by spatially separating different wavelengths of light from one another may be implemented. In some embodiments, a second stage may use single-mode waveguides and/or MMI waveguides to create multi-spot patterns using the demultiplexed, spatially separated light output from the first stage.

Abstract: A vial cap for removing a matrix component from a liquid sample is described. The vial cap includes a cap body, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The cap body is configured to have a slidable gas and liquid seal with a side wall of a sample vial. The inlet portion includes a counterbore section that holds a filter plug. The filter plug includes a polyethylene resin and a material selected from the group consisting of an ion exchange material and a reversed-phase material. The vial cap is adapted for solid phase extraction for use in an autosampler with a plurality of sample vials.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic substrate, a microfluidic chip and a detection method. The microfluidic substrate according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate, and a plurality of droplet detecting elements on the first substrate and in an array. Each of the plurality of droplet detecting elements includes an ultrasonic conversion device and a voltage detecting element, the ultrasonic conversion device is configured to generate ultrasonic wave according to a first electric signal, receive a reflected ultrasonic wave, and convert the reflected ultrasonic wave into a second electric signal; and the voltage detecting element is configured to detect the second electric signal and determine whether a droplet exists at a position where the droplet detecting element is located based on the second electric signal.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a blood coagulation testing system include an analyzer console device and a single-use cartridge component configured to releasably install into the console device. In some embodiments, the blood coagulation testing system can operate as an automated thromboelastometry system that is particularly useful, for example, at a point-of-care site.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a platform and method to quantify spatiotemporal tissue swelling during biologics injection, and to predict associated increase in the mechanical stress and interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) of tissues. Accurate measure and estimation of tissue swelling, thus, can be quantitative and predictive indicator of the IPD.

Abstract: An Ussing chamber assembly for assessing a tissue sample and for receiving a first fluid and a second fluid during such assessment is disclosed. The Ussing chamber assembly includes an Ussing chamber configured to be separated by the tissue sample into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The assembly includes a first channel in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion, a second channel in fluidic communication with the second chamber portion, and at least three electrical conductors in fluidic communication with the first chamber portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is for moving a sample holder on a platform from a loading position where the sample holder can be removed from the platform to a locked position where the sample holder is securely held. The sample holder is configured to rest on wheels within a recessed portion on the platform. The apparatus is configured such that: (i) movement of the platform from the loading position to the locked position causes a vertical clamp to lower down on top of the sample holder, and a horizontal clamp to be pressed to an outer periphery of the sample holder; and (ii) movement of the platform from the locked position to the loading position causes the vertical clamp to rise above the sample holder, and the horizontal clamp to be moved away from the outer periphery of the sample holder.

Abstract: A linear actuator (10) for use in a modular assembly of such actuators comprises an actuator body (11), a shaft (12) guided by the body to be displaceable relative thereto in the sense of the longitudinal axis (13) of the shaft and a drive motor enclosed in the body and operable to axially displace the shaft relative to the body in two mutually opposite directions. The body has two mutually opposite sides (15a, 15b) respectively lying in two substantial parallel spaced-apart planes, which each represent a reference plane for positioning the body side-by-side with the body of another such actuator, and a further side (17b) connecting the two mutually opposite sides and stepped to form a projection (18) receiving the shaft (12) with the axis (13) parallel to the two planes and a rebate (19) beside the projection to permit the body to interlock with the body of another such actuator at that further side.

Abstract: Systems and assemblies for performing point-of-care, fluidic assays having self-contained, portable fluidic assay systems or assemblies. A housing comprises an assaying assembly, an inspiration actuator, and an expulsion actuator. The inspiration and expulsion actuators may include one-way valves. The assaying assembly is configured to provide a visual indicator in response to being contacted by one or more target analytes within a fluid-assay sample mixture. The fluidic assay assembly has a reciprocal plunger disposed therewithin and, in some embodiments, the plunger has a resilient member to bias the plunger in one direction. Movement of the plunger in a first direction implements an inspiration stroke for drawing the assay sample such that it contacts the fluid from the fluid chamber and continued movement of the plunger implements an expulsion stroke for expelling the fluid-assay sample mixture through the outlet opening to the receptacle of the assaying assembly.

Abstract: A system for deforming and analyzing a plurality of particles carried in a sample volume includes a substrate defining an inlet, configured to receive the sample volume, and an outlet; and a fluidic pathway fluidly coupled to the inlet and the outlet.