Aspects of the invention relate to cell culture vessels and method for using the vessels to agitate and maintain cells in suspension. In some embodiments, the vessel has a body configured to hold a volume of liquid containing cells to be cultured, the vessel body having a deformable portion arranged to induce movement of the liquid sufficient to maintain the cells in suspension. In some embodiments, the deformable portion is in at least one of a base and sidewall of the vessel body. In some embodiments, the deformable portion is deformed according to a deformable pattern. In some embodiments, the deformable portion is deformed via a deformation plate having one or more movable members that contact the deformable portion.

A radiosynthesis system is disclosed that leverages droplet microfluidic radiosynthesis and its inherent advantages including reduction of reagent consumption and the ability to achieve high molar activity even when using low starting radioactivity. The radiosynthesis system enables the parallel synthesis of radiolabeled compounds using droplet-sized reaction volumes. In some embodiments, a single heater is used to create multiple reaction or synthesis sites. In other embodiments, separate heaters are used to create independently-controlled heating conditions at the multiple reaction or synthesis sites. In one embodiment, a four-heater setup was developed that utilizes a multi-reaction microfluidic chip and was assessed for the suitability with high-throughput radiosynthesis optimization. Replicates of several radiochemical operations including the full synthesis of various PET tracers revealed the platform to have high repeatability (e.g., consistent fluorination efficiency). The system may also be used for synthesis optimization.

Systems for operating a microfluidic device are described. The systems comprise a first surface configured to interface and operatively couple with a microfluidic device and a lid configured to retain the microfluidic device on the first surface. The lid comprises a first portion having a first fluid port configured to operatively couple with and flow fluidic medium into and/or out of a first fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device and a second portion having a second fluid port configured to operatively couple with and flow fluidic medium into and/or out of a second fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device. The second portion of the lid is separable from the first portion and movable between a closed position in which the second fluid port of the second portion of the cover is operatively coupled with the second fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device and an open position in which a portion of the microfluidic device that contains the second fluid inlet/outlet is exposed. Other embodiments are described.

The method presented here is used to determine the volume dispensed by any liquid handling device (automated or manual) . A reference curve is first generated by spectroscopically reading a fixed-volume set of known, variable-concentration derivatives of a single dye. During testing the liquid handling device dispenses a yet undetermined volume of known-concentration dye into a known volume of diluent which results in a new dye concentration (resultant concentration). The absorbance of the resultant concentration is then compared to the absorbance vs concentration relationship of the earlier generated reference curve to determine the volume of dye (hence volume) dispensed by the liquid handling device. This method is an alternative to the dual dye and gravimetric volume verification methodologies. It considers and corrects for the uncertainties found in a traditional single dye approach as stated in the IWA-15 ISO standard. The system and method is distributed in bundled kits including but not limited to standardized labware, a calibrated reference pipette, a proprietary Validation Reference Plate (VRP) which automates reference curve generation, a spectrophotometer calibration plate for NIST Traceability, an environmental monitor, reference reagents, test reagents, an apparatus for quality assurance and control during manufacturing, and proprietary software for data analysis and reporting.

An automated method for sampling seeds generally includes removing material from a seed at an automated sampling station and then, after removing the material from the seed, detecting, by at least one sensor, movement of the seed out of the automated sampling station. The automated method may also include, after removing the material from the seed, transferring the seed from the automated sampling station to a seed container and transferring the material removed from the seed from the automated sampling station to a sample container.

One embodiment provides a method of controlling a payload temperature in in vitro diagnostics including: moving, using a track system, a plurality of carriers, along one or more paths between a plurality of testing stations, wherein the carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads, and limiting, using a temperature controlling device, temperature change of the one or more payloads, wherein each carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads and move the one or more payloads to one of the plurality of testing stations. Other aspects are described and claimed herein.

One embodiment provides a method of controlling a payload temperature in in vitro diagnostics including: moving, using a track system, a plurality of carriers, along one or more paths between a plurality of testing stations, wherein the carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads, and limiting, using a temperature controlling device, temperature change of the one or more payloads, wherein each carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads and move the one or more payloads to one of the plurality of testing stations. Other aspects are described and claimed herein.

A device for separating one or more molecules of interest in a liquid specimen including a monolithic body defining a fractionation column. The column includes an inlet opening at a proximal end of the fractionation column; an outlet opening at a distal, opposite end of the fractionation column; a solid phase chamber positioned between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; a specimen introduction area adjacent a proximal end of the solid phase chamber; an analyte exit area adjacent a distal end of the solid phase chamber; an inlet chamber adjacent the inlet opening that tapers into the specimen introduction area; and an outlet chamber that extends from the analyte exit area to the outlet opening. A metered amount of solid phase packed within the solid phase chamber between a first porous frit and a second porous frit of the solid phase chamber.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay apparatus and a method thereof. The immunoassay apparatus including a cartridge 13 in which a tube for T tip 9, a reaction tube 11, a tube for washing 3, and a tube for signal measurement 5 are integrally coupled or individually configured; a T tip 7 and a magnetic rod 31 used for performing reaction and washing processes while moving large magnetic particles m, capture materials, signal materials, and analyte materials with magnetic force by entering successively a plurality of tubes 3 and 5; a cartridge holder 15 in which the cartridge 13 is seated; and a heating member 17 that generates heat by being disposed at a region in which the reaction tube 11 is seated in the cartridge holder 15; is configured in a state where each of the different shapes of magnetic particles is bound with materials.

Systems and methods are described to determine a prioritization schedule for samples handled by a system with multiple remote sampling systems. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, an analysis system at a first location; one or more remote sampling systems at remote from the first location, the one or more remote sampling systems configured to receive a liquid segment and transfer a liquid sample to the analysis system via a transfer line; and a controller communicatively coupled with the analysis system and the one or more remote sampling systems, the controller configured to assign a priority value to a sample for analysis by the analysis system and to manage a queue of samples received from at the one or more remote sampling systems on the basis of the assigned priority value.