Abstract: Provided is a cryogenic vial for storing at least one sample, the vial including a pipette, a cap assembly, and a container having at least one opening in a body portion of the container to allow liquid and/or gas to enter and/or exit the vial to balance the pressure between the inside of vial and the outside environment. The cryogenic vial allows for reduced processing time and minimizes the chance a sample may be lost or damaged while being processed.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfeatures interconnected to provide a configurable fluid transport system for processing at least one reagent. Inserts are provided to removably interfit into one or more of the microfeatures of the chip, wherein the inserts include sites for interactions with the reagent. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic chip and the inserts provide an efficient and accurate approach for conducting parallel assays.

Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes a handheld and/or mountable enclosure, a removable tip, a cap, a pneumatic fitting, and a controller. The removable tip has a fluid-ejection mechanism located at an end thereof. The cap is disposed on the end of the removable tip such that just the fluid-ejection mechanism is exposed through the cap. The pneumatic fitting extends from the enclosure and is receptive to placement of the removable tip thereon. The controller is situated within the enclosure to cause the removable tip to eject fluid.

Abstract: A device for testing a fluid including an elongated carrier; two foam members for absorbing the fluid, which are arranged at an end of the carrier; a positioning member having a sleeve which is slidably arranged on the carrier; and a diagnostic device, which is arranged in the positioning member having a sensor die adapted to detecting at least one property of the fluid and means for supplying the fluid to a sensor surface of the sensor die. After the fluid has been supplied to the foam members, the positioning member is moved towards the end of the carrier where the foam members are located. When the diagnostic device comes into contact with one of the foam members, the fluid is squeezed from the foam member and supplied to the sensor surface of the sensor die through the fluid supplying means of the diagnostic device.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing droplets of reagent onto samples includes a probe tip to which droplets of reagent can adhere. The apparatus advances the probe tip toward a sample until a droplet of reagent touches the sample and is pulled off from the probe tip. A sensor detects that the droplet has been pulled off from the probe tip and halts the advance of the probe tip before the probe tip touches the sample. Such apparatus may be used to automatically dispense small volumes of reagent onto fragile samples.

Abstract: A porous thin film and a method are disclosed. The film has a generally uniform thickness and includes fused silica particles that provide multiple types of pores in the film. Particles are generally uniformly distributed on a surface and have a generally open structure that provides the film with an open interface readily accessible to fluids. The film provides for preconcentration of, e.g., heavy metals in fluid and gas samples that provides for direct determination of the analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is a pressurized fluid sample injector system consisting of a sample needle, multiport valve, sample loop, metering syringe and a pressure assist pump. The speed of sample transport into the sample loop is increased by pressurizing the fluid in the system and metering the sample into the sample loop. The elevated system pressure allows the fluids to be moved faster than the vapor pressure would normally allow in a system at ambient pressure.

Abstract: A handheld multichannel pipette includes multiple fluid-handling nozzles and a rotary adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width of a pattern of nozzles while maintaining equal spacing between pairs of nozzles. Embodiments of the adjustable-spacing multichannel pipette include an adjustable stop mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing cylinder, a large capacity dispensing device, and a method of using a large capacity dispensing device, and aims at providing a dispensing cylinder, a large capacity dispensing device, and a method of using a large capacity dispensing device, with high quantitativity and capable of suppressing the scale of the device and efficiently utilizing working space, despite the relatively large volumes of fluid handled. The construction comprises: a small diameter section, a large diameter section which communicates with the small diameter section and is capable of holding fluids, a sliding section provided in a slidable manner within the large diameter section which enables fluid to be sucked and discharged to and from the large diameter section through the small diameter section, and a connection section which connects the sliding section in a detachable manner to a suction and discharge mechanism which drives the sliding section.

Abstract: A microchip processing apparatus processes a microchip with at least one main separation channel. The microchip processing apparatus includes a holding part configured to hold the microchip, a container containing a sample or a reagent, and a dispensing probe having a needle formed on a tip of the dispensing probe. The dispensing probe is actuated to be inserted into the container from above the container, to draw the sample or reagent, and to inject to a prescribed position on the held microchip. A dispensing probe driving mechanism moves the dispensing probe between prescribed positions of the microchip and the container.

Abstract: An automated fluid handling system configured to prepare fluid samples and to introduce them into an analytical instrument, such as a particle analyzer, flow cytometer or sorter flow cell, and that is capable of analyzing both accurately and quickly.

Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes a handheld and/or mountable enclosure, a pneumatic fitting, an electrical connector, and a controller. The pneumatic fitting extends from and/or through the enclosure and is receptive to placement of a tip thereon. The tip contains a supply of fluid, a fluid-ejection mechanism, and an electrical connector for the fluid-ejection mechanism. The electrical connector extends from and/or through the enclosure and is receptive to electrical coupling of the electrical connector of the tip. The controller is situated within the enclosure to cause the tip to eject the fluid via the electrical coupling of the electrical connectors of the tip and the fluid-ejection device.

Abstract: A sample preparation device for reducing a concentration of one or more concomitant components of a sample and/or increasing a concentration of one or more desired sample components is described.

Abstract: Syringe for use with a metering device comprising a centring element with an axial through-passage in a receiver for a syringe cylinder and an axially displaceable piston receiver for a syringe piston, comprising syringe cylinder syringe piston, the syringe cylinder comprising an outlet at the bottom, centring flange at the top on the external periphery for inserting into the receiver, cylindrical piston movement area connected to the outlet, with a first internal diameter, in which the syringe piston is sealingly guided, and at least at a distance of at least 3 mm from the upper end of the syringe cylinder a centring region for inserting the centring element, which has a second internal diameter, which exceeds the first internal diameter and is at least 16.2 mm, the syringe piston at the upper end has a coupling piece for inserting into the piston receiver.

Abstract: A device (10) is described for automatically separating solid and liquid phases of a suspension (78) and for purifying magnetic microparticles (76) loaded with organic, e.g., biological or biochemical substances. The device includes a process area (12) with devices, which move in a cyclic manner for transporting the magnetic microparticles (76) in the x-direction. A first guide (14) is used for supplying sample containers (P) in the x-direction and second guides (18) are used for supplying reagent containers (R) in the y-direction to the process area (12). The second guides (18) in the y-direction extend at an angle (?) of 30 to 150 ° to the x-direction. A carrier element (24), including carrier plates (24a, 24b, 24c) can be moved back and forth in the x-direction and can be lifted and lowered in the z-direction.

Abstract: A pipette device system and micropipette thereof is disclosed. The micropipette is disposed on the pipette device system and includes a pipe body, a rotating shaft and a swing member. A rotating hole and an engaging hole of the pipe body are connected with each other. A receiving hole and a discharging hole are formed in the pipe body and connected with the rotating hole. The rotating shaft is disposed in the rotating hole and has a connecting hole and a switching hole. A first connecting opening and a second connecting opening of the connecting hole are respectively connected with the receiving hole and the discharging hole. The switching hole has a third connecting opening and is connected with the connecting hole. The swing member is fixed on two ends of the rotating shaft. The present invention can implement the multiple micro-dispensation based on the simple structure and movement manner.

Abstract: A cap having a core structure dimensioned to receive a pipette therethrough. The cap includes two axially aligned frangible seals that are affixed to the core structure in a spaced-apart relationship. The frangible seals are constructed so that air passageways are formed between the frangible seals and a pipette tip when the pipette tip penetrates the frangible seals. The cap optionally includes a filter interposed between the first and second frangible seals.

Abstract: A new multi-level apparatus is disclosed for high throughput processing of samples. The apparatus does not need interruptions for reloading disposables.

Abstract: An analytical system includes a working fluid, a uniform dividing unit and a separating unit. The working fluid includes a first component and a second component with different characteristics. The uniform dividing unit is utilized to uniformly divide the working fluid and relatively rotated with respect to a reference axis. Under a capillarity force as well as the result of Coriolis force and siphon force, the first component can be separated from the second component by the separating unit.

Abstract: A disposable cassette, preferably for use in analysis technology, has at least one first part in which channel structures are cut out in the surface and a second part covering the first part in a sealing manner, with engagement regions for actuator elements being provided at pre-determined points. The first part and/or the second part are constructed of a rigid material and have a flexible material region associated therewith, with the rigid material and the flexible material region being manufactured in one piece using two-component injection molding technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for manually metering liquids, for example a pipette or a metering button. The device comprises a joint forming a seal between a hollow cylinder and a piston housed inside the cylinder, the piston being moved vertically so as to suck in or expel the liquid. During the metering operation, the joint remains fixed with respect to the movement of the piston and comprises parts formed by portions having dedicated geometric and mechanical characteristics which make it possible to locally optimize the functions of sliding, sealing and fastening in the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoresponsive gas-generating material that is to be used in a micropump of a microfluid device having fine channels formed therein, and is capable of effectively generating gases for transporting a microfluid in response to light irradiation and transporting the microfluid at an improved transport efficiency. The present invention also provides a micropump incorporating the photoresponsive gas-generating material. A photoresponsive gas-generating material 13 is to be used in a micropump having fine channels formed in a substrate, and comprises a photo-sensitive acid-generating agent and an acid-sensitive gas-generating agent, and a micropump 10 has the photoresponsive gas-generating material 13 housed therein.