The present invention provides a membrane carrier 3 comprising a flow path 2, wherein a microstructure is formed at a bottom of the flow path 2, and a particle to which an antibody or an antigen binds is arranged in at least a part on the flow path, the particle having a diameter of 500 nm or more and 100 μm or less.

The particle trapping device according to the present invention comprises: a lead-in channel; a flattened channel disposed on the downstream side of the lead-in channel; a rectangular channel disposed on the downstream side of the flattened channel; and a particle pit trap disposed at least on a first inner wall face of the rectangular channel, wherein the lead-in channel has a channel cross-section larger than a channel cross-section of the flattened channel; the flattened channel has a flat channel cross-section whose the width is longer than its height; the rectangular channel has a rectangular channel cross-section, and is provided with the first inner wall face, a second inner wall face opposed to the first inner wall face, a third inner wall face, and a fourth inner wall face opposed to the third inner wall face; and the lead-in channel, the flattened channel, the rectangular channel, and the particle pit trap are characterized by being configured in such a way that a portion of liquid containing target particles and flowing through the lead-in channel flows into the flattened channel; the target particles contained in the liquid that had flowed through the flattened channel flow into the rectangular channel; and the target particle that had flowed through the rectangular channel enters into the particle pit trap and is trapped therein.

There is an apparatus (1) and a method for providing visual signals relating to a plurality of laboratory sample carriers (2). Laboratory sample carriers (2) are placed on corresponding carrier bays (6) of a tray (4) wherein each sample carrier (2) displays an identification code (5). A digital image of at least part of the tray (4) is taken with a digital camera (11). The digital image is processed with a processing device (13) to read the laboratory sample carrier identification codes (5) in the image. A visual signal emitting device (10) is activated to emit at least one visual signal for each occupied carrier bay (6) included in the image wherein the visual signal emitted for each carrier bay (6) is determined by the sample carrier identification code (5) read by the processing device (13) from a corresponding carrier bay part of the processed image.

A method of analyzing a plurality of biological sample volumes comprises emitting, along an excitation optical path toward a sample holder holding the plurality of biological sample volumes, electromagnetic radiation from a broadband LED, wherein the broadband LED emits the electromagnetic radiation across a range of wavelengths at a total output power of at least 5 watts and at a maximum intensity at a wavelength less than 600 nanometers and at an intensity less than 30 percent of the maximum intensity at a wavelength of 650 or 670 nanometers, and receiving, by a sensor, an electromagnetic emission transmitted from the sample holder along an emission optical path.

Provided is a membrane carrier for a liquid sample test kit (3) that detects a substance to be detected in a liquid sample, the liquid sample test kit including at least one flow path (2) capable of transporting the liquid sample, in which a microstructure that causes a capillary action for transporting the liquid sample is provided on a bottom surface of the flow path (2), and a level difference at which a height level of the bottom surface changes, is provided in the flow path (2). The membrane carrier preferably has a detection zone for detecting a substance to be detected in the liquid sample.

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.

The present disclosure provides a channel device (100, 101, 102, 103, 200, 300, 500, 600, 700) including a flow channel (10) formed of a groove (31) provided in a substrate (30) and a porous membrane (50) having pores (56) communicating in a direction intersecting a thickness direction thereof, in which at least a portion of the porous membrane (50) in contact with the substrate (30) is liquid-tightly sealed along the flow channel (10), and a manufacturing method thereof.

A flow channel chip has: a common flow channel; introduction flow channels that are respectively connected to the common flow channel; introduction valves that are respectively disposed in the introduction flow channels; a cleaning liquid flow channel that is connected to the common flow channel; and a cleaning liquid valve that is disposed in the cleaning liquid flow channel. This fluid handling device has: a rotary member for controlling opening/closing of the introduction valves; and a cleaning liquid valve control unit for controlling opening/closing of the cleaning liquid valve. After the rotary member is rotated so as to open/close one of the introduction valves, the cleaning liquid valve control unit causes the cleaning liquid valve to open and causes the cleaning liquid to flow in the common flow channel before the rotary member is rotated so as to open/close another of the introduction valves.

A PCR reaction vessel includes: a substrate; a channel formed on the substrate; a pair of filters, a first filter and a second filter, provided at respective ends of the channel; a pair of air communication ports, a first air communication port and a second air communication port, that communicate with the channel through the first filter and the second filter; a thermal cycle region formed between the first filter and the second filter in the channel; a branch point formed between the first filter and the second filter in the channel; a branched channel whose one end is connected to the branch point; and a sample introduction port formed at the other end of the branched channel.

A PCR reaction vessel includes: a substrate; a channel formed on the substrate; a pair of filters, a first filter and a second filter, provided at respective ends of the channel; a pair of air communication ports, a first air communication port and a second air communication port, that communicate with the channel through the first filter and the second filter; a thermal cycle region formed between the first filter and the second filter in the channel; a branch point formed between the first filter and the second filter in the channel; a branched channel whose one end is connected to the branch point; and a sample introduction port formed at the other end of the branched channel.