Abstract: A dark-field imaging system has a platform for holding biologic tissue or cells constituting a plane forming two half-spaces. A light source generates an incident light targeting the biologic tissue or cells. A camera detects diffuse reflection off the biologic tissue or cells. The light source is placed at a first angle relative to the plane, and the camera is placed at a second angle relative to the plane so that the light source, the camera, and the biologic tissue or cells are arranged in one of the two half-spaces formed by the plane. The incident light that is not reflected by the biologic tissue or cells reaches the platform and has a specularly reflecting material that reflects the incident light at least in part by specular reflection.

Abstract: A laboratory automation apparatus with a liquid volume measurement functionality comprising a working table, a pipettor comprising a pipetting head with an electrode providing a capacitive sensor with a reference electrode. A robotic arm is configured to move the pipetting head above the working table. A processor is operatively coupled to the robotic arm, to the pipettor and to the electrode by an electronic circuit. A capillary is located on the working table having an opening for receiving a target amount of liquid from the pipettor to form an air-liquid meniscus in the capillary. The robotic arm is configured to hover the electrode over the capillary to detect a change in capacitance related to the position of the meniscus, and the processor is configured to calculate the transferred amount of liquid from the position of the meniscus in the capillary.

Abstract: A method for aspirating a first liquid medium of two liquid media of different density from a sample container comprises: calculating a lowering distance, lowering a pipette of the laboratory automation device into the sample container thereby moving a pipette tip of the pipette to the level of the lowering distance from the surface of the first liquid medium in the sample container, aspirating liquid from the sample container during the lowering of the pipette by generating an underpressure in the pipette, wherein the first liquid medium is aspirated, and when the interface and the pipette tip pass each other, the second liquid medium of the two liquid media is aspirated, and detecting the position of the interface using pressure analysis during the lowering of the pipette.

Abstract: A pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and encloses an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall. The exterior wall forms at the proximal end a reception aperture. The pipette tip extension further has one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protrudes into the inner cavity.

Abstract: A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip is disclosed. The pipette tip extension has a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and forms at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip. The pipette tip extension also has a bottom at the distal end, an inner cavity enclosed by the inner side of the exterior wall and the bottom, and one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.

Abstract: A method for aspirating a first liquid medium of two liquid media of different density from a sample container comprises: lowering a pipette of the laboratory automation device into the sample container until a pipette tip of the pipette has passed a lowering distance from the surface of the first liquid medium in the sample container, wherein the lowering distance is chosen, such that the pipette tip passes at least an aspiration volume in the sample container; aspirating liquid from the sample container during the lowering of the pipette by generating an underpressure in the pipette, wherein the first liquid medium is aspirated, and after the interface and the pipette tip pass each other, the second liquid medium of the two liquid media is aspirated; measuring a pressure in the pipette during the lowering of the pipette and detecting a position of the interface, when a slope of the pressure changes; when the lowering distance has been passed and no interface is detected, aspirating the aspiration volume fro

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method for tracking lysis progress in an automated lysing device. For example, the lysing device may be configured to execute multiple iterations of lysing at a defined location on the tissue section and imaging the defined location on the tissue section using a camera. From the images a lysing parameter may be determined to improve lysing.

Abstract: A pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and encloses an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall. The exterior wall forms at the proximal end a reception aperture. The pipette tip extension further has one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method for detaching tissue from a tissue section on a tissue slide. The method may include applying a 3D printed mask on top of the tissue section, the mask comprising barriers that define a cavity surrounding an area of interest on the tissue section, the cavity being open at a side facing the area of interest on the tissue section, dispensing a detaching liquid to the cavity, and allowing the detaching liquid to detach tissue at the area of interest, and aspirating the detaching liquid with the detached tissue from the cavity, and forwarding the liquid for further processing.

Abstract: A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip is disclosed. The pipette tip extension has a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and forms at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip. The pipette tip extension also has a bottom at the distal end, an inner cavity enclosed by the inner side of the exterior wall and the bottom, and one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.

Abstract: A method of treating an isolated area of a sample with a liquid is disclosed. The method has the steps of generating an isolated area of a sample by a first fluid reservoir where the first fluid reservoir enclosing a distal end of a second fluid reservoir and the isolated area of the sample being sealed towards the remaining area of the sample, bringing the isolated area of the sample into fluid connection with the second fluid reservoir, dispensing a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a first direction, and aspirating the fluid from the first fluid reservoir into the second fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a second direction.

