Abstract: A system for operating an electrokinetic device includes a support configured to hold and operatively couple with the electrokinetic device, an integrated electrical signal generation subsystem configured to apply a biasing voltage across a pair of electrodes in the electrokinetic device, and a light modulating subsystem configured to emit structured light onto the electrokinetic device. The system can further include a thermally controlled flow controller, and/or be configured to measure impedance across the electrokinetic device. The system can be a light microscope, including an optical train. The system can further include a light pipe, which can be part of the light modulating system, and which can be configured to supply light of substantially uniform intensity to the light modulating system or directly to the optical train.

Abstract: Incubators including an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells are disclosed. The enclosure includes a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells. The incubators include a sealing element configured to seal the plurality of openings in the enclosure. The sealing element comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: Incubators including an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells are disclosed. The enclosure includes a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells. The incubators include a sealing element configured to seal the plurality of openings in the enclosure. The sealing element comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: Incubators are disclosed which include an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate and provide an environment suitable for maintaining and/or culturing biological cells. The enclosure can include one or more openings configured to allow access to the cell culture plate. The incubators can further include a structure having a plurality of openings configured to be aligned with a corresponding plurality of wells in the cell culture plate, and a sealing element configured to moveably seal the plurality of openings in the structure. The sealing element can comprise a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings of the structure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the structure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: A system for operating an electrokinetic device includes a support configured to hold and operatively couple with the electrokinetic device, an integrated electrical signal generation subsystem configured to apply a biasing voltage across a pair of electrodes in the electrokinetic device, and a light modulating subsystem configured to emit structured light onto the electrokinetic device. The system can further include a thermally controlled flow controller, and/or be configured to measure impedance across the electrokinetic device. The system can be a light microscope, including an optical train. The system can further include a light pipe, which can be part of the light modulating system, and which can be configured to supply light of substantially uniform intensity to the light modulating system or directly to the optical train.

Abstract: Incubators including an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells are disclosed. The enclosure includes a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells. The incubators include a sealing element configured to seal the plurality of openings in the enclosure. The sealing element comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: Incubators are disclosed which include an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate and provide an environment suitable for maintaining and/or culturing biological cells. The enclosure can include one or more openings configured to allow access to the cell culture plate. The incubators can further include a structure having a plurality of openings configured to be aligned with a corresponding plurality of wells in the cell culture plate, and a sealing element configured to moveably seal the plurality of openings in the structure. The sealing element can comprise a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings of the structure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the structure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: Incubators including an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells are disclosed. The enclosure includes a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells. The incubators include a sealing element configured to seal the plurality of openings in the enclosure. The sealing element comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: A system for operating an electrokinetic device includes a support configured to hold and operatively couple with the electrokinetic device, an integrated electrical signal generation subsystem configured to apply a biasing voltage across a pair of electrodes in the electrokinetic device, and a light modulating subsystem configured to emit structured light onto the electrokinetic device. The system can further include a thermally controlled flow controller, and/or be configured to measure impedance across the electrokinetic device. The system can be a light microscope, including an optical train. The system can further include a light pipe, which can be part of the light modulating subsystem, and which can be configured to supply light of substantially uniform intensity to the light modulating subsystem or directly to the optical train.

Abstract: The elongated body of an electrically conductive contact probe can be disposed in a guide hole and can include a patterned region for engaging and riding on a contact region of an inner sidewall of the guide hole as the elongated body moves in the guide hole in response to a force on a tip of the probe. As the patterned region rides the contact region, the tip moves in a lateral pattern that is a function of the surface(s) of the patterned region.

Abstract: Incubators including an enclosure with an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells are disclosed. The enclosure includes a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells. The incubators include a sealing element configured to seal the plurality of openings in the enclosure. The sealing element comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Access to the internal chamber can be provided by aligning the plurality of openings in the sealing element with the plurality of openings in the enclosure. Methods for using the incubators are also provided.

Abstract: A station for culturing biological cells in a microfluidic device is provided. The station includes one or more thermally conductive mounting interfaces, each mounting interface configured for having a microfluidic device detachably mounted thereon; a thermal regulation system configured for controlling a temperature of microfluidic devices detachably mounted on the one or more mounting interfaces; and a media perfusion system configured to controllably and selectively dispense a flowable culturing media into microfluidic devices detachably mounted on the one or mounting interfaces.

Abstract: A system for operating an electrokinetic device includes a support configured to hold and operatively couple with the electrokinetic device, an integrated electrical signal generation subsystem configured to apply a biasing voltage across a pair of electrodes in the electrokinetic device, and a light modulating subsystem configured to emit structured light onto the electrokinetic device. The system can further include a thermally controlled flow controller, and/or be configured to measure impedance across the electrokinetic device. The system can be a light microscope, including an optical train. The system can further include a light pipe, which can be part of the light modulating subsystem, and which can be configured to supply light of substantially uniform intensity to the light modulating subsystem or directly to the optical train.