In one embodiment, a hydration sensor or sensing element is configured to measure the hydration level of a user. The sensing element can include a water-permeable material positioned in between two water-impermeable material. The sensing element can be coupled to a bottle of fluid, or a carrier with a timer. The sensing element can be incorporated into a handheld device. The sensing element can be a disposable element, an element applicable for more than one-time use, or a re-usable element. The sensing element or sensor can be calibrated for a specific user or a group of users. One or more additional sensors that do not measure hydration level of the user can be coupled to a hydration sensing element to determine the amount of fluid consumption for the user in different conditions.

A first fluid handling device according to the present invention has: a first liquid introduction part; a first cleaning liquid introduction part; a first flow path through which a liquid introduced to the first liquid introduction part or to the first cleaning liquid introduction part flows; a second liquid introduction part; a second cleaning liquid introduction part; a second flow path through which a liquid introduced to the second liquid introduction part or to the second cleaning liquid introduction part flows; a third flow path which allows flowing therethrough of the liquid having flowed through the first flow path and the liquid having flowed through the second flow path; a first diaphragm valve that is disposed between the first and third flow paths; a second diaphragm valve that is disposed between the second and third flow paths; and a chamber that is connected to the third flow path.

An analysis tool for use in optical analysis, comprising a detection unit 10 having through-holes 10h penetrating through the surface and the rear side of a base material 11, the detection unit 10 comprising, inside of the base material 11, a plurality of voids 11h that allows a liquid to pass through by capillary action and that communicate with the through-holes 10h, and the through-holes 10h being formed with a size that enables a liquid to be held by surface tension. Therefore, by irradiating the detection unit 10 with light, it is possible to obtain transmitted light L2 that has been transmitted through a liquid film Lf. By analyzing the transmitted light L2, a target component in a sample L can be appropriately quantified.

A flow cytometer includes: a light source; a microfluidic device; a photodetector; an information generation device which generates optical information indicating a morphology of an observation target on the basis of optical signal intensity; and a spatial light modulation unit which is installed on an optical path between the light source and the photodetector and structures any one of illumination light irradiated from the light source toward the flow path and signal light from the observation target. In the flow path provided with the microfluidic device, a plurality of optical signal detection positions are arranged linearly at equal intervals in a predetermined direction of the flow path by structuring the illumination light or the signal light and a plurality of trigger signal detection positions for detecting a trigger signal by which the information generation device starts the generation of the optical information are arranged to be separated by the same predetermined distance in a length direction of the flow path while respectively corresponding to the plurality of optical signal detection positions.

A particle separating and measuring device includes a first flow path device having a post-separation flow outlet to allow discharge of a first fluid containing target particles to be separated, and a second flow path device receiving the first flow path device and having a first flow inlet to receive the first fluid. The first flow path device having a lower surface with the post-separation flow outlet is on the second flow path device having an upper surface with the first flow inlet in a first region. The post-separation flow outlet faces and connects to the first flow inlet. The first flow inlet has an opening larger than an opening of the post-separation flow outlet. The opening of the post-separation flow outlet connects to the opening of the first flow inlet at a peripheral portion of the opening of the first flow inlet.

Provided are a flow path device capable of rapidly performing a drug sensitivity test, and a testing device and a testing method using the same. A flow path device adjusted for observing a test solution existing in a well plate having a well includes: a plate-shaped main body having a main surface; and an insertion body provided in the main body, the insertion body extending along a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the main body, the insertion body configured to be inserted into the well. The insertion body includes a pore having a dimension capable of sucking up the test solution in the well, and the main body includes an observation flow path which communicates with the pore and extends along a direction in plane with the main surface of the main body.

This automated analysis device is provided with a plurality of analysis units for analyzing a specimen, a buffer portion which holds a plurality of specimen racks on which are placed specimen containers holding the specimen, a sampler portion which conveys the specimen racks held in the buffer portion to the analysis units, and a control portion which, when performing a process to deliver the specimen racks to the plurality of analysis units, outputs synchronization signals to all the plurality of analysis units, wherein the analysis unit performs a delivery process starting from the synchronization signal, and the analysis unit performs a delivery process starting from the synchronization signal.

This specimen treatment chip includes: a first fluid module having a first flow channel for performing a first treatment step on an object component in a specimen; a second fluid module having a second flow channel for performing a second treatment step on the object component subjected to the first treatment step; a substrate; and a connection flow channel for connecting the first fluid module and the second fluid module disposed on the substrate.

This specimen treatment chip includes: a first fluid module having a first flow channel for performing a first treatment step on an object component in a specimen; a second fluid module having a second flow channel for performing a second treatment step on the object component subjected to the first treatment step; a substrate; and a connection flow channel for connecting the first fluid module and the second fluid module disposed on the substrate.

In a nucleic acid extraction container, a filter part includes: a hydrophilic filter for collecting biological materials containing a nucleic acid from a sample; a biological material collection area for collecting biological materials on the filter; and a sample permeation area for allowing the passage of a sample having permeated through the filter. A sample injection port communicates with the biological material collection area. An air communication port communicates with the biological material collection area. A sample discharge port communicates with the sample permeation area. The air communication port is configured so as to be outwardly openable and closable.