Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one of aspirating and of dispensing a liquid dose or of producing a liquid dose in a pipette or in receptacle, the method having the steps of first loading a first pipette with a first working medium at a first pressure having a first sign with respect to a reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the first pipette, second loading a second pipette with a second working medium at a second pressure having a second sign with respect to the reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the second pipette, discharging a pressure in the first working medium through a controlled valve arrangement to the reference pressure between first and second loadings. A pipetting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one of aspirating and of dispensing a liquid dose or of producing a liquid dose in a pipette or in receptacle, the method having the steps of first loading a first pipette with a first working medium at a first pressure having a first sign with respect to a reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the first pipette, second loading a second pipette with a second working medium at a second pressure having a second sign with respect to the reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the second pipette, discharging a pressure in the first working medium through a controlled valve arrangement to the reference pressure between first and second loadings. A pipetting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Distribution valve comprising: a stationary element comprising a first valve bearing surface, said stationary element comprising a plurality of first fluid ports and at least one second fluid port, each of said fluid ports emerging at said first valve bearing surface and being in fluidic communication with a corresponding conduit provided in said stationary element; a movable element comprising a second valve bearing surface in contact with said first bearing surface, said movable element being arranged to be movable with respect to said stationary element and being arranged to bring at least one of said first ports into fluidic communication with said second port in function of the relative position of said movable element with respect to said stationary element; characterised in that: said stationary element comprises a mixing chamber in fluidic communication with one of said first fluid ports.

Abstract: A microfluidic sensing device, for conducting measures on liquid samples, is disclosed, which includes a housing having: a first opening defining an inlet and/or an outlet for a liquid sample; a detection chamber including a sensor; a first microfluidic path connecting the first opening to the detection chamber, such that the detection chamber can be filled in with the liquid sample; a second opening designed so as to allow the application of a negative and/or positive pressure within the housing; a second microfluidic path connecting the second opening to the detection chamber; a third opening designed so as to allow the application of a negative and/or positive pressure within the housing; a third microfluidic path connecting the third opening to the first microfluidic path; and a waste chamber arranged in the second microfluidic path.

Abstract: Fluid dosing system (1) comprising: a dosing chamber (3) divided in a fluid-tight manner by means of a displaceable membrane (5) into: a) a dosing compartment (3a); and b) a working fluid compartment (3b) filled with a working fluid having a bulk modulus of at least 1 GPa; a first fluid port (3c) in fluidic communication with said dosing compartment (3a); a second fluid port (3d) in fluidic communication with said working fluid compartment (3b); an expansion reservoir (9) in fluidic communication with said fluid second port (3d) and filled with said working fluid; a bidirectional pump (7) in fluidic communication with said second port (3d) and said expansion reservoir (9) so as to be able to pump said working fluid bidirectionally between said working fluid compartment (3b) and said expansion reservoir (9); a flow sensor (13) arranged to measure flow of said working fluid based on displacement of at least part of said expansion reservoir (9).

Abstract: A method dispenses and/or aspirates a predetermined volume of fluid from a chamber. The chamber includes a lower portion containing fluid and an upper portion containing gas. The method includes measuring an initial pressure in the upper portion and introducing or evacuating a known quantity of gas into or out of the upper portion. The volume of gas in the upper portion is determined based on the volume of gas introduced or evacuated from the upper portion and a measured change in pressure in the upper portion. An upper portion target pressure that will dispense or aspirate a predetermined volume of fluid is determined. A controllable valve is opened while the pressure in the upper portion of the chamber is monitored. Once the target pressure is reached, the predetermined volume of fluid has been dispensed or aspirated, and the controllable valve is then closed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one of aspirating and of dispensing a liquid dose or of producing a liquid dose in a pipette or in receptacle, the method having the steps of first loading a first pipette with a first working medium at a first pressure having a first sign with respect to a reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the first pipette, second loading a second pipette with a second working medium at a second pressure having a second sign with respect to the reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the second pipette, discharging a pressure in the first working medium through a controlled valve arrangement to the reference pressure between first and second loadings. A pipetting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precisely dispensing liquid fluid from a container are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a metering unit having a gas feedthrough channel with a first end extending in a gas containing part of the chamber and a second end opposite the first end extending outside the chamber, the metering unit further comprising a flow sensing assembly configured to measure a gas pressure differential ?p and/or gas flow V{dot over ( )} within the gas feedthrough channel and to introduce or release a determined volume of gas in the chamber to dispense a controlled volume of liquid from the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus dispenses and/or aspirates a predetermined volume of fluid from a chamber. The chamber includes a lower portion for containing fluid and an upper portion for containing gas. The apparatus includes a controllable valve arranged to be in fluid communication with the lower portion of the chamber, a pressure sensor arranged to be in fluid communication with the upper portion of the chamber, a pump configured to be in fluid communication between a source of gas and the upper portion of the chamber, and a controller in operative connection with the controllable valve, the pressure sensor, and the pump. The controller is configured to receive signals from the pressure sensor and to control operation of the pump and operation of the controllable valve based on said signals from the pressure sensor. A method for dispensing and/or aspirating a predetermined volume of fluid utilizes this apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sample sorter system adapted to receive and sort samples according to predetermined criteria. The sample sorter system comprises a receptacle that is adapted to receive and retain fluid and samples. The receptacle is operatively coupled with a drive and with a power source such that actuation of the drive causes the rotation of at least one circular component, which in turn causes the development of a flow regime in the receptacle such that the samples suspended in the fluid are conveyable along a closed path to at least one sample handling site that are positioned along said closed path.

