An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for self-contained nucleic acid preparation, amplification, and analysis.

Electroacoustic device that includes a body, an electrode to be electrically powered, named hot electrode, and an electrode to be electrically grounded, named ground electrode. The body includes a piezoelectric part or the electroacoustic device further including a piezoelectric part different from the body. The hot electrode includes a hot track spiraling around a spiral axis. The radial step between two consecutive coils of the hot track decreasing radially from the spiral axis. The hot electrode and the ground electrode are arranged on the piezoelectric part such as to define a wave transducer configured to generate a focalised ultrasonic vortex propagating in the body and/or, when a fluid medium is acoustically coupled with the electroacoustic device, in the fluid medium.

Electroacoustic device that includes a body, an electrode to be electrically powered, named hot electrode, and an electrode to be electrically grounded, named ground electrode. The body includes a piezoelectric part or the electroacoustic device further including a piezoelectric part different from the body. The hot electrode includes a hot track spiraling around a spiral axis. The radial step between two consecutive coils of the hot track decreasing radially from the spiral axis. The hot electrode and the ground electrode are arranged on the piezoelectric part such as to define a wave transducer configured to generate a focalised ultrasonic vortex propagating in the body and/or, when a fluid medium is acoustically coupled with the electroacoustic device, in the fluid medium.

An apparatus includes a substrate, a first heating element, and a second heating element. The substrate includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion that is between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is characterized by a first thermal conductivity, the second portion is characterized by a second thermal conductivity, and the third portion is characterized by a third thermal conductivity. The third thermal conductivity is less than the first thermal conductivity and the second thermal conductivity. The first heating element is coupled to the first portion of the substrate, and is configured to produce a first thermal output. The second heating element is coupled to the second portion of the substrate, and configured to produce a second thermal output. The second thermal output is different from the first thermal output.

Devices for detecting microorganism strains or target cellular analytes are provided. The device includes a filter holder, the filter holder comprising a tip portion; a nonwoven article disposed on the tip portion of the filter holder; and an adaptor attacked to the filter holder, the adaptor defining an aperture. Methods of detecting microorganisms and/or cellular analytes in a fluid sample using the devices are also provided. The method includes obtaining the device; placing a lumened or cannulated device in fluid communication with the device; and passing a fluid sample suspected of containing at least one microorganism strain or target cellular analyte from the lumened or cannulated device through the device and contacting the nonwoven article. The method further includes contacting the nonwoven article with at least one detection reagent and detecting the presence of the at least one microorganism strain or target cellular analyte concentrated by the nonwoven article. Kits and systems including the devices are also provided.

A system and method for receiving and delivering a fluid, the system comprising: a body configured to interface with an opening of a reservoir and defining: a protrusion defining a set position of the body relative to the reservoir; a wall extending from the protrusion; a receiving surface coupled to the wall and sloping from an apex to a nadir along a first direction, the receiving surface comprising a vent; and an outlet positioned closer to the nadir than the apex of the receiving surface and displaced from the vent, the outlet comprising an extension from the body, the extension configured to contact an interior wall of the reservoir, wherein the body comprises: a bubble-mitigating operation mode in which the receiving surface receives and transmits the fluid along the receiving surface, and a fluid-transmitting operation mode in which the body directs the fluid along the interior wall of the reservoir.

A handheld, battery operated device that, when activated, will grip a screw-cap on the top of a cryogenic vial, microtube, test tube or other pharmaceutical product container, and automatically rotate the cap in a counterclockwise direction to remove the cap, and automatically rotate the cap in a clockwise direction to fasten the cap back on the cryogenic vial, microtube, test tube or other pharmaceutical product container.

A thermal block assembly for use in a biological analysis system includes a sample block, a heating and cooling element, a heat sink including a surface, the surface