Abstract: An injection valve attached to a mold insert, the injection valve including a valve nose body and the mold insert having a bore for receiving an end of the valve nose body, inserting the valve nose body into the bore of the mold insert and holding in position by means of a releasable locking mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved pressure switch, i.e. a switch that is opened or closed in response to the presence or absence of a pressure in excess of or less than a predetermined value. The pressure switch comprises a switch body mounted on a printed circuit board, a chamber within the switch body, a switch contact plate on the printed circuit board and pressure-responsive means within the chamber that is movable into electrical contact with the switch contact plate.

Abstract: An integrated cartridge for automated sample manipulation and, particularly strand displacement amplification, is provided. The cartridge comprises a sealed, two-part device with internal fluid channels and chambers, as well as reagents. The cartridge performs the sequence of fluid transfers, reagent additions and heat transitions, such as those of the strand displacement amplification process, in a single, sealed device.

Abstract: The field of the present invention relates generally to a microstructure apparatus which may be used in a high-throughput screening context to monitor the rate of reaction of an enzyme with its substrate in cases where the product of the reaction has an altered net charge. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to detect the activity of phosphatase enzymes, proteases and kinases on charged peptide substrates. The microstructure devices of the present invention comprise a plurality of microstructures, wherein each microstructure comprises a capture matrix located between two electrodes.

Abstract: The field of the present invention relates generally to a microstructure apparatus which may be used in a high-throughput screening context to monitor the rate of reaction of an enzyme with its substrate in cases where the product of the reaction has an altered net charge. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to detect the activity of phosphatase enzymes, proteases and kinases on charged peptide substrates. The microstructure devices of the present invention comprise a plurality of microstructures, wherein each microstructure comprises a capture matrix located between two electrodes.