Abstract: A pipette device including a metering liquid receptacle designed to be filled, at least in part, with working fluid and which has a pipette opening as a first tapering of cross-section of flow, a pressure change device which is designed to change the pressure of the working fluid in the metering liquid receptacle, and a throttle point in a pipette duct designed to be filled with working fluid as a further tapering of cross-section of flow. The throttle point is arranged fluid-mechanically between the metering liquid receptacle and the pressure change device and is dimensioned in such a way that a ratio of a flow resistance of the pipette opening for dispensed metering liquid to a flow resistance of the throttle point for working fluid, which flows through the throttle point when the metering fluid is dispensed, is less than 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an adhesion rotary disc pump comprising a housing embedding therein at least one adhesion-propelling disc mounted on a rotatable shaft that is drivable by a drive, wherein fluids engaging with said at least one adhesion-propelling disc are transportable from at least one inlet to at least one outlet. In embodiments, the pump employs a scraping unit operative to scrape off fluid adherent on both sides of each of the at least one rotatable adhesion-propelling disc and that the scraped-off fluid is being channeled directly or indirectly to the at least one outlet.

Abstract: A liquid-based metering device includes: at least one dispensing tip, a non-positive displacement and bi-directional pump for dispensing a liquid, a differential pressure flow sensing device including two pressure sensors, a control circuit for driving the pump and the dispensing operation, wherein the pressure sensors of the differential pressure flow sensing device are facing a substrate and are mounted on the substrate, and the substrate includes the electrical connections for the connection of the pressure sensors, the pressure sensors including membranes which are facing the liquid and the control circuit being connected to the pump and to the substrate.

Abstract: Pipette device (10), at least for dispensing metering liquid by increasing the pressure of a working fluid, comprising a metering liquid receptacle (38) which is filled, at least in part, with working fluid and has a pipette opening (36) as a first tapering of cross-section of flow, through which metering liquid can be dispensed from the metering liquid receptacle (38) as a function of the pressure of the working fluid, and comprising a pressure change device (40) which is designed to change the pressure of the working fluid in the metering liquid receptacle (38), wherein the pipette device (10) comprises a throttle point (42) in a pipette duct (12) filled with working fluid during normal operation as a further tapering of cross-section of flow, said throttle point being arranged fluid-mechanically between the metering liquid receptacle (38) and the pressure change device (40) and being dimensioned in such a way that a ratio of a flow resistance (R1) of the pipette opening (36) for dispensed metering liquid t

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for calibrating a pipette or a dispensing system comprising a plate (2), said plate (2) comprising at least one channel (3) with a loading port (4) for receiving a test volume of a fluid at one end of the at least one channel and an opening (5) at the other end of the at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel (3) is constructed as a capillary.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pressure measurement device comprising: a substrate that includes at least one pressure sensing module and at least one fluid-conductive channel, wherein each channel has a first aperture and a second aperture. The substrate is flexible such that the pressure measurement device is conformably adjustable onto an object's surface. The first aperture is located on the substrate such that when the substrate is suitably adjusted onto the object's surface, the first aperture is open to the exterior of the object's surface. The pressure sensors module is operatively connected to at least one of the second apertures, such that the at least one pressure sensing module is generally being subjected to the pressure being present at the first aperture.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an adhesion rotary disc pump comprising a housing embedding therein at least one adhesion-propelling disc mounted on a rotatable shaft that is drivable by a drive, wherein fluids engaging with said at least one adhesion-propelling disc are transportable from at least one inlet to at least one outlet. In embodiments, the pump employs a scraping unit operative to scrape off fluid adherent on both sides of each of the at least one rotatable adhesion-propelling disc and that the scraped-off fluid is being channeled directly or indirectly to the at least one outlet.

Abstract: A device for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples comprising a pump that comprises a cylindrical chamber, a piston movable in this cylindrical chamber, and a piston drive that engages the piston. The device further comprises a tip connected to the cylindrical chamber with a line, and a channel system that discharges into the cylindrical chamber for flushing or rinsing the latter. The device is characterized in that the piston entirely seals this cylindrical chamber from the channel system, if the piston is positioned in the cylindrical chamber in such a way that a free piston end comes to rest between the channel system and the line. Preferably, the cylindrical chamber is located in a cylinder block, which comprises two parts that are separated by and enclosing an intermediate channel system. The channel system most preferably is implemented as a coherent cavity. According to a first embodiment, the cylindrical chamber is implemented as a sleeve that is inserted in a boring located in a cylinder block.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sample sorter system adapted to receive and sort samples according to predetermined criteria. The sample sorter system comprises a receptacle that is adapted to receive and retain fluid and samples. The receptacle is operatively coupled with a drive and with a power source such that actuation of the drive causes the rotation of at least one circular component, which in turn causes the development of a flow regime in the receptacle such that the samples suspended in the fluid are conveyable along a closed path to at least one sample handling site that are positioned along said closed path.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pressure measurement device comprising: a substrate that includes at least one pressure sensing module and at least one fluid-conductive channel, wherein each channel has a first aperture and a second aperture. The substrate is flexible such that the pressure measurement device is conformably adjustable onto an object's surface. The first aperture is located on the substrate such that when the substrate is suitably adjusted onto the object's surface, the first aperture is open to the exterior of the object's surface. The pressure sensors module is operatively connected to at least one of the second apertures, such that the at least one pressure sensing module is generally being subjected to the pressure being present at the first aperture.