Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a wide variety of vessels and for providing access to the interior of such vessels while sealed. In some embodiments, a sealing apparatus includes a base plate, a cover plate, and a seal that is disposed therebetween. In use on a vessel, when the seal is disposed in a rest position, it covers a vessel-access hole that penetrates the base plate and communicates with the underlying vessel. To temporarily displace the seal, a tube, such as a syringe needle, etc., is inserted through a guide hole in the cover plate. The tube contacts the seal, which forces the seal to move at least partially out of its sealing position. With continued downward movement, the tube enters the underlying vessel so that it can withdraw or add fluid to it. When the tube is withdrawn, the seal returns to its sealing position.

Abstract: A multi-channel fluid dispenser includes a reservoir with multiple internal chambers, a multi-channel liquid dispensing head, a plurality of fluid-delivery conduits, and support and positioning elements. The fluid-delivery conduits receive liquid from the chambers in the reservoir and deliver it to the dispensing head. The support and positioning elements are operable to support and position the dispensing head so that it can deliver the liquid from the reservoir to an underlying receiver. The fluid-delivery conduits include one or more optional flow control features that improve the accuracy of the dispensing operation. The multi-channel liquid dispensing head, which includes a valve-support member, a plurality of valves and a plurality of nozzles, is advantageously movable in three directions to facilitate alignment with an underlying receiver.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser that uses rotary motion to create a relative movement between one or more dispensing elements and one or more receivers is disclosed. The dispensing elements are fluidically coupled to one or more reservoirs, which contain ingredients that are to be dispensed by the dispensing elements into one or more receivers. The receivers are disposed on a receiver support structure that is located beneath the dispensing elements. In some embodiments, the dispenser operates according to a quasi-continuous dispensing protocol or quasi-simultaneous dispensing protocol, or both quasi-continuous and quasi-simultaneous dispensing protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus that is capable of performing at least some of the physical operations that are used in conjunction with growing cells in cell-cultivation flasks. The operations performed include one or more of the following: receiving a plurality of cell-cultivation flasks, re-orienting the flasks; agitating liquid within the flasks, and knocking the cell-cultivation flasks to loosen cellular material within the flasks. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, re-positioning is implemented using a movable platform that cooperates with guides, and a drive that moves the movable platform. In some embodiments, the guides are implemented as slots in a frame. In some embodiments, a single drive is used to conduct all operations.

Abstract: A system and for creating multiple mixtures is disclosed. The illustrative system described herein includes dispensing elements that are moved into alignment with various receivers (or vice versa) to deliver ingredients. In some embodiments, the system requires only one dispensing element (e.g., valve, nozzle, orifice, etc.) per ingredient dispensed, irrespective of the number of receivers in the system. In accordance with the principles of this invention, the system is operated such that a plurality of ingredients are incrementally added to the receivers. Incremental addition is performed in such a way that, from the “perspective” of the mixture being formed, the ingredients are added quasi-continuously (i.e., a near-continuous flow of an ingredient) or quasi-simultaneously (i.e., all ingredients are added at nearly the same time), or both.

Abstract: A fluid-handling system capable, in various embodiments, of storing, mixing, and dispensing fluids, and also regulating the flow of fluids. The system includes a cartridge having a non-expandable housing, and a bladder within the housing. In some variations, a drive-liquid is introduced into a region between the housing and the bladder, which causes fluid contained within the bladder to dispense. In some other variations, the drive-liquid is introduced into the bladder, which causes the bladder to expand and expel fluid that is contained with the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput analysis of membranes. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises one or more cartridges that are disposed on a carrier. Within at least some of the cartridges are at least two, selectively-permeable barriers. The barriers are impermeable to fluid except when a pressure differential exists across them. A chamber is defined between the barriers. A membrane, such as a sample of live tissue, is disposed within the chamber. In some embodiments, the membrane bifurcates the chamber into two, isolated compartments. There is an opening at each of the ends of the cartridge. At least two feed fittings, which detachably engage those openings, are coupled to a feed system, a sampling and analysis system, or both. Either the carrier or feed fittings are moved to sequentially move the feed fittings and a cartridge into alignment.

Abstract: A multi-channel fluid dispenser includes a reservoir with multiple internal chambers, a multi-channel liquid dispensing head, a plurality of fluid-delivery conduits, and support and positioning elements. The fluid-delivery conduits receive liquid from the chambers in the reservoir and deliver it to the dispensing head. The support and positioning elements are operable to support and position the dispensing head so that it can deliver the liquid from the reservoir to an underlying receiver. The fluid-delivery conduits include one or more optional flow control features that improve the accuracy of the dispensing operation. The multi-channel liquid dispensing head, which includes a valve-support member, a plurality of valves and a plurality of nozzles, is advantageously movable in three directions to facilitate alignment with an underlying receiver.

Abstract: A dispenser that is capable of simultaneously filling a large array of receivers (e.g., wells, etc.) with nano-liter volumes of liquid at high accuracy. The dispenser has a very simple construction, is quite compact, and has few if any moving parts.

Abstract: A fluid-handling system capable, in various embodiments, of storing, mixing, and dispensing fluids, and also regulating the flow of fluids. The system includes a cartridge having a non-expandable housing, and a bladder within the housing. In some variations, a drive-liquid is introduced into a region between the housing and the bladder, which causes fluid contained within the bladder to dispense. In some other variations, the drive-liquid is introduced into the bladder, which causes the bladder to expand and expel fluid that is contained with the housing.

Abstract: A multi-channel fluid dispenser includes a reservoir (106) with multiple internal chambers (844) with ports (850) to fill each chamber (844), a multi-channel liquid dispensing head, a plurality of fluid-delivery conduits, and support and positioning elements.