Abstract: A method of treating an isolated area of a sample with a liquid is disclosed. The method has the steps of generating an isolated area of a sample by a first fluid reservoir where the first fluid reservoir enclosing a distal end of a second fluid reservoir and the isolated area of the sample being sealed towards the remaining area of the sample, bringing the isolated area of the sample into fluid connection with the second fluid reservoir, dispensing a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a first direction, and aspirating the fluid from the first fluid reservoir into the second fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a second direction.

Abstract: A guiding frame for a laboratory automation device comprises: a bottom side for placing the guiding frame on a component of the laboratory automation device; a top side with a position detection area; and an opening for accessing a port of the component, which opening is arranged besides the position detection area. The position detection area has two recesses, each recess having two straight edges, which from a view direction onto the top side are arranged inclined with respect to each other. The bottom side comprises alignment means for aligning the guiding frame with respect to the component, the alignment means comprising a base surface for contacting a top surface of the component and/or guiding surfaces for contacting walls of the component.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method for detaching tissue from a tissue section on a tissue slide. The method may include applying a 3D printed mask on top of the tissue section, the mask comprising barriers that define a cavity surrounding an area of interest on the tissue section, the cavity being open at a side facing the area of interest on the tissue section, dispensing a detaching liquid to the cavity, and allowing the detaching liquid to detach tissue at the area of interest, and aspirating the detaching liquid with the detached tissue from the cavity, and forwarding the liquid for further processing.

Abstract: A displacement device for displacing a displacement volume is disclosed. The device has a first fluid space and a second fluid space. A first piston is arranged in a movable manner within the first fluid space. The first fluid space is connectable to a pipetting device. The first piston is actuatable by an actuation volume of air or of liquid provided by the pipetting device. A second piston is arranged in a movable manner within the second fluid space. The second piston is constructed to displace a displacement volume of a fluid located within the second fluid space when the second piston is actuated. The second piston is actuated in dependence on the first piston that is actuated by the actuation volume. The actuation volume is different from the displacement volume, and a pipetting system has a displacement device and a method of displacing a displacement volume.

Abstract: A method accurately positions a robotic manipulator at a target position of a target object in an automated sample handling device. An optical reference object is detectable by imaging located at a first position at a worksurface and a capacitive reference object is located at a second position at the worksurface. A position of the robotic manipulator relative to the second position is detectable by measurements of the electrical impedance/capacitance between the capacitive reference object and the robotic manipulator acting as a measuring probe. An image is then taken of the first reference object together with the target object to determine the target position and a current position of the robotic manipulator is determined based on electrical impedance/capacitance measurements taken at different locations of the capacitive reference object. The robotic manipulator is then moved from the determined current position to the determined target position.

Abstract: A pipette tip adapter (1) is detachably connectable between a pipetting device (10) and a pipette tip (15). The pipette tip adapter has a body (2) with an interior compartment (7) for holding a liquid (18), a recess (3) entering into a part of the body (2) for detachably receiving a connector (11) of the pipetting device (10) and having a first opening (5) pneumatically connected with the interior compartment (7). The pipette tip adapter (1) further has a tube section (4) projecting from the pipette tip adapter (1) detachably securable with a pipette tip (15) and having a second opening (6) hydraulically connected with the interior compartment (7). The pipette tip adapter (1) may be used in an automated pipetting system (100). An automated pipetting system (100) having a pipette tip adapter (1) for preparing liquid reactions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to completing incomplete area of interest markings. An area of interest marking indicates an area of interest on an image of a tissue section. The method may include detecting in the image endpoints of the one or more contours, and drawing in the image a segment connecting the matching endpoints in a selected pair.

Abstract: A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and forms at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip, and at the distal end a dispense aperture. The pipette tip extension further has an inner cavity, a distance element connected to the inner side of the exterior wall, and a constriction element.

Abstract: A storage device for storing one or more pipettor consumables contains a storage plate having an upper side and a lower side, and, on the upper side, a number of accommodation seats arranged in an array. Each accommodation seat is configured to receive a pipettor consumable in an upside-down orientation. The storage device has one or more positioning elements for positioning the storage device in relation to a carrier, and/or one or more stacking elements for stacking the storage device with another storage device.