Abstract: A fluid-conveying apparatus conveys fluid using a channel for the fluid to flow. The apparatus includes a pressure-generating device for generating pressure for conveying the fluid, a plurality of processing areas for processing the fluid, a valve which is disposed between the processing areas and controls the fluid flow, and a pressure-relieving device for relieving the pressure in the channel.

Abstract: A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, the buried silicon oxide technology is employed in the fabrication of fluid channels, particularly nanochannels. For example, a fluid channel can be made in a buried silicon oxide layer by etching the buried oxide layer with a method that selectively removes silicon oxide but not silicon. Thus, one dimension of the resulting fluid channel is limited by the thickness of the buried oxide layer. It is possible to manufacture a very thin buried oxide layer with great precision, thus a nanochannel can be fabricated in a controlled manner. Moreover, in addition to buried oxide, any pairs of substances with a high etch ratio with respect to each other can be used in the same way. Further provided are the fluid channels, apparatuses, devices and systems comprising the fluid channels, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A substrate having a channel portion in which a liquid transfers, wherein, even if the channel portion has no micro-channel interconnecting chambers, a liquid can transfer stepwise from one region to the next region according to the speed of rotation of the substrate. The substrate can be rotated about a rotation axis as the center, and has the channel portion including the chambers formed therein. The inner wall of each chamber has a first area including an area intersecting with a centrifugal direction from the center; and also has a second area placed at a position farther from the center than the first area, and including a surface intersecting with the centrifugal direction from the center. Further, the first area has a region for holding a droplet of a liquid provided; and also has a region where a contact with the droplet expands when the substrate is rotated, and that communicate with the second area.

Abstract: A method for depositing samples, in which at least one sample (10) is arranged on a substrate (30), comprises the following steps: positioning a sample dispenser (20) above the substrate (30), and actuating the sample dispenser (20) so that the sample (10) is moved from the sample dispenser (20) along a trajectory (11) to a predefined deposition position (32) on the substrate (30), wherein at least part of the trajectory (11) is shielded against electrical interference fields. Also described is a substrate (30) for receiving samples (10), comprising a substrate body (31), on the surface of which at least one deposition position (32) is provided, and a shielding electrode (40), which is designed so as to electrostatically shield the space above the at least one deposition position (32) against electrical interference fields.

Abstract: The sample analyzer comprises a transporting device for transporting a rack for holding a plurality of containers containing samples respectively and having a recording part in which identifying information has been recorded that identifies the rack, a reading device for reading the identifying information from the recording part of the transported rack, an aspirating device including an aspirating tube for aspirating the sample from the container, a controller for controlling the operation of the aspirating device based on the identifying information read by the reading device, and an analyzing device for analyzing a measurement sample that includes the aspirated sample.

Abstract: A vascular access device for communicating with the vascular system of a patient may include a status indicator. The status indicator may detect and signal that a pathogen is in communication with the vascular access device.

Abstract: A micromanifold for connecting external capillaries to the inlet and/or outlet ports of a microfluidic device can employ a ferrule/capillary assembly that includes: (a) a ferrule comprising an elongated member and having a bore traversing from a proximal end to a distal end of the member, wherein the bore has an inner surface and wherein the distal end of the ferrule has a tapered, threaded exterior surface, and (b) a capillary that is positioned within the bore wherein the capillary's outer surface is in direct contact with the bore's inner surface. No mating sleeve is required for the one-piece ferrule. Alternatively, the capillaries can be bonded to channels that traverse the manifold and therefore obviate the need for a ferrule.

