A syringe nest assembly includes a base having a first surface and an opposing second surface and a first plate movably coupled to the base. The base includes a plurality of nesting units extending upwardly away from the first surface of the base. Each nesting unit includes a hollow body having a first open end distal from the first surface of the base and an opposing second open end. The first plate has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first plate includes a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the first plate. Each aperture of the first plate is generally aligned with a respective nesting unit of the base.

A holding structure for holding a plurality of containers for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic purposes includes a carrier having openings or receptacles for accommodating the containers. Holding devices for holding the containers are provided at the openings or receptacles. The holding devices can selectively assume two different stable positions, namely a first stable position in which the containers can be inserted without friction into the openings or receptacles and a second stable position in which the containers are held in the respective opening or receptacle by frictional engagement or by positive locking. The containers can be reliably inserted into the openings or receptacles without material abrasion. In the open insertion position of the holding devices, a large number of containers can be inserted concurrently into the openings or receptacles without high forces acting on the holding structure.

A digital slide scanning apparatus includes a safety light curtain that operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when the presence of an object (e.g., the fingers of an operator) is detected within a predetermined area of the carousel. The light curtain also operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack is detected. The digital slide scanning apparatus also includes a multi-color status indicator for each rack slot that indicates the rack slot location of an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack.

The system includes a pipette tip with a proximal end that has a rim. The rim defines a proximal opening adapted to receive a pipetter, and the rim includes a rim conical edge. The system also has a support card with a top surface, a pipette tip receiver opening within the top surface, the opening adapted to receive the pipette tip and having a receiver opening conical edge. The rim conical edge and the receiver opening conical edge are constructed such that when the pipette tip is disposed of in the pipette tip receiver opening, the rim conical edge abuts the receiver opening conical edge, and the top surface is flush with or nearly flush with the rim.

A device for imaging sensitive biological samples is provided. The device can include a plastic frame and a glass coverslip, each can be comprised of a biologically compatible material. The device can then be configured such that a biological sample placed therein can only be in contact with biologically compatible materials and, when imaged, provide optimal imaging characteristics by allowing imaging through the glass coverslip.

A sample staining device, comprising a staining platform provided with a staining solution and cleaning solution supply part; glass slide support structures located on either side of the staining platform and forming a certain clearance between a glass slide and the staining platform; and a glass slide driving mechanism that enables the glass slide to move while maintaining a certain clearance from the staining platform. When said device works, a staining solution is supplied to the staining platform, and a convex liquid surface is formed due to surface tension; when the glass slide moves to the convex liquid surface of the staining solution, the staining solution infiltrates and diffuses in the clearance formed between the staining platform and the glass slide to cover the glass slide so as to stain a sample; and after the glass slide is stained, a cleaning solution is supplied to clean the residual staining solution.

A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.

A system and method provides a supply of consumables to a processing instrument that uses one or more of the consumables for each of a plurality of processes performed by the instrument. The system includes a loading drawer holding a carrier for receiving a plurality of consumables and an input module for holding a carrier supporting a plurality of consumables thereon and presenting the consumables for access by the instrument. A transporter includes a vertical elevator and a lateral actuator for moving a lift platform vertically and laterally and for transporting carriers on the lift platform with or without consumables supported thereon between the loading drawer and the input module, between the loading drawer and one or more holding shelves, or between the input module and one or more holding shelves. A carrier includes parallel support rails for holding multiple receptacle units and retainer tabs for retaining the units on the support rails.

A lateral flow assay device comprises a test strip to receive a quantity of fluid comprising a quantity of exosomes and detect the presence of a target analyte on the surface of the exosomes. The test strip comprises a conjugate pad that contains a set of one or more types of tetraspanin binding reagents conjugated with a label. Each type of tetraspanin binding reagent is configured to bind with a corresponding type of exosome tetraspanin and form an immunocomplex comprising an exosome. The conjugate pad is fluidly connected to a membrane. The membrane comprises a test line comprising an immobilized binding reagent to the target analyte. The immobilized binding reagent to the target analyte is configured to bind to a protein of the target analyte on the surface of an exosome in an immunocomplex comprising the exosome.

An assembly for forming a microchamber for an inverted substrate is disclosed. The assembly can include a body having a chamber formed therein. A dispensing cavity can be provided to supply a reagent to the chamber. A slide support structure can be configured to support the slide such that the tissue sample faces the chamber when the slide is mounted to the slide support structure. The chamber and the slide support structure can be dimensioned such that, when the reagent is supplied to the dispensing cavity, the reagent is drawn to the chamber by way of capillary forces acting on the reagent.