Abstract: An article and method for high throughput and a high content investigation of compound interactions with live tissue or its substitutes under controlled conditions during compound absorption and related processes. In some variations of the illustrative embodiment, the article is a multi-chamber enclosure having at least two chambers separated by a membrane. Membranes can be prepared from live epithelial tissue or from an artificial material with or without attached cells from cell-line cultures. Each chamber is advantageously connected to a fluidic-control system by tubes that pass through a feed fitting. In addition to coupling the chambers with the fluidic-control system, the feed fitting, which is spring-biased, provides a sealing force to seal the enclosure. In some variations, one or more multi-chamber enclosures are installed in a mother chamber, which provides controlled environmental conditions.

Abstract: A toilet bowl deodorizing, disinfecting and washing apparatus. In one variation, the apparatus includes a flexible enclosure that contains a bellows, a high-pressure reservoir, a liquid reservoir, and a plurality of nozzles. The bellows, liquid reservoir, and nozzles are selectively placed in fluid communication with the high-pressure reservoir. In use, the flexible enclosure is disposed beneath a toilet seat (or is itself a toilet seat). Deodorizing/disinfecting/washing liquid, which is contained in the liquid reservoir, is admitted to the high-pressure reservoir. When a person sits on the flexible enclosure, the bellows compresses air that is admitted to the high-pressure reservoir, thereby pressurizing the deodorizing/disinfecting/washing liquid that is contained therein. As the person gets off the flexible enclosure, the high-pressure reservoir is connected to the nozzles such that pressurized deodorizing/disinfecting/washing liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: A particle sorter/dispenser wherein particles that are suspended in a liquid are flowed through a conduit and selectively dispensed through a dispensing orifice. The conduit includes a sensing zone wherein the liquid-suspended particles are interrogated by a sensor. Data from the sensor is received by processing electronics that analyzes the data from the sensor and makes a decision whether or not to dispense a particle. The particle sorter/dispenser further includes a switch that, responsive to a signal from the processing electronics, controls whether or not a given particle is dispensed through the dispensing orifice. The switch has one or two valves that introduce relatively high-pressure liquid into the conduit. The flow streamlines of the high-pressure liquid controls the flow of the relatively low-pressure liquid-suspended particles in the conduit. Particles that are not dispensed are flowed past the dispensing orifice to a recycle reservoir that depends from the downstream end of the conduit.

Abstract: A magnetically recordable label embedded within a plastic object such as a microtiter plate. The label comprises a magnetic recording medium such as a recording wire, and is concealed within the object or within a sealed enclosure attached to the object. The label can be written to or read from by a recording head passing adjacent to the label. Because the label is completely enclosed, it is shielded from degrading effects that may be present in the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput analysis of compound absorption in a controlled environment that closely resembles in-vivo conditions. The apparatus includes at least one tissue-receiving enclosure that is capable of interfacing (e.g., via transfer of fluids, electronically, etc.) with a variety of preparative devices and analytical instrumentation. In some variations, the tissue-receiving enclosure is formed from two housings, which, when engaged, have a capsular shape. The enclosure receives a tissue sample in the form of an un-everted or everted intestinal segment or tubular artificial membrane. The tissue sample is coupled to a generally cylindrical tissue support. The tissue support and the enclosure are axially aligned, and openings at the ends of the enclosure align with openings at the ends of the tissue support. Two feed fittings, one for each end of the enclosure, forcefully mate with the aligned openings in the housing and the tissue support.

Abstract: An article including a multi-well plate that has an infrared radiation (“IR”) reflective coating disposed over the surface of the wells. In some embodiments, the wells have a parabolic or near parabolic shape. In additional embodiments, the wells, which have a parabolic or near parabolic shape, are truncated at or near a focal plane of the well. In some further embodiments, the wells have a hemispheric shape or a truncated hemispheric shape. IR imaging systems that incorporate the multi-well plates described herein exhibit improved sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A hand-held, single-channel dispenser/aspirator is disclosed. The present dispenser/aspirator comprises a body portion for gripping the dispenser and a head portion. In some embodiments, the head portion includes a valve, a liquid conduit and a removable liquid reservoir. The liquid conduit places the liquid reservoir and the dispensing valve in fluid communication. A gas conduit received by the body portion of the dispenser is operable to pressurize the fluid reservoir, or draw a partial vacuum therein. Controls located on the body portion operate the dispenser. The liquid reservoir is advantageously disposed near the valve, so that a relatively short length of liquid conduit is required to operatively connect the reservoir and the dispensing valve, thereby improving the accuracy of the dispensing operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a particle-retrieval device in accordance with the present teachings includes a receiver tube, vacuum-flow providing means and particle-disengaging means. The receiver tube is in fluid communication with the vacuum-flow providing means such that when flow is introduced into the vacuum-flow providing means, a suction or vacuum flow is developed at an end of the receiver tube. The suction causes a particle to adhere to the end of the receiver. A particle is disengaged by discontinuing the suction and, advantageously, by wetting the engaged particle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a reagent atomization and delivery system. In one embodiment, a reagent atomization and delivery system includes an atomizer that uniformly and simultaneously delivers a spray of atomized reagent toward a plurality of reagent receiving sites on a specimen plate. The reagent atomization and delivery system is advantageously used in conjunction with an imaging system (e.g., visible-spectrum, infrared-spectrum, etc.). Specifically, once the atomized reagent is dispensed, it triggers chemical/physiological reactions that are then advantageously subjected to imaging analysis (e.g., visible-spectrum imaging, infrared spectrum imaging, etc.).