Abstract: A biochip and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The biochip can increase a surface area on which biomaterials can be immobilized and improve efficiency of reaction. The biochip includes: a substrate; a coating layer formed on the substrate; and a nanoparticle immobilized on the substrate by the coating layer, a material to be bound to a target material being attached on a surface of the nanoparticle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating radioisotope thallium-201. The device includes an evaporation unit for a solution vial, a first glass vial connected to a first valve and a second valve, an ion exchange column connected to a third valve, a second glass vial connected to a fourth valve and a fifth valve, a collection vial for receiving solution from the fifth valve, a product vial with a membrane filter and a vacuum unit connected to the first valve, the fourth valve and a sixth valve. This device can separate out high-concentration thallium-201 solution from which radioisotope thallium-201 can be obtained.

Abstract: A disposable inoculation loop assembly comprising a test tube and a tube stopper adapted to fit into a free end of the test tube. A first end of the stopper faces into the interior of the test tube substantially hermetically sealing the interior of the test tube. The assembly further includes an inoculation loop fixed to the tube stopper and extending into the interior of the test tube to a predetermined distance when the stopper is positioned in the free end of the test tube. The assembly when assembled is sterilized and pre-evacuated to a predetermined vacuum which is sufficient to draw a volume of a bodily liquid to be sampled into the test tube. The volume is of such an amount so that the liquid level in the test tube substantially just covers a predetermined portion of the inoculation loop.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide micro-fluidic systems and devices for use in performing various diagnostic and analytical tests. According to one embodiment, the micro-fluidic device includes a sample chamber for receiving a sample, and a reaction chamber for performing a chemical reaction. A bubble jet pump is structured on the device to control delivery of a fluid from the sample chamber to the reaction chamber. The pump is fluidically coupled to one or more chambers of the device using a fluidic channel such as a capillary. A valve may be coupled to one or more chambers to control flow into and out of those chambers. Also, a sensor may be positioned in one or more of the chambers, such as the reactant chamber, for sensing a property of the fluid within the chamber as well as the presence of a chemical within the chamber.

Abstract: Covers for covering an opening in an analyte meter, and meters that include the same are provided.

Abstract: A system for dispensing microdrops of reagent in small, precisely metered quantities maintains the fluid reagent to be dispensed in a reservoir under a controlled pressure. The reagent is dispensed through multiple nozzles connected to solenoid-actuated valves that control the flow of the reagent from the reservoir to the nozzles. Each valve is connected to one of the nozzles and electrical pulses are supplied separately to each of the valves to separately control the opening and closing of each valve to dispense predetermined quantities of the reagent through each nozzle at predetermined times.

Abstract: A sample tube for an NMR probe head, which extends along a z axis and has an internal cavity that extends in an axial direction of the z axis, is open to the outside at the axially upper end, is closed at the axially lower end and contains a liquid NMR sample substance during operation, wherein the cross-sectional surface of this cavity extending perpendicularly to the z axis and parallel to the xy coordinate plane has an elongated shape in the direction of the x axis with maximum dimensions a in the y direction and b in the x direction, wherein a<b, is characterized in that the cross-sectional surface of the sample tube, which extends perpendicularly to the z axis and is parallel to the xy coordinate plane has a circular outer shape. Sample tubes of this type provide a particularly large signal-to-noise ratio, can be easily inserted into a conventional cryogenic probe head and be axially and radially positioned therein by existing precision centering devices.

