Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A container may include a tubular sidewall defining interior and exterior surfaces of the container, and including first and second regions disposed relative to one another along a major axis of the tubular sidewall. The container further may include an identification mark embedded within the tubular sidewall at a plurality of sectors about the tubular sidewall within the first region. Each sector may have a width, and the identification mark is machine readable by a reader viewing any arbitrary one or more of the sectors. An exemplary method for preparing such a container is also provided.

Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A method of ionizing a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.

Abstract: A container may include a tubular sidewall defining interior and exterior surfaces of the container, and including first and second regions disposed relative to one another along a major axis of the tubular sidewall. The container further may include an identification mark embedded within the tubular sidewall at a plurality of sectors about the tubular sidewall within the first region. Each sector may have a width, and the identification mark is machine readable by a reader viewing any arbitrary one or more of the sectors. An exemplary method for preparing such a container is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and/or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

Abstract: The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and/or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

Abstract: The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and/or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

Abstract: This invention provides a capillary electrophoresis device in which capillaries are thermally regulated on a thermally responsive electrical path attached to an electrically insulating circuit board. This invention also provides an optical scanner useful for scanning an array of capillaries. A laser, optical detector and optical selector are in an arrangement that allows the optical detector to selectively detect an optical signal from any one or more of the plurality of electrophoresis capillaries.

Abstract: The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and/or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

Abstract: This invention provides a capillary electrophoresis device in which capillaries are thermally regulated on a thermally responsive electrical path attached to an electrically insulating circuit board. This invention also provides an optical scanner useful for scanning an array of capillaries. A laser, optical detector and optical selector are in an arrangement that allows the optical detector to selectively detect an optical signal from any one or more of the plurality of electrophoresis capillaries.

Abstract: The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and/or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

Abstract: An LED point imaging scanner for stimulating and for reading fluorescent and reflective signal radiation from a target sample is disclosed. The LED light source is mounted on a scan head and is focused into the pinhole aperture of a spatial filter, then collimated and focused to a spot on the sample. The spatial filter in the illumination path, or an optical fiber serving the equivalent function, effectively restricts the incoherent LED light and creates a point light source. Signal radiation from the sample is collected through the scan head and the returning light beam is collimated and focused onto the receiving section of a detection means. A spatial filter in the path of the returning beam may also be utilized. The detection means is either a small detector which is mounted directly on the scan head or an end of an optical fiber which transmits the point image to a remotely-positioned stationary detector.

Abstract: A compact, movable scan head having multiple scanning modalities and capable of high speed, high resolution scanning of a variety of samples is disclosed. Stimulation and detection of storage phosphor screens and fluorescent samples are preferably achieved with a first and second channel in the optical path of the first side of the scan head. This first side preferably has a laser diode light source. Reading of reflective and transmissive signals is also possible. A third channel is available in the optical path of the second side of the scan head. This third channel preferably provides LED point scanning and reading of fluorescence, reflective, and transmissive signals received from the sample. The various modalities of the scan head of the present invention may or may not have coincident optical paths. Any two of the above channels, or additional channels similar to the above channels, may be incorporated into the scan head.