Abstract: The invention is directed to a disposable sample holding and processing device (1) dimensioned for being operated in a nucleic acid amplification apparatus for analyzing a liquid sample containing a nucleic acid by a nucleic acid amplification technique. The device (1) comprises chambers (15, 16) and channels (44) designed to perform the steps of capturing, amplification and detection of the nucleic acid within the device (1), and optionally also a lysis chamber (3). The binding chamber (15) contains a solid phase (14) for immobilization of a component of the sample to be analyzed, and the amplification chamber (16) is connected to the binding chamber (15) by a fluid channel (44).

Abstract: A method and level sensor apparatus for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with at least a liquid contained in a vessel are disclosed. The apparatus provides a pipetting needle made of a material suitable for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a needle holder for holding the needle, a electromechanical transducer for generating ultrasonic pulses to be transmitted towards the needle, for receiving echo pulses reflected at the tip of the needle, and for generating an electrical output signal representative of the echo pulses, and electronic circuit means for generating and applying a driving signal to the transducer, which generates corresponding pulses which are transmitted to the needle towards the tip thereof, and for monitoring and evaluating the output signal to detect the position of the needle at which the tip of the needle contacts the liquid and for providing a resulting signal representative of the result of said evaluation.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a methods and a system for measuring liquid volumes and controlling a pipetting process.

Abstract: A method and level sensor apparatus for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with at least a liquid contained in a vessel are disclosed. The apparatus provides a pipetting needle made of a material suitable for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a needle holder for holding the needle, a electromechanical transducer for generating ultrasonic pulses to be transmitted towards the needle, for receiving echo pulses reflected at the tip of the needle, and for generating an electrical output signal representative of the echo pulses, and electronic circuit means for generating and applying a driving signal to the transducer, which generates corresponding pulses which are transmitted to the needle towards the tip thereof, and for monitoring and evaluating the output signal to detect the position of the needle at which the tip of the needle contacts the liquid and for providing a resulting signal representative of the result of said evaluation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a disposable sample holding and processing device (1) dimensioned for being operated in a nucleic acid amplification apparatus for analyzing a liquid sample containing a nucleic acid by a nucleic acid amplification technique. The device (1) comprises chambers (15, 16) and channels (44) designed to perform the steps of capturing, amplification and detection of the nucleic acid within the device (1), and optionally also a lysis chamber (3). The binding chamber (15) contains a solid phase (14) for immobilization of a component of the sample to be analyzed, and the amplification chamber (16) is connected to the binding chamber (15) by a fluid channel (44).

Abstract: A method and a micropipetting apparatus is described for dispensing a liquid volume into a vessel via pipetting needle without any contact between the needle and a liquid contained in the vessel. The method comprises forming a drop at the delivery tip of the pipetting needle, the drop being retained at the tip by adhesion forces, and ejecting the drop from the tip of the pipetting needle by focusing at the tip of the pipetting needle a mechanical excitation wave applied at an excitation point at some distance from the tip of the pipetting needle. The apparatus comprises a pipetting needle, an electromechanical transducer mechanically connected with said pipetting needle for mechanically exciting the pipetting needle with a pulse of mechanical waves that propagate through the needle, and an electrical signal generator for generating an excitation pulse signal and for applying this signal to the electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining magnetic particles within a segment of a flow-through cell during flow of a fluid through the cell comprises (a) optionally, an electrical current source; (b) an electromagnet having a winding connected to the current source and an air gap between at least one pair of poles each of which has a corrugated outer surface and (c) a flow-through cell which is configured and dimensioned to receive an amount of magnetic particles to be retained within the flow-through cell and to allow flow of a liquid through the flow-through cell. The liquid carries molecules or particles to be captured by means of the magnetic particles. A portion of the flow-through cell is inserted in air gap.

Abstract: A level sensor apparatus is disclosed for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with a liquid contained in a vessel. The apparatus includes a sensor head made up of a pipetting needle, a needle holder, and an electromechanical transducer. The sensor head also has an associated mechanical resonance frequency. An electrical signal generator is used to generate a driving signal which when applied to the electromechanical transducer causes vibration of the pipetting needle at the resonance frequency. A measurement device is used to measure a parameter of a vibration signal indicative of the mechanical vibration of the pipetting needle when it is driven by the driving signal. An electronic circuit and associated computer software is provided to evaluate variation of the vibration signal with time and thus detect contact of the pipetting needle with a liquid contained in the vessel.

Abstract: A device for analyzing samples is disclosed, which are supplied in sample vessels (2), a central unit (1) with reaction vessels (2), a transport unit (6) for transporting the reaction vessels and at least one analytical unit (7, 8, 9) being provided. The central unit (1) contains a san?pling unit (30), by which at least a part of the sample is transferred from the sample vessel (2) to a reaction vessel. At least a part of the reaction vessels is transferred via/by the transport unit (6) to at least one of the analytical units (7, 8, 9). Furthermore, at least one reagent vessel (20, . . . , 23) with at least one reagent is provided, which is supplied to the sample in the reaction vessel for a reaction between the sample and the reagent. Finally, at least one measuring device (5) or at least one measuring unit for the measuring of a physical property of the sample is provided. The device according to the invention works extremely efficiently, simultaneously a minimal effort of resources being required.