Abstract: A chip-holder for holding a micro-fluidic chip has a fixer for detachably fixing the micro-fluidic chip in the chip-holder and at least one process control device configured to support control or monitoring of a chemical process in the micro-fluidic chip, wherein the chip-holder is configured such that the process control device and the micro-fluidic chip are directly and detachably coupled when the micro-fluidic chip is fixed in the chip-holder. Such a chip-holder brings along the advantage that the micro-fluidic chip can easily be removed and exchanged while the process control device can be reused. This reduces running costs of a chemical microreactor system drastically and allows for a very flexible usage of a chemical microreactor system.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a B/F separator including a reaction vessel holding unit provided with magnets disposed around a reaction vessel held on the reaction vessel holding unit and a rotating device for rotating the reaction vessel holding unit holding the reaction vessel about an axis of rotation aligned with the center axis of the reaction vessel or an axis of rotation parallel to and separated by a distance from the center axis of the reaction vessel. Both magnetic force and centrifugal force are exerted simultaneously on a specimen contained in a reaction vessel to capture magnetic particles contained in the liquid contained in the reaction vessel at a high capturing efficiency.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge adapted to be used with a sensor-dispensing instrument comprises a housing, test sensors, a mechanical mechanism and moveable seals. The housing forms at least one opening therethrough. The test sensors are stacked in the housing. The test sensors are adapted to assist in testing at least one analyte. The mechanical mechanism is adapted to urge the test sensors in a first direction. One of the test sensors is positioned for ejection from the cartridge. The moveable seals is adapted to be in a closed position that seals the at least one opening so as to provide a substantially moisture-proof and a substantially air-tight cartridge, and one of the moveable seals is adapted to be in an open position that allows one of the test sensors to be moved therethrough.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for pumping or delivering fluids utilizing a flexible vessel subject to controlled pressures within another pressure vessel. The pressure vessel can be sourced with positive and/or negative (e.g., vacuum) pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for transporting a fluid in a channel leg of a microfluidic element, especially of a flow cell. According to the invention, a pressure source for pressurizing a front end face (42) in transport direction of the liquid which completely fills the channel leg in cross section is provided. The pressure source preferably comprises a closed space (17; 22; 34; 36, 38, 40), in which a compressed gas, for example air, is compressible by moving the front end face (42) of the fluid transported in the channel leg.

Abstract: A medical device or analytical device comprising a fluid-impervious surface comprising a base surface, at least one distinct region of the base surface covered by a mixed monolayer film, the mixed monolayer film comprising a species having a functional group Ml and a species having a functional group M2 where M1 and M2 have different surface energies, the mixed monolayer forming a surface energy gradient wherein at least one of the species used to form the monolayer on the surface comprises a biopolymer-resistant domain.

Abstract: A microwell including a plurality of MRI-readable indicia. The indicia indicate the identification or location of at least one predefined well or a plurality of wells. The indicia are selected from a mark, figure, number, text, code, barcode, readable texture or indication thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a passive fluidics circuit for directing different fluids to a common volume, such as a reaction chamber or flow cell, without intermixing or cross contamination. The direction and rate of flow through junctions, nodes and passages of the fluidics circuit are controlled by the states of upstream valves (e.g. opened or closed), differential fluid pressures at circuit inlets or upstream reservoirs, flow path resistances, and the like. Free diffusion or leakage of fluids from unselected inlets into the common outlet or other inlets at junctions or nodes is prevented by the flow of the selected inlet fluid, a portion of which sweeps by the inlets of unselected fluids and exits the fluidics circuit by waste ports, thereby creating a barrier against undesired intermixing with the outlet flow through leakage or diffusion. The invention is particularly advantageous in apparatus for performing sensitive multistep reactions, such as pH-based DNA sequencing reactions.

Abstract: Systems and methods include processing devices used to fragment nucleic acids to average nucleic acid sizes ranging from between about 5 kbp and about 20 kbp. A processing device may include an inlet portion and a channel upstream from a shearing region arranged so that a relatively constant pressure is established and maintained (e.g., a pressure that changes by less than about 40%) at an entrance of the shearing region during a majority of sample flow through the shearing region. In some embodiments, after forcing the sample through the shearing region once, the processing device may be taken out of the centrifuge, inverted and placed back into the centrifuge so that the sample is forced through the shearing region again.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for containing, reacting and measuring, and a method of containing, reacting and measuring, and provides a device for containing, reacting and measuring, and a method of containing, reacting and measuring which is also able to effectively and quickly perform the reaction processing, measuring and identification.

