Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge used in a digital microfluidics system has a bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, a rigid cover plate with second hydrophobic surface, and a gap there-between. The bottom layer is a flexible film on an uppermost surface of a cartridge accommodation site of a system, attracted to and spread over the uppermost surface by an underpressure. A lower surface of the plate and the flexible bottom layer are sealed to each other. The assembled cartridge is removed from the cartridge accommodation site in one piece and potentially includes samples and processing fluids. The system has a base unit and a cartridge accommodation site with an electrode array of individual electrodes and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.

Abstract: Test method checks and compensates ion yield variances in a mass spectrometer and includes feeding an eluate of a chromatographic separation to the spectrometer, continuously ad-mixing a separate target analyte solution at known concentration and constant flow rate to the eluate, injecting the mixture into the spectrometer and generating a detector signal for the mixture. A spectrogram is captured which includes an integration line and a mass-spectrographic peak of the target analyte, the integration line being a lasting background signal underlaid to the mass-spectrometric analysis of the eluate, then evaluating the spectrogram by capturing an integrated mass-spectrographic peak area above the integration line and an area which is found under the integrated peak area of the target analyte by perpendicular drop lines from the peak integration line and forming a mathematical relationship from the determined mass-spectrographic areas.

Abstract: Test method checks and compensates ion yield variances in a mass spectrometer and includes feeding an eluate of a chromatographic separation to the spectrometer, continuously ad-mixing a separate target analyte solution at known concentration and constant flow rate to the eluate, injecting the mixture into the spectrometer and generating a detector signal for the mixture. A spectrogram is captured which includes an integration line and a mass-spectrographic peak of the target analyte, the integration line being a lasting background signal underlaid to the mass-spectrometric analysis of the eluate, then evaluating the spectrogram by capturing an integrated mass-spectrographic peak area above the integration line and an area which is found under the integrated peak area of the target analyte by perpendicular drop lines from the peak integration line and forming a mathematical relationship from the determined mass-spectrographic areas.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a test kit for performing this method for determining the volume of a sample of the liquid. In the method, a specific concentration of a chromophoric indicator is provided in this liquid, a sample is separated from the liquid, the optical absorption of the separated sample is measured, and the volume of the separated sample is determined by correlation of the measured optical absorption with the concentration of indicator in this liquid. Ions that generate a color in the sample by complexing with a specific ligand are used as the indicator to stain the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a liquid (1) in a known pipetting system for this liquid (1), the method being characterized in that the changes of a selected, measurable, and physically founded virtual parameter are detected as a data set typical for this liquid (1); this typical data set of the selected virtual parameter is compared to corresponding data sets of known liquids, and the liquid (1) is classified on the basis of this comparison. An especially preferred method and a device for classifying a liquid (1) relate to a device which comprises a fluid chamber (2), to which a measuring chamber (3) is connected, whose internal pressure is monitored using a pressure transducer (4). At least a first part (5) of this fluid chamber (2) may be brought into fluid connection with a sample (6) of this liquid (1).

Abstract: The ejection orifice (7) of a micropump including a baseplate (3) of glass and a cover plate (4) of silicon and intended for ejecting small liquid drops, has a diameter of about 50 &mgr;m, and is located in the center of a flat front surface (12) which, in order to avoid accumulations of liquid in the region of the ejection orifice (7), is only 8 times the area thereof and, along a continuous circular edge, is adjacent a lateral surface (13) in the form of an envelope of truncated cone. The front surface (12) and the lateral surface (13) have a surface roughness of not more than N4 and are provided, for example, with a hydrophobic plasma polymer coating.