Abstract: System for thermocycling of fluids in cartridges comprising a thermocycling unit in thermal contact with a first substantially planar and heat conducting wall of a cartridge, a light source for transmitting light into the interior of said cartridge through a second light transparent wall of said cartridge which is arranged substantially perpendicular to said first wall, a light detector for detecting light emerging from the interior of the cartridge through said second wall and a fluid providing unit coupled to an inlet of the cartridge for providing the cartridge with fluid and an outlet of the cartridge to drain gas when the cartridge is filled with fluid. The invention further concerns a cartridge for conducting the thermal cycling of fluids.

Abstract: A method and a micropipetting apparatus is described for dispensing a liquid volume into a vessel via pipetting needle without any contact between the needle and a liquid contained in the vessel. The method comprises forming a drop at the delivery tip of the pipetting needle, the drop being retained at the tip by adhesion forces, and ejecting the drop from the tip of the pipetting needle by focusing at the tip of the pipetting needle a mechanical excitation wave applied at an excitation point at some distance from the tip of the pipetting needle. The apparatus comprises a pipetting needle, an electromechanical transducer mechanically connected with said pipetting needle for mechanically exciting the pipetting needle with a pulse of mechanical waves that propagate through the needle, and an electrical signal generator for generating an excitation pulse signal and for applying this signal to the electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed a system for coupling a macroactuator to a movable element of a micromachined device. The system includes a micromachined device, a first body for holding a macroactuator, a macroactuator mechanically mounted on the first body, a second body having a bore for receiving the first body, a screw arrangement for fixing the axial position of the first body within the bore of the second body, and a plate arrangement for mounting the micromachined device on the second body. The plate arrangement is mounted in such a way that the macroactuator exerts a predetermined force or pressure on a movable element of the micromachined device. The present invention further is directed to a pipetting module that includes the micromachined device and the macroactuator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed a system for coupling a macroactuator to a movable element of a micromachined device. The system includes a micromachined device, a first body for holding a macroactuator, a macroactuator mechanically mounted on the first body, a second body having a bore for receiving the first body, a screw arrangement for fixing the axial position of the first body within the bore of the second body, and a plate arrangement for mounting the micromachined device on the second body. The plate arrangement is mounted in such a way that the macroactuator exerts a predetermined force or pressure on a movable element of the micromachined device. The present invention further is directed to a pipetting module that includes the micromachined device and the macroactuator.

Abstract: Manufacture of a device having a body comprising a cavity with a fluid port made from an elastomeric material adhering to the body is disclosed. The device can be used advantageously in reliable analyses in automated procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining magnetic particles within a segment of a flow-through cell during flow of a fluid through the cell comprises (a) optionally, an electrical current source; (b) an electromagnet having a winding connected to the current source and an air gap between at least one pair of poles each of which has a corrugated outer surface and (c) a flow-through cell which is configured and dimensioned to receive an amount of magnetic particles to be retained within the flow-through cell and to allow flow of a liquid through the flow-through cell. The liquid carries molecules or particles to be captured by means of the magnetic particles. A portion of the flow-through cell is inserted in air gap.

Abstract: A quality test of fluids of biological origin can be performed optically with applying a suitable evaluation method. In case of two components to be determined in a such fluid, an extinction spectrum is approximated in a first wavelength range by a combination of a merely theoretical curve and the spectrum of the pure first substance in a first wavelength range, and this evaluation is repeated in a second wavelength range this time by approximating the measured spectrum (62) by a combination of a hypothetical curve, the spectrum (64) of the first component with the already determined concentration, and the spectrum (65) of the pure second component. Furthermore, it is feasible to subtract the first and second spectrum and analyze the so obtained differential spectrum (66) in view of anomalies. The hypothetical curves are preferably straight lines which are defined by slope and ordinate section.

Abstract: A photoelectric module (1) comprises an electrically non-conducting support (2) and a photoelectric element including an array of spatially distributed photoelectric members applied to a surface of the support (2). High simplicity and efficiency is obtained by the double function of module (1) for light transmission or reflection, and spatially averaged light measurement. In a preferred application of module (1) a light source (8, LED) is energized by a driving circuit (9) controlled by an electronic circuit (11). The input of this circuit (11) is connected to the photoelectric module (1), the power delivered to the light source (8) and the intensity of the light beam emitted by the light source being regulated preferably to a constant value by the feedback loop consisting of module (1), electronic circuit (11) and driving circuit (9).

Abstract: A photoelectric module (1) comprises an electrically non-conducting support (2) and a photoelectric element including an array of spatially distributed photoelectric members applied to a surface of the support (2). High simplicity and efficiency is obtained by the double function of module (1) for light transmission or reflection, and spatially averaged light measurement. In a preferred application of module (1) a light source (8, LED) is energized by a driving circuit (9) controlled by an electronic circuit (11). The input of this circuit (11) is connected to the photoelectric module (1), the power delivered to the light source (8) and the intensity of the light beam emitted by the light source being regulated preferably to a constant value by the feedback loop consisting of module (1), electronic circuit (11) and driving circuit (9).

Abstract: A micromechanical pipetting device comprising an integrally built pipetting module which has an inlet/outlet which may be connected to a removable pipetting tip or integrally built with a pipetting tip. The pipetting module comprises a micromechanical structure which is integrally built on a silicon wafer.