Abstract: A device is disclosed, being an analysis device for the study of biological or chemical samples by means of a reagent liquid supplied via a pipette. The device has an instrument housing with a base plate, a working plate arranged on the base plate horizontally to receive the samples in a sample holder having several wells, a robot manipulator arranged above the working plate, which carries a horizontal support arm with a slide. A needle system is fastened to the slide and can move in the Z direction, carrying 3 needles and being brought into vertical positions by a first vertical drive. The needle tips can be placed in an upper position above and in a lower position below a well. The middle needle can move vertically relative to the other two needles, which can be raised and lowered by a second vertical drive. The horizontal spacing of the three needles is so small that all three needles can be positioned with their tips inside the same wells.

Abstract: A reaction bottle which includes a container, container top, container interior a bottle cap removeably attachable to the container top, the bottle cap having a cap top and a cap cavity; a septa attached to the bottle cap and configured to releasably seal the container when the bottle cap is attached to the container top; a needle holder attached to the cap top; a hollow needle attached to the needle holder and located in the cap cavity; a needle conduit in fluid communication with the hollow needle; wherein the septa is configured to deform from an at rest state into a punctured state when pressure within the container interior reaches a first threshold value and the septa deforms into the cavity and is punctured by the hollow needle.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for attaching a fluid cell to a planar substrate. The planar substrate may have on it sensors or devices for detecting components within the fluid, and/or be treated to selectively bind or react with components within the fluid. Substrates might include solid-state IC integrated circuit sensor microchips, glass slides, genomic and proteomic arrays, and or other suitable substrates that can make conformal contact with the fluid cell. The fluid cell can be mounted directly on top of the substrate to easily create a fluidic system in a wide variety of implementations. The assembly does not require modification of the substrate; all the fluidic connections are inherent in the apparatus. The present device can be made using low-cost materials and simple methods.

Abstract: A microreactor capable of reaction between a sample and a mixed reagent containing a mixture of multiple reagents, which microreactor avoids the interposition of air between driving solution and reagents and realizes high-precision controlling of the timing of mixing of reagents and other liquids, the mixing ratio of liquids, the pressure for liquid feeding, etc. Further, there is provided a method of liquid feeding making use of the same. Accordingly, a flow path branched at the position of an inlet from a flow path through which an opening communicating with an external pump communicates with the inlet is provided with an air evacuation flow path with its terminal open outward. Further, the flow path resistance of the air evacuation flow path for a liquid is made greater than the flow path resistance, for the liquid, of a flow channel from the reagent storage chamber to a reagent feed-out flow path.

Abstract: A plunger stroke pipette for replaceable pipette points with a seat for the detachable mounting of a pipette point, a plunger, a cylinder in which the plunger is movably arranged, a connection channel connecting the cylinder with an opening in the seat, a driving equipment, coupled to the plunger for displacing the plunger in the cylinder, an upper stopper and a lower stopper and at least one counter-stopper of the driving equipment and/or the plunger for limiting the stroke of the plunger, a holder, holding the lower stopper, an overstroke spring between the upper stopper and the holder, an adjustment equipment for adjusting the position of the holder with respect to the cylinder, and an indicating equipment for indicating the position of the holder.

Abstract: A capture and purification apparatus is configured as a stand-alone apparatus or as part of a larger system. The capture and purification apparatus can be configured as a microfluidic cartridge that includes microfluidic circuitry and individually controlled valves. The microfluidic cartridge can be configured to function independently, or can be configured to be coupled to a separate instrument that provides the actuation to perform the capture and purification process. The capture and purification apparatus is configured as a volume-driven system that applies single-direction valves, a single fluid driving device, and fluid lines to control and discretely direct fluid flow within a full-loaded fluidic system. Such control enables various fluid sample processing techniques to be performed including, but not limited to, lysis, thermal cycling, and/or target analyte capture and purification, for example using a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC).

