Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer device (1) for removing fluid samples (2) from containers (3) and for introducing these fluid samples (2) into chambers (5) positioned below these containers, the device (1) including an individual chamber (5′, 5″) for each of the containers (3, 3′). Transfer devices (1) according to the present invention are distinguished in that they have enclosure means (4), which include one single individually assigned restriction opening (10), which limits the flow of fluids to be introduced into the containers (3, 3′) or removed from the chambers (5, 5′, 5″), for each container (3, 3′) or for each chamber (5, 5′, 5″). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of removing fluid samples (2) from containers (3) and of introducing these fluid samples (2) into chambers (5) positioned below these containers using such a transfer device (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an elongate support (1) in which a plurality of pipettes (5) are mounted so that they can be longitudinally displaced and lifted and lowered. The pipette tip (26) is configured to be electroconductive so that, when it is dipped into a liquid, the capacity between the tip and the parts electrically connected to it and other, grounded parts changes and is registered to detect the liquid. To this end, the pipette tip (26) is linked with a circuit (34) in a support (1) via a flexible cable (33). In order to prevent the cable (33) from being caught by movable parts, it is guided, just like the connecting tube (25) of the pipette (5), in a channel of a pipette housing configured as a hollow profile (12) up to the top end thereof and preferably through the interior of a stiffer jacket tube (38) that is configured as a support element and to a C profile (3) of the support (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the take-up and/or release of samples of a liquid (2). Said device comprises a movable unit (3) that is provided with a hollow body (4) with a cavity (5) that is substantially filled with a system liquid (6) or a sample liquid (2), and with a movable element (7) that acts upon the cavity (5) and aspires and/or dispenses the liquid (2). The movable unit is further provided with a first drive element (8′) for displacing the movable element (7) during aspiration and/or dispensing, which engages or can be engaged with the a first drive (8), with a pulse generator (9) that generates compression waves in one of the liquids (2, 6) in the cavity during dispensing, with a liquid conduit (10) that communicates with the cavity (5) and with a pipette tip (11) or an adapter (12) for receiving an ejectable pipette tip (11′).

Abstract: A gel electrophoresis cassette (33) is disclosed which includes two plates (34, 35) and at least one seal (36) which separates these plates. The seal (36) is annular; it may be positioned essentially in the region of the outer edge of the plates (34, 35). For performing an electrophoresis in a second dimension following an isoelectric focusing in an first dimension, one of the plates (34, 35) includes a recess (37) for inserting a strip holder (1) having a base plate (4), which has a carrier surface (2) on which an IEF strip (3) is accommodated. The base plate (4) includes at least one stop (5) offset to a lower level in relation to the carrier surface (2) and a sealing surface (6). The strip holder (1) is insertable into this recess (37) in such a way that the stop (5) of the base plate (4) is applied to the outer surface of the plate (34, 35) and the sealing surface (6) presses tightly against the inner surface (38) of the recess (37).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for dispensing or aspirating/dispensing liquid samples, comprising a pump (2) and a micro-ejection device (3), said micro-ejection device (3) having a pulse generator (4) with a chamber (5). Said pulse generator (4) is used to produce pressure waves in the liquid in order to cause the samples of a liquid to be dispensed. The micro-ejection device (3) also comprises an end piece (6) and a liquid line (7) which connects the pulse generator (4) to the end piece (6). The pulse generator comprises a micro-actuator (10) which is configured to function in the same direction as that in which the pressure wave leaves the chamber (5). The inventive devices are characterised in that the chamber (5), in the area of the end facing away from the end piece (6), or the corresponding connecting element (14) has a narrowed section (16) which restricts any expansion of the pressure waves in the direction of the pump (2).

Abstract: A device (1) and/or a corresponding system and method are disclosed for aspirating liquids (2) from wells (3) and/or extraction chambers (4) of SPE plates (5) for solid phase extraction and elution of organic and/or inorganic particles—these extraction chambers (4) each having an outlet (8), positioned on the bottom side (6) of the wells (3) and including an annular wall (7), which has an outlet opening (9).

Abstract: A strip holder (1) is disclosed for accommodating a gel strip (3) for separating molecules using gel electrophoresis. The strip holder (1) disclosed is distinguished by including a baseplate (4), at least one stop (5), which is offset to a lower level in relation to the carrier surface (2), and at least one sealing surface (6), this stop (5) being implemented to be applied to counter surfaces (7) of an electrophoresis chamber, through which offset to a lower level of the stop (5) the installation depth of the strip holder (1) carrying a gel strip (3) into this electrophoresis chamber is determined and the sealing surface (6) ensuring a sealing installation of the strip holder (1) carrying a gel strip (3) into this electrophoresis chamber. Such a chamber (15) for isoelectric focusing of molecules in gel strips (3) is distinguished by including such a strip holder (1), a frame (16), and a cover (20).

