Abstract: A random access automated molecular testing system and method is used with a planar polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chip to provide molecular detection covering a wide variety of assays/tests in a small footprint. An automated transport mechanism moves the PCR chip between a pipette loading station, a sealing station and an amplification and detection module to provide batchless and random-access amplification and detection of a biological sample fluid. The PCR chip a planar rectangular body, a U-shaped channel for receiving sample fluid from an inlet port and a gripping feature laterally extending from an upper surface of the body above the inlet port for use by the automated transport mechanism. An amplification and detection module includes a heating block, a clip with a viewing window for retaining the PCR chip and a detection platform for identifying a content characteristic of interest of the sample fluid.

Abstract: An optical discrimination apparatus adapted for use in PCR testing and the like. The apparatus includes a multi-color light emitter to emit excitation light, a sample holder configured to hold dye-marked nucleic acid fragments in a PCR solution at a position configured to receive the excitation light along a first direction, light emission collection optics configured to collect scattered excitation light and light emission (fluorescent emission) from the sample holder along a second direction that is approximately orthogonal to the first direction, a spectrally-dispersive element configured to spectrally disperse scattered light and emission light, and a spectral detector configured to receive the separated emission light and excitation light on different photosites of the spectral detector. Systems and methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A sample holder for PCR processing. The sample holder includes a body with an inlet and outlet grooves formed alongside each other, a detection recess that is connected to the inlet and outlet grooves, and a fill port interconnected to both the inlet and outlet grooves, and a cover interfacing with the body to form an inlet channel interconnected to the fill port, a detection region interconnected to the inlet channel, and an outlet channel interconnected to the detection region and the fill port. The detection region is configured to receive a PCR solution from the fill port and replication occurs within the detection region via heating and cooling cycles. Thereafter, fluorescent emissions from tagged replicated DNA/RNA in the detection region are detected and measured. PCR stations, PCR station assemblies, PCR testing systems, and methods of operating a PCR testing systems are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Analyte arrays such as solutes in a slab-shaped gel following electrophoresis, and particularly arrays that are in excess of 3 cm square and up to 25 cm square and higher, are imaged at distances of 5 cm or less by either forming sub-images of the entire array and stitching together the sub-images by computer-based stitching technology, or by using an array of thin-film photoresponsive elements that is coextensive with the analyte array to form a single image of the array.

Abstract: Analyte arrays such as solutes in a slab-shaped gel following electrophoresis, and particularly arrays that are in excess of 3 cm square and up to 25 cm square and higher, are imaged at distances of 5 cm or less by either forming sub-images of the entire array and stitching together the sub-images by computer-based stitching technology, or by using an array of thin-film photoresponsive elements that is coextensive with the analyte array to form a single image of the array.

Abstract: Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2×2 ?m or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm2. The sensor enables the counter to compress the optical components into an optical path of less than 20 cm in height when arranged vertically with no changes in direction of the optical path as a whole, and the entire instrument has a footprint of less than 300 cm2. Activation of the light source, automated focusing of the sensor image, and digital cell counting are all initiated by the simple insertion of the sample holder into the instrument. The suspension is placed in a sample chamber in the form of a slide that is shaped to ensure proper orientation of the slide in the cell counter.

Abstract: Analyte arrays such as solutes in a slab-shaped gel following electrophoresis, and particularly arrays that are in excess of 3 cm square and up to 25 cm square and higher, are imaged at distances of 5 cm or less by either forming sub-images of the entire array and stitching together the sub-images by computer-based stitching technology, or by using an array of thin-film photoresponsive elements that is coextensive with the analyte array to form a single image of the array.

Abstract: Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells or sample receptacles are achieved by the use of heating and cooling elements with a vapor chamber interposed between such elements and the microplate. The upper surface of the vapor chamber and the underside of the sample plate in certain embodiments are complementary in shape, i.e., they have identical but oppositely directed contours in the areas around each of the sample receptacles, to provide continuous surface contact along the surface of each receptacle. In other embodiments, an intermediary plate is placed between the vapor chamber and the well plate, with the top surface of the intermediary plate being complementary in shape to the underside of the well plate.

Abstract: Adherent cells bearing characteristics that are detectable only in the adherent state can be sorted on the basis of these characteristics independently of their adherent state, by applying a transformable label to the entire population of cells, both those bearing the characteristics of interest and those not, in their adherent state and identifying the locations of the cells of interest on the adherent surface. The cells of interest, or all cells other than those of interest, are then selectively treated to transform the labels and achieve differentiation between the cells of interest and the remaining cells. All cells are then released from the adherent state and sorted in the same manner as non-adherent cells but on the basis of whether the labels are transformed or not transformed.

Abstract: A system for performing high-speed, high-resolution imaging cytometry includes a scanning region that is illuminated by light including at least first and second wavelength bands. The system also includes a cell transport mechanism that transports a cell through the scanning region such that the cell is illuminated. The system further includes a set of at least one linear light sensor, and an optical system that selectively directs light emitted from the cell to two portions of the linear light sensor set such that emitted light in a third wavelength band is primarily directed to a first portion of the linear light sensor set, and emitted light in a fourth wavelength band is primarily directed to a second portion of the linear light sensor set. The system repeatedly takes readings of light falling on the linear light sensor set while the cell is transported through the scanning region.

