Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.

A control method and related apparatus are disclosed for controlling actuation voltages applied to array elements of an element array on an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device, wherein test metrics are determined and employed for optimizing subsequent droplet manipulation operations. The control method includes the steps of: receiving a liquid droplet onto the element array; applying an electrowetting actuation pattern of actuation voltages to actuate the droplet to modify a footprint of the droplet from a first state having an initial footprint to a second state having a modified footprint; sensing the modified footprint with a sensor; determining a test metric from sensing the modified footprint indicative of one or more droplet properties based on a droplet response of the liquid droplet to the electrowetting actuation pattern; and controlling actuation voltages applied to the array elements based on the test metric. The test metrics may include a transition rate and/or conformance to an actuation pattern.

The present application is directed towards systems and methods for adding components to materials being fluidized in a vibratory mixer by use of atomizers or sprayers. A mechanical system can fluidizes, mix, coat, dry, combine, or segregate materials. The system may comprise a vibratory mixer, mixing vessel containing a first material and a sprayer to introduce a second material. The vibratory mixer may generate a fluidized bed of a first material and the sprayer, coupled to the mixing vessel, may introduce a second material onto the fluidized bed to mix the materials in a uniform and even fashion.

An analysis unit formed by an analysis body housing an analysis chamber and having a sample inlet and a supply channel configured to fluidically connect the sample inlet to the analysis chamber. Dried assay reagents are arranged in the analysis chamber and are contained in an alveolar mass. For instance, the alveolar mass is a lyophilized mass formed by excipients and by assay-specific reagents.

An apparatus is provided that is configured to be used with a container having contents to permit mixing of the contents of the container. The apparatus includes a main body having a geometrical shape having an open end, a closed end, and a longitudinally extending bore or opening extending from the open end to the closed end. The opening or bore is configured to receive at least a portion of a container. A shaft is generally orthogonally positioned from a portion of the closed end. The shaft is configured to be received by a rotational device. The mixing apparatus can be used to mix various sized containers containing contents having one or more materials to be mixed.

A hyperboloid agitator for circulating liquids, in particular water, wastewater or the like, in the centre of which a connection portion (2) for connection to a hollow agitator shaft (1) is provided, characterised in that the hyperboloid agitator is formed as a hollow body, with a central aperture (3) for supplying air being provided in the connection portion (2), and in that an air distribution device (9, 10, 11) for distributing air supplied through the aperture (3) to a plurality of air outlet openings (14) provided in the hollow body is provided downstream of the aperture (3)

A multi-layered micro-channel mixer includes a base plate and a cover plate. Two inlet fluid reservoirs, two inlet channels, two groups of fluid distribution channel networks, two groups of process fluid channels, an impinging stream mixing chamber, a fluid mixing intensification channel and an outlet buffer reservoir are provided on the base plate. Two fluids are fed into the two inlet fluid reservoirs, respectively. The fluids then flow into the process fluid channels via the inlet channels and the multi-stage fluid distribution channel networks, respectively. Then the two fluid streams ejected from the opposing process fluid channels impinges upon each other in the impinging stream mixing chamber. The mixed fluid is subjected to vortex or secondary flow generated by the baffles or the internals in the impinging stream mixing chamber and fluid mixing intensification channel, and finally the mixed fluid is discharged through the outlet buffer reservoir.

Methods for the detection of components from biological samples are provided. In certain aspects, the methods may be used to detect and/or quantify specific components in a biological sample, such as tumor cells (e.g., circulating tumor cells). Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for generating and collecting droplets are provided. The device includes a collection region comprising a side wall canted at an angle. The invention further provides multiplex devices that increase droplet formation.

A hollow expansion chamber of the present invention is configured to temporarily contain an expansion of bubbles during an aeration process for aerating a liquid, where a chamber body of the expansion chamber has an oblate spheroid shape. When moving circumferentially downward along the chamber body starting from a maximum inside diameter, the oblate spheroidal shape of a bottom portion has a first integral transition that is a tangential transition to a first frustoconical shape. Continuing moving circumferentially downward, the first frustoconical shape has a second integral transition to a cylindrical extension. The cylindrical extension at a distal end has a bottom opening configured to fit within an opened bottleneck. The first frustoconical shape has a minimum angle of 15 degrees relative to a horizontal plane. The second integral transition is a radial second integral transition having an inside surface radius of at least 0.25 inches.