Abstract: A device for forming a liquid aliquot, the device including: a first layer; an elastic second layer overlapping the first layer; a first passageway to receive and hold a volume of liquid, the first passageway formed from the first and second layers; a first actuator to press on the elastic layer thereby dividing the liquid filled passageway into a series of liquid aliquots; a series of vents associated with the series of aliquots; a second actuator to control flow of liquid aliquots through the associated vents; and an attachment structure for attachment of aliquot receptacles to receive liquid aliquots that flow through the vents.

Abstract: A device for forming a liquid aliquot, the device including: a first layer; an elastic second layer overlapping the first layer; a first passageway to receive and hold a volume of liquid, the first passageway formed from the first and second layers; a first actuator to press on the elastic layer thereby dividing the liquid filled passageway into a series of liquid aliquots; a series of vents associated with the series of aliquots; a second actuator to control flow of liquid aliquots through the associated vents; and an attachment structure for attachment of aliquot receptacles to receive liquid aliquots that flow through the vents.

Abstract: A system 300 for the substantially-automated hybridization of a plurality of microarray slides. The system comprises an enclosure 310 with a wash basin 312 having an open top end, a lower carrier rotor 330 disposed within the wash basin on a support axle 318 for receiving a plurality of microarray slide substrates 362, and an upper clamp rotor 340 disposed above the lower carrier rotor on the support axle for receiving a plurality of disposable chamber assemblies 240. The system is further configured so that lowering the upper clamp rotor to engage with the lower carrier rotor couples the plurality of chamber assemblies to the plurality of slide substrates to form a plurality of sealed reaction chambers 244, and raising the upper clamp rotor to disengage from the lower carrier rotor de-couples the plurality of chamber assemblies from the plurality of slide substrates to unseal the plurality of reaction chambers.

Abstract: A slide conditioning system comprises a basin, suitable to retain fluids therein, and a slide carrier having a bidirectional valve formed therein, the slide carrier adapted to carry a plurality of slides therein. A rotor arm is rotatable relative to the basin, the rotor arm being capable of carrying the slide carrier and applying centrifugal forces to the slide carrier as the rotor arm rotates. A fluidics system is also provided and a fluid coupling port is operable to selectively and fluidly mate with the bidirectional valve of the slide carrier while the slide carrier is carried by the rotor arm to fluidly couple the slide carrier to the fluidics system.

Abstract: A system for the automated hybridization of a plurality of microarray slides. The system comprises an enclosure with a wash basin having an open top end, a lower carrier rotor disposed within the wash basin on a support axle for receiving a plurality of microarray slide substrates, and an upper clamp rotor disposed above the lower carrier rotor on the support axle for receiving a plurality of disposable mixers. The system is further configured so that lowering the upper clamp rotor to engage with the lower carrier rotor couples the plurality of mixers to the plurality of slide substrates to form a plurality of sealed reaction chambers, and raising the upper clamp rotor to disengage from the lower carrier rotor de-couples the plurality of mixers from the plurality of slide substrates to unseal the plurality of reaction chambers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging array has two independent, interleaved linear subarrays occupying a common array face. The subarrays are independently steerable and focusable in different imaging planes. The subelements making up the elements in of the subarrays is preferably quadrilateral. Adjacent subelements in each element are electrically connected via an interconnect portion such that the interconnect portion connecting each pair of adjacent subelements in each element is substantially linear and is aligned with the diagonals of the adjacent subelements. A preferred acoustic lens is curved in both azimuth and elevation directions, whereby the subarrays are independently focusable. By transmitting in one plane and simultaneously receiving in a different, orthogonal plane, a system including the array can image a 3-D region of interest (ROI). In a volumetric embodiment of the invention two orthogonal B-mode images of a structure within the ROI are displayed simultaneously.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging array has two independent, interleaved linear subarrays occupying a common array face. The subarrays are independently steerable and focusable in different imaging planes. The subelements making up the elements in of the subarrays is preferably quadrilateral. Adjacent subelements in each element are electrically connected via an interconnect portion such that the interconnect portion connecting each pair of adjacent subelements in each element is substantially linear and is aligned with the diagonals of the adjacent subelements. A preferred acoustic lens is curved in both azimuth and elevation directions, whereby the subarrays are independently focusable. By transmitting in one plane and simultaneously receiving in a different, orthogonal plane, a system including the array can image a 3-D region of interest (ROI). In a volumetric embodiment of the invention two orthogonal B-mode images of a structure within the ROI are displayed simultaneously.