Abstract: A flow cytometry system includes a flow element through which a cell is transported in a flowing fluid. The flow element includes a bore bounded by a wall. A light source is configured to illuminate the cell. An optical system receives light emanating from the cell and directs at least some of the received light to a light sensor. The optical system includes a numerical-aperture-increasing lens at a wall of the flow element. At least some of the received light passes through the numerical-aperture-increasing lens. The flow cytometry system may also include a beam splitter that directs two wavelength bands of the emanating light such that light in two wavelength band preferentially reach different sensing locations via different paths. The system may also include an optical element placed in one of the paths, shifting a focal location of the affected path to compensate for chromatic aberration of the numerical-aperture-increasing lens.

Abstract: A system for performing high-speed, high-resolution imaging cytometry includes a scanning region that is illuminated by light including at least first and second wavelength bands. The system also includes a cell transport mechanism that transports a cell through the scanning region such that the cell is illuminated. The system further includes a set of at least one linear light sensor, and an optical system that selectively directs light emitted from the cell to two portions of the linear light sensor set such that emitted light in a third wavelength band is primarily directed to a first portion of the linear light sensor set, and emitted light in a fourth wavelength band is primarily directed to a second portion of the linear light sensor set. The system repeatedly takes readings of light falling on the linear light sensor set while the cell is transported through the scanning region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing cytometry using a linear light sensor. An illumination field, a line scanned by the linear light sensor, or both are swept across a cell to be imaged. Relative motion between the cell and the swept illumination may be created using a movable optical component or components, by adhering cells to a plate and transporting the plate or by other techniques.

Abstract: Analyte arrays such as solutes in a slab-shaped gel following electrophoresis, and particularly arrays that are in excess of 3 cm square and up to 25 cm square and higher, are imaged at distances of 5 cm or less by either forming sub-images of the entire array and stitching together the sub-images by computer-based stitching technology, or by using an array of thin-film photoresponsive elements that is coextensive with the analyte array to form a single image of the array.

Abstract: A system for performing high-speed, high-resolution imaging cytometry utilizes a line-scan sensor. A cell to be characterized is transported past a scan region. An optical system focuses an image of a portion of the scan region onto at least one linear light sensor, and repeated readings of light falling on the sensor are taken while a cell is transported though the scan region. The system may image cells directly, or may excite fluorescence in the cells and image the resulting light emitted from the cell by fluorescence. The system may provide a narrow band of illumination at the scan region. The system may include various filters and imaging optics that enable simultaneous multicolor fluorescence imaging cytometry. Multiple linear sensors may be provided, and images gathered by the individual sensors may be combined to construct an image having improved signal-to-noise characteristics.

Abstract: Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000000 pixels each having an area of 2×2 ?m or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm2. The sensor enables the counter to compress the optical components into an optical path of less than 20 cm in height when arranged vertically with no changes in direction of the optical path as a whole, and the entire instrument has a footprint of less than 300 cm2. Activation of the light source, automated focusing of the sensor image, and digital cell counting are all initiated by the simple insertion of the sample holder into the instrument. The suspension is placed in a sample chamber in the form of a slide that is shaped to ensure proper orientation of the slide in the cell counter.

Abstract: A cross sectional imaging system performs high-resolution, high-speed partial imaging of cells. Such a system may provide much of the information available from full imaging cytometry, but can be performed much more quickly, in part because the data analysis is greatly reduced in comparison with full image cytometry. The system includes a light source and a lens that focuses light from the light source onto a small spot in a scanning location. A transport mechanism causes relative motion between a cell in the scanning location and the spot. A sensor generates a signal indicating the intensity of light emanating from the cell as a result of illumination by the light source. The system repeatedly takes readings of the light intensity signal and characterizes the light intensity along a substantially linear path across the cell.

Abstract: Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2×2 ?m or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm2. The sensor enables the counter to compress the optical components into an optical path of less than 20 cm in height when arranged vertically with no changes in direction of the optical path as a whole, and the entire instrument has a footprint of less than 300 cm2. Activation of the light source, automated focusing of the sensor image, and digital cell counting are all initiated by the simple insertion of the sample holder into the instrument. The suspension is placed in a sample chamber in the form of a slide that is shaped to ensure proper orientation of the slide in the cell counter.

Abstract: Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells or sample receptacles are achieved by the use of heating and cooling elements with a vapor chamber interposed between such elements and the microplate. The upper surface of the vapor chamber and the underside of the sample plate in certain embodiments are complementary in shape, i.e., they have identical but oppositely directed contours in the areas around each of the sample receptacles, to provide continuous surface contact along the surface of each receptacle. In other embodiments, an intermediary plate is placed between the vapor chamber and the well plate, with the top surface of the intermediary plate being complementary in shape to the underside of the well plate.

Abstract: Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells, or in the channels of a multi-channel microfluidics device, are achieved by the use of a thermal block with thermoelectric heating/cooling elements built into the block, or by the use of a thermal block with wedges protruding from its lower surface, with thermoelectric elements placed in surface contact with the angled sides of each wedge.