Abstract: A liquid chromatography monitoring system comprises a computer or electronic controller comprising computer-readable instructions operable to: (a) draw a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configure a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through a fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) cause the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determine a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) compare the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) provide a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography monitoring system comprises a computer or electronic controller comprising computer-readable instructions operable to: (a) draw a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configure a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through a fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) cause the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determine a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) compare the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) provide a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a fluidic system of a liquid chromatography system is characterized by: (a) drawing a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configuring a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through the fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) causing the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determining a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) comparing the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) providing a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a fluidic system of a liquid chromatography system is characterized by: (a) drawing a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configuring a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through the fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) causing the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determining a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) comparing the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) providing a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a fluidic system of a liquid chromatography system is characterized by: (a) drawing a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configuring a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through the fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) causing the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determining a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) comparing the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) providing a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A method for coupling a tubing to a liquid chromatography column comprises: passing an end of the tubing through a coupling apparatus comprising: (i) at least one chamber; (ii) a first spring within the at least one chamber configured to transmit a spring force to the tubing; (iii) a second spring within the at least one chamber; and (iv) a deformable sealing member configured to receive a second force from the second spring; inserting the tubing end into a receptacle of an end fitting of the column; and moving the coupling apparatus towards the chromatography column such that the first spring urges the tubing into the receptacle whereby a pressure of the tubing end against the end fitting exceeds a maximum operating fluid pressure of the column and, further, whereby the second spring causes the deformable sealing member to form a fluid seal between the column and the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a liquid chromatography column comprising an end fitting to a tubing comprises: at least one body member comprising at least one chamber; a first spring within the at least one chamber, the first spring configured so as to apply a first force to the tubing towards the column end fitting; a second spring within the at least one chamber, the second spring configured to apply a second force to a deformable sealing member towards the column end fitting; and a pushing and latching mechanism configured to push the at least one body member and the first and second springs towards the column end fitting.

Abstract: A system for processing analytes in samples includes an instrument and a cartridge. The cartridge includes fluid inputs, input and output valve assemblies, processing devices, fluid reservoirs, and channels for carrying samples from the fluid inputs to the fluid reservoirs. The valve assemblies include valves adapted to form a sealed fluid chamber in response to force applied by a movable head assembly of the instrument. Each fluid reservoir is adapted to mate and align with an air displacement pump interface member. A valve assembly includes a recess wall surrounding a recess and a valve assembly wall surrounding both the recess and the recess wall. The recess wall and the valve assembly walls are adapted to mate with and seal against a flexible sheet covering the recess, the recess wall, and the valve assembly wall. The cartridge and instrument include complementary features for finely and coarsely aligning instrument assemblies with portions of the cartridge.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a fluidic system of a liquid chromatography system is characterized by: (a) drawing a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configuring a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through the fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) causing the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determining a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) comparing the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) providing a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a support surface to support a cartridge, a socket attached to the housing, and an actuator associated with the socket. The socket surface includes one or more socket positioning members, a plurality of electrical contacts and a plurality of magnets. The socket is configured to move relative to the support surface of the housing, with the one or more socket positioning members located in a fixed relation to the plurality of electrical contacts so that when the socket is spaced proximate to the support surface of the housing, the one or more socket positioning members engage with the one or more cartridge positioning members to align the plurality of electrical contacts of the socket with the plurality of electrical contact pads of the cartridge. The actuator is configured to align each magnet with a respective fluid conduit of the processing device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing having a support surface to support a cartridge, a socket attached to the housing, and an actuator associated with the socket. The socket surface includes one or more socket positioning members, a plurality of electrical contacts and a plurality of magnets. The socket is configured to move relative to the support surface of the housing, with the one or more socket positioning members located in a fixed relation to the plurality of electrical contacts so that when the socket is spaced proximate to the support surface of the housing, the one or more socket positioning members engage with the one or more cartridge positioning members to align the plurality of electrical contacts of the socket with the plurality of electrical contact pads of the cartridge. The actuator is configured to align each magnet with a respective fluid conduit of the processing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartridge for processing a sample and methods for aligning a cartridge. The cartridge includes a processing device for processing a sample, a body having a surface and bounded by at least one edge, and a plurality of positioning members defined by the surface for aligning the processing device relative to a conduit defined by the body between a cartridge input and a cartridge output.

Abstract: A system for processing analytes in samples includes an instrument and a cartridge. The cartridge includes fluid inputs, input and output valve assemblies, processing devices, fluid reservoirs, and channels for carrying samples from the fluid inputs to the fluid reservoirs. The valve assemblies include valves adapted to form a sealed fluid chamber in response to force applied by a movable head assembly of the instrument. Each fluid reservoir is adapted to mate and align with an air displacement pump interface member. A valve assembly includes a recess wall surrounding a recess and a valve assembly wall surrounding both the recess and the recess wall. The recess wall and the valve assembly walls are adapted to mate with and seal against a flexible sheet covering the recess, the recess wall, and the valve assembly wall. The cartridge and instrument include complementary features for finely and coarsely aligning instrument assemblies with portions of the cartridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartridge for processing a sample and methods for aligning a cartridge. The cartridge includes a processing device for processing a sample, a body having a surface and bounded by at least one edge, and a plurality of positioning members defined by the surface for aligning the processing device relative to a conduit defined by the body between a cartridge input and a cartridge output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing an analyte. The system includes a fluid reservoir, a plurality of sample reservoirs, a plurality of channels, a pump that synchronously draws from the fluid reservoir and the plurality of sample reservoirs to provide a plurality of samples through the plurality of channels and a processing device, for example, a flexural plate wave device, for processing the plurality of samples in the plurality of channels. A valve including a pin disposed beneath a dowel and a pusher pushes the pin toward a fastened dowel, which pinches a portion of the channel disposed therebetween. A socket provides electrical contact to the processing device.

Abstract: Oral care devices are provided that are capable of ejecting an air-liquid combination. In some implementations, the oral care devices include an applicator including a passageway within the applicator for directing the air-liquid combination therethrough; a plurality of brushing elements extending from a base at a head of the applicator to free distal ends, the head being sized to fit in a user's mouth; and a flexible nozzle in communication with the passageway and extending outwardly beyond the base at the head, the flexible nozzle configured to direct liquid droplets of the air-liquid combination beyond free distal ends of the brushing elements during brushing.