Abstract: An automated analyzer includes pipetting means for discharging a sample and reagent into an empty reaction vessel without causing contact to occur between the leading end of a sample probe and the bottom of the reaction vessel. The sample probe is inserted into the reaction vessel and then stopped when a bottom end of an outer pipe of the sample probe comes in contact with the top edge of the reaction vessel to maintain a fixed gap between the leading end of an inner pipe of the sample probe and the bottom of the reaction vessel. Further, an insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer pipes of the sample probe.

Abstract: The present inventions provides an apparatus and method for the parallel loading of multiple samples in a microarray containing a plurality of sub-arrays. The method makes use of a microarray containing multiple sub-arrays, a loading channel array, and a fluid handling robot or an assembly robot or machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recognizable carrier for determining physical, chemical or biochemical interactions by means of optical measurement methods. The carrier comprises a surface that defines a substrate surface and that has a base layer coated with reactive elements, which are bonded to receptor molecules, wherein the base layer and/or the reactive elements are provided with a pattern of holes which forms a code and/or the reactive elements are provided with linker molecules or markers which form a code. The substrate surface may additionally have a macroscopically planar pattern which is applied using laser light or chemical etching and forms a code. The invention likewise relates to a method for producing a recognizable carrier for spectroscopic processes and/or intensiometric tests to determine said interactions. The code to recognize the carrier can be controlled via a read-out unit coupled to the photometric analysis unit.

Abstract: Devices with lateral flow elements and integral fluidics are disclosed. The integral fluidics consist of injector pumps comprised of fluidic elements under instrument control. The fluidic element of an injector pump is fluidically connected to lateral flow elements and can be used to control fluid entry into containment chambers referred to as micro-reactors. The lateral flow elements comprise conductor elements that can be used for sample application and transport of analyte contained in the sample to the micro-reactor. Fluidic transport through the fluidic element of the injector pump is under instrument-control. Both the lateral flow element and the fluidic element may contain chemical entities incorporated along their length. The chemical reactions that can be used for analyte detection using the devices are described. Also described are methods of manufacture of these devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a kind of volumetric pipet. It includes an outer casing. At the lower part of the outer casing, there is a fetching mouth which is detachably mounted to a liquid container. At the top of the outer casing, there is a detachably sealed top cover. Inside the outer casing, there is a hollow core with a top opening. There is an inlet mouth on the side wall of the core that corresponds to the fetching mouth. The internal wall of the outer casing can slide against the external wall of the core. The core's rotating or sliding along its longitudinal orientation makes the fetching mouth and the inlet mouth correspond or stagger. This invention provides an easy-to-operate, precise rationing, quick and sanitary volumetric pipet.

Abstract: The invention relates to continuous flow systems, in particular thermocyclers for the automated and continuous cycling of fluid between a plurality of temperature zones in the amplification of nucleic acids. The invention also relates to an improved sample port for introducing a volume of a liquid sample into a continuous flow system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the flow resistance of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is controlled. A closed-cell feature is used in a way such that, when the pressure of at least a first fluid within one or more of the cells of said surface is decreased to or below a desired level, a droplet disposed on that surface is caused to at least partially penetrate the surface. In another illustrative embodiment, the pressure within one or more of the cells is increased to or above a desired level in a way such that the droplet of liquid is returned at least partially to its original, unpenetrated position. In yet another embodiment, a closed-cell structure feature pattern is used to prevent penetration of the nanostructured or microstructured surface, even when the pressure of the fluid disposed on the surface is relatively high.

Abstract: An apparatus or method for removing water and concentrating an analyte in solution, wherein the concentrated analyte sample is delivered directly to a vial, such as an autosampler vial that is capable of use in a gas chromatography autosampler.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for automatically removing tips from a pipette nozzle and/or for detecting the type of tip mounted to the nozzle. For detipping, mechanical energy is stored when the tip is mounted to the nozzle and is released when the tip is to be removed to facilitate removal thereof. A mechanism is preferably provided which limits the force with which the tip is mounted to the nozzle and an overforce mechanism may be provided to facilitate removal of a stuck tip. For detecting tip type, each tip type has a different base configuration which results in a different relative displacement between the nozzle and a surrounding component as a result of the tip contacting both during tip mounting, the difference in relative displacement being detected to identify tip type.

