Abstract: The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus for handling at least one laboratory sample, in particular for mixing and/or adjusting the temperature of a biochemical laboratory sample, which is arranged in at least one sample vessel element, having a carrier device for carrying the at least one sample vessel element, an electrical control device, which is set up for controlling or setting at least one operating parameter of the laboratory apparatus that controls this handling, and at least one sensor device for recording at least one measured value, by which at least one geometrical property of the at least one sample vessel element can be determined, the at least one sensor device being signal-connected to the electrical control device, the electrical control device being set up for controlling the handling of the at least one laboratory sample in dependence on the at least one measured value and the at least one set operating parameter by at least one control step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessel contents with an accommodating device in detachable connection with an exchangeable block for accommodating and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessels and with a drive by which the accommodating device can be set in a mixing motion, and with a temperature control device with a heat source or sink in heat-conducting connection with the exchangeable block at least through in each case at least one adjoining contact face firstly on the accommodating device and secondly on the exchangeable block, which is characterized in that the detachable connection is maintained by a spring element which, by virtue of its spring force, horizontally clamps together a first undercut between the accommodating device and the exchangeable block in at least one first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessel contents with an accommodating device in detachable connection with an exchangeable block for accommodating and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessels and with a drive by which the accommodating device can be set in a mixing motion, and with a temperature control device with a heat source or sink in heat-conducting connection with the exchangeable block at least through in each case at least one adjoining contact face firstly on the accommodating device and secondly on the exchangeable block, which is characterized in that the detachable connection is maintained by a spring element which, by virtue of its spring force, horizontally clamps together a first undercut between the accommodating device and the exchangeable block in at least one first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for covering one or more sample(s) that are suitable to avoid or minimize evaporation and/or condensation of any vaporizable substance that may be present in the sample(s) or reaction mixture(s), in particular evaporation of substance at the fringes of a vessel or an array of vessels or condensation of a substance on the lid of a reaction vessel or a plate/block containing the sample(s) and/or a cover. This is achieved by providing a device comprising, among others, a force distribution unit that comprises at least one medium or material that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and deforms continuously under the action of a shear force.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laboratory apparatus for handling laboratory samples, in particular for adjusting the temperature of a biochemical sample arranged in a sample vessel element, having a carrier device for carrying the sample vessel element, an electrical control device set up for controlling an operating parameter of the laboratory apparatus that controls this handling, and a sensor device for recording a measured value, by which a geometrical property of the a sample vessel element can be determined, the a sensor device being signal-connected to the electrical control device, the electrical control device being set up for controlling the handling of the laboratory sample in dependence on the measured value and the set operating parameter by the control step; and a method for handling at least one laboratory sample by means of a laboratory apparatus and to a computer program product for performing the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means for covering one or more sample(s) that are suitable to avoid or minimize evaporation and/or condensation of any vaporizable substance that may be present in the sample(s) or reaction mixture(s), in particular evaporation of substance at the fringes of a vessel or an array of vessels or condensation of said substance on the lid of a reaction vessel or a plate/block containing the sample(s) and/or the means for covering. This is achieved by providing a device comprising, among others, a force distribution unit that comprises at least one medium or material that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and deforms continuously under the action of a shear force. In a preferred embodiment, this medium or material is a gas, a shear force.

Abstract: A microproportioning system includes a reservoir, a micro-diaphragm pump the entrance of which is connected to the reservoir, an open-jet proportioner the entrance of which is connected to the exit of the micro-diaphragm pump, a proportioning port connected to the exit of the open-jet proportioner, and a proportioning control which is in an operative communication with the micro-diaphragm pump and the open-jet proportioner

Abstract: A microfluidic accumulating and proportioning component, including: a reservoir including an aeration port and an outlet disposed below for a liquid, capillary cavities in the reservoir, a displacement chamber which is disposed at least partly at the same level as the reservoir, with an inlet disposed above and a proportioning outlet disposed below for a liquid, and a rising capillary channel connecting the outlet of the reservoir to the inlet of the displacement chamber.

Abstract: A system for detecting fluids in a microfluidic component having at least one microchannel including a limitation wall which has two surfaces which, facing the microchannel in a transparent area, are inclined towards each other at an acute angle, with the system further including a photo transmitter and a photo receiver which are disposed outside the component and are directed to the inclined surfaces in the transparent area of the limitation wall in such a way that if a gas is waiting in the microchannel on the two surfaces, a light ray emitted by the photo transmitter impinges on the photo receiver following a total reflection on the two surfaces and, if a liquid is waiting in the microchannel, the light ray enters the microchannel on at least one of the two surfaces and, as a result, the incidence of light into the photo receiver is reduced or prohibited.