Abstract: A formulation for collecting a biological sample of saliva or nasal fluid and capturing nucleic acids in the collected sample has non-toxic chaotropic agents, ethanol, and coloring and/or flavoring agents. The formulation is receivable within an oral cavity or nasal cavity to collect the sample and the non-toxic chaotropic agent(s) lyse the sample cells. A device has a sample port for receiving the sample-containing formulation and a solid-state membrane in fluid communication with the sample port. A first pump causes the sample-containing formulation to flow across the solid-state membrane and into a waste chamber. The ethanol binds nucleic acids in the lysed cells of the sample to the solid-state membrane. A second pump causes the eluent to flow from an eluent chamber across the membrane, elute captured nucleic acids from the membrane, and flow with the captured nucleic acids into an eluent reservoir.

Abstract: A device for detecting nucleic acids in a biological sample has a sample port, a lysis station and a sample conduit configured to mix a sample and lysis agent to form a sample-lysis mixture, pass the sample-lysis mixture across a solid-state membrane to capture nucleic acids in the biological sample therein, and receive the remainder of the sample-lysis mixture in a waste chamber. The wash station is configured to introduce the wash solution following the sample-lysis mixture, pass the wash solution across the solid-state membrane to purify nucleic acids captured therein, and receive the wash solution from the solid-state membrane in the waste chamber. The elution station is configured to pass the eluent across the solid-state membrane, elute captured nucleic acids from the solid-state membrane, and pass the captured nucleic acids into one or more reaction chambers for amplifying and detecting the captured nucleic acids.

Abstract: A device for amplifying and detecting nucleic acids in a biological sample has a sample port for receiving a biological sample, a solid-state membrane, a sample conduit, a lysis station, a wash station, an elution station, a waste chamber, and a reaction chamber. The sample port, lysis station and sample conduit are configured to mix a sample and lysis agent to form a sample-lysis mixture, pass the mixture across the solid-state membrane to capture nucleic acids in the sample therein, and receive the remainder of the mixture in the waste chamber. The wash station directs a wash solution across the solid-state membrane and into the waste chamber to purify nucleic acids captured in the membrane. The elution station directs an eluent across the membrane, elutes captured nucleic acids from the membrane, and passes the captured nucleic acids into the reaction chamber for amplifying and detecting the captured nucleic acids.

Abstract: A lens actuator module includes a lens assembly with an optical centerline and a clear aperture, a bearing guide integrated adjacent to the clear aperture with the centerline of motion substantially parallel to the optical centerline, a linear actuator with a preloaded frictional contact point that moves the lens along the centerline. The preload force is perpendicular to the optical centerline, constant and generated in-line with the contact point such that the preload force produces substantially zero additional friction in the bearing guide irrespective of the location along the optical centerline.

Abstract: A lens actuator module includes a lens assembly with an optical centerline and a clear aperture, a bearing guide integrated adjacent to the clear aperture with the centerline of motion substantially parallel to the optical centerline, a linear actuator with a preloaded frictional contact point that moves the lens along the centerline. The preload force is perpendicular to the optical centerline, constant and generated in-line with the contact point such that the preload force produces substantially zero additional friction in the bearing guide irrespective of the location along the optical centerline.