Abstract: The ejection orifice (7) of a micropump including a baseplate (3) of glass and a cover plate (4) of silicon and intended for ejecting small liquid drops, has a diameter of about 50 &mgr;m, and is located in the center of a flat front surface (12) which, in order to avoid accumulations of liquid in the region of the ejection orifice (7), is only 8 times the area thereof and, along a continuous circular edge, is adjacent a lateral surface (13) in the form of an envelope of truncated cone. The front surface (12) and the lateral surface (13) have a surface roughness of not more than N4 and are provided, for example, with a hydrophobic plasma polymer coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for processing samples (2), comprising a body (3) with a collecting chamber (4), which can be connected with a pump (5) for aspirating, or dispensing fluids and that acts on this collecting chamber, a separating chamber (6) adjoining the collecting chamber (4) for the solid phase extraction and elution of organic, or inorganic particles (7) separated from these samples (2), and an opening (8) for releasing these particles (7). The device in accordance with the invention relates to individual pipette tips, as well as to SPE microplates, and is distinguished in that the device (1) comprises a capillary (9), which is connected with the collecting chamber (4), or with the body (8), and has a packing (10) for the solid phase extraction of organic, or inorganic particles (7) separated from these samples (2) and is used as a separating chamber (6).

Abstract: For avoiding evaporation-related errors in the calibration of a dispenser by weighing liquid units delivered by said dispenser, an absorbent (9) in a weighing vessel (8) is arranged on a weighing pan (2) and binds the liquid units delivered onto said absorbent. To prevent falsifications occurring as a result of liquid being precipitated onto the absorbent (9), the environment of the weighing pan (2) is kept dry by a cylindrical weighing insert (10) put over said weighing pan. Said weighing insert forms a cavity (15) which receives the weighing pan (2) and is accessible from above through a longer channel (16). Both are surrounded by an inner wall (12) made of gas-permeable material, e.g. porous ceramic, through which they interact with a drying agent (18) which fills the intermediate space between the inner wall (12) and an outer wall (11) a distance away from it.

Abstract: A device (1) for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples having a pump (2), which comprises a cylindrical chamber (3), a piston (4) movable in this cylindrical chamber, and a piston drive (5) engaging on the piston. The device additionally comprises a pulse generator (6), which effects dispensing of samples from a liquid by generating pressure waves in this liquid and a tip (8) connected via a line (7) with the cylindrical chamber (3), with the piston drive (5) comprising a first drive (9) and a second drive (10), implemented as a pulse generator (6). Such a device comprises a channel (27) for rinsing or flushing the cylindrical chamber (3), with the channel (27) discharging into the cylindrical chamber (3). Furthermore, the invention also concerns systems with, for example, 384 or more such devices that are arranged in an array.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus has, in a housing (13), a cannula (8) whose rear end is connected to a diluter (17) via a connecting tube (16). A piezoelectric actuator (10) increases in length under the action of a control signal and acts on a membrane (6) pierced by the cannula tip (9) and belonging to an interchangeable polypropylene pipette tip mounted on the delivery apparatus and adhering to the housing (13) by means of a collar (7) resting against said housing, and causing said membrane to sag, with the result that a drop of a sample liquid which was previously sucked in by means of the diluter (17) and whose accurately adjustable volume is between 1 nl and 1 &mgr;l is ejected from an outlet orifice (4). After a pipetting process the pipette tip is ejected by means of a slide (15). If the level of the sample liquid in the pipette tip always remains below the cannula tip (9), virtually no carry-over occurs.

Abstract: A computer (4), a computer program product, and a method for synchronizing a system for aspirating and/or dispensing liquid samples that comprises a microejection device (1) and a pump (2) which are connected with one another by tubing (3), wherein the computer (4) is capable of being implemented for loading an activatable computer program product for synchronizing the microejection device (1) and pump (2).

Abstract: The ejection orifice (7) of a micropump including a baseplate (3) of glass and a cover plate (4) of silicon and intended for ejecting small liquid drops, has a diameter of about 50 &mgr;m, and is located in the center of a flat front surface (12) which, in order to avoid accumulations of liquid in the region of the ejection orifice (7), is only 8 times the area thereof and, along a continuous circular edge, is adjacent a lateral surface (13) in the form of an envelope of truncated cone. The front surface (12) and the lateral surface (13) have a surface roughness of not more than N4 and are provided, for example, with a hydrophobic plasma polymer coating.