Abstract: A pipette chip supply device for supplying a pipette chip for suctioning liquid, the pipette chip supply device comprising: a chip accommodating section for accommodating pipette chips; a conveying section for conveying the pipette chips supplied from the chip accommodating section; and a static eliminator for removing electrification charge of the pipette chips.

Abstract: A single-use fractionating device (53) is provided including a laboratory test container (43) for the substances to be fractioned (55), and a receiving container (27) for receiving fractioned substances (57). The containers (27, 43) are interconnected by the fractionating device (53). For the fractionating process, the two containers (27, 43) or the fractionating mechanism (1) with the laboratory container (43) and the fractionating mechanism body (11) with the receiving container (27) are rotated relative to each other. The product to be fractioned is hermetically sealed from the environment during the entire fractionating process.

Abstract: An embedded block is capable of being humidified in a short time without influencing a surface temperature of the embedded block as much as possible. An embedded block humidifier for humidifying an embedded block having a biological specimen embedded in an embedding agent is provided which includes a vapor generating mechanism for generating vapor heated at a predetermined temperature and a guiding mechanism for guiding the vapor to the embedded block so that the generated vapor contacts with a surface of the embedded block set at a predetermined standby position.

Abstract: A method for the disinfection of climatic cabinets in particular is provided. The method comprises the following steps: generating a disinfecting hot atmosphere in the space to be disinfected by supplying heat and evaporating water in a heating-up phase; when a temperature of at least 95±5° C.

Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein include a microfluidic system, comprising a pneumatic manifold having a plurality of apertures, and a chip manifold having channels disposed therein for routing pneumatic signals from respective ones of the apertures to a plurality of valves in a microfluidic chip, wherein the channels route the pneumatic signals in accordance with a configuration of the plurality of valves in the microfluidic chip.

Abstract: An optical waveguiding optical format enables consistent optical analysis of small sample volumes with minimal variation in light path length among optical formats. The optical format is comprised of an input guide, an output guide, and a sample cavity adapted to allow light to pass through a sample on its way from the input guide to the output guide. A lid removed from the light pathway within the format may be provided with a reagent for assisting fluid analysis.

Abstract: Methods and devices for thermal processing of multiple samples at the same time are disclosed. The sample processing devices provide process arrays that include conduits useful in distributing sample materials to a group of process chambers located in fluid communication with the main conduits. The sample processing devices may include one or more of the following features in various combinations: deformable seals, process chambers connected to the main conduit by feeder conduits exiting the main conduit at offset locations, U-shaped loading chambers, and a combination of melt bonded and adhesively bonded areas.

Abstract: A flow path device includes a substrate having a trench and columns extending from a bottom of the trench. The trench is configured to have a fluid flowing therein. Each of columns has a side surface having grooves formed therein. The grooves have an annular shape or an arcuate shape. This flow path device reduces damage to the columns, and has a high reliability.

Abstract: This is an apparatus invented to generate hydrogen gas safely using the reaction of metallic sodium and water. Metallic sodium is cut into thin slices using a guillotine-type cutter and fed into the feed opening in the upper part of a pipe inserted in the water layer in a sealed water tank. Dropping in the metallic sodium causes the metallic sodium to settle and through contact with the water generate hydrogen gas. The lower end of the feed pipe is adjoined with adhesive to an opening in the water ejection pipe of the water jet pump in such a manner that the pipe and pump form one unit. The metallic sodium released in the tank is immediately forced from the tap water jet pump into the water layer, reacts with the water, and generates the hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is kept in a storage tank. The storage tank is equipped with a sensor that gauges the pressure and when the pressure reaches a certain point within the tank it stops the action of the cutter and the supply of metallic sodium is suspended.