Abstract: Provided is an analyte monitoring device having a housing, the device comprising: a plurality of needles, each having a tip, a retracted position, a position wherein the tip is extended from the housing a distance adapted to pierce skin; an electrically or spring powered needle pushing apparatus movable to separately engage each of the needles to move each from the retracted position to the extended position; an energy source located within the housing; a plurality of analysis sites comprising an analysis preparation, each adapted to receive liquid from the needles to wet the analysis preparation; one or more light sources adapted to direct light at the analysis sites; one or more light detectors adapted to receive light from the analysis sites; and a processor.

Abstract: Provided is an analyte monitoring device having a housing, the device comprising: a plurality of needles, each having a tip, a retracted position, a position wherein the tip is extended from the housing a distance adapted to pierce skin; an electrically or spring powered needle pushing apparatus movable to separately engage each of the needles to move each from the retracted position to the extended position; an energy source located within the housing; a plurality of analysis sites comprising an analysis preparation, each adapted to receive liquid from the needles to wet the analysis preparation; one or more light sources adapted to direct light at the analysis sites; one or more light detectors adapted to receive light from the analysis sites; and a processor.

Abstract: Provided is an analyte monitoring device having a housing, the device comprising: a plurality of needles, each having a tip, a retracted position, a position wherein the tip is extended from the housing a distance adapted to pierce skin; an electrically or spring powered needle pushing apparatus movable to separately engage each of the needles to move each from the retracted position to the extended position; an energy source located within the housing; a plurality of analysis sites comprising an analysis preparation, each adapted to receive liquid from the needles to wet the analysis preparation; one or more light sources adapted to direct light at the analysis sites; one or more light detectors adapted to receive light from the analysis sites; and a processor.

Abstract: Provided is an analyte monitoring device having a housing, the device comprising: a plurality of needles, each having a tip, a retracted position, a position wherein the tip is extended from the housing a distance adapted to pierce skin; an electrically or spring powered needle pushing apparatus movable to separately engage each of the needles to move each from the retracted position to the extended position; an energy source located within the housing; a plurality of analysis sites comprising an analysis preparation, each adapted to receive liquid from the needles to wet the analysis preparation; one or more light sources adapted to direct light at the analysis sites; one or more light detectors adapted to receive light from the analysis sites; and a processor.

Abstract: Provided is an analyte monitoring device having a housing, the device comprising: a plurality of needles, each having a tip, a retracted position, a position wherein the tip is extended from the housing a distance adapted to pierce skin; an electrically or spring powered needle pushing apparatus movable to separately engage each of the needles to move each from the retracted position to the extended position; an energy source located within the housing; a plurality of analysis sites comprising an analysis preparation, each adapted to receive liquid from the needles to wet the analysis preparation; one or more light sources adapted to direct light at the analysis sites; one or more light detectors adapted to receive light from the analysis sites; and a processor.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid handling device comprising: a cylindrical actuator cavity in a substrate, the actuator cavity intersected by two or more actuator channels; one or more chambers with an access channel adapted to connect to a separate one of actuator channels; and a actuator comprising (a) a cylindrical body having a cylinder axis and having therein a liquid-handling compartment with, arrayed along the cylinder axis, a first end and a second end, the liquid-handling compartment being closed at the second end, (b) a dispensing channel located at the second end and traversing the cylindrical body, the dispensing channel adapted to be separately aligned with the actuator channels, wherein the actuator is adapted to receive in a seal-tight manner a plunger that operates to confine an effective chamber defined by the plunger and the second end by moving toward the second end or to expand the effective chamber by moving toward the first end.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a solid support with two or more separated regions of a first solid layer of a non-volatile compound deposited thereon, the non-volatile compound required to maintain a chemical proces conducted in a first solution. The method comprises (1) creating an electromagnetic force for attracting charged, solid particles to a surface of the solid support, (2) contacting the surface with the charged particles of non-volatile compound, and depositing the charged particles in an amount effective to provide the non-volatile compound in an amount effective maintain the chemical process.

Abstract: Provided is a solid support having dry deposited thereon a first solid layer comprising at least a first compound, the compound for use in a chemical process conducted in a first solution. The invention allows stable forms where the first compound is not stable either (i) for storage in the first solution or (ii) in solution with one or more other compounds of the first layer. Also provided is a tray or kit of wells adapted for conducting a chemical process, each well having a deposited thereon a first solid layer comprising one or more compounds for supporting a chemical process conducted in a first solution, wherein addition of the first liquid to each of the wells dissolves said one or more compounds. Fabrication methods, time-release compositions, and methods of conducting chemical processes are further provided.

Abstract: Provided is a solid support having a composition of at least one compound deposited thereon by electrostatic or controlled field deposition, wherein the compound is attached to the support. Also provided is a method of preparing the solid support by creating an electromagnetic force for attracting particles having a first charge to a surface of the solid support and contacting the surface with the charged particles, which comprise the composition, and thereby coating the surface with the composition. Further provided is a probe array comprising spatially resolved probes deposited and attached on a solid support by electrostatic or controlled field deposition. These methods, supports and arrays provide the building blocks for methods of nucleic acid amplification and for constructing apparatuses for conducting chemical processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method of use for that device for the automated preparation of nucleic acid from a biological sample. The device relates to a cassette in which all chemical manipulations occur, which includes a storage/transfer strip where the prepared nucleic acid is deposited and stored without contamination. Moreover, the waste of the preparation protocol is contained in the cassette, which, upon the separation of the filled storage/transfer strip is completely sealed off from the environment. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive device can prepare nucleic acid preparations from up to 24 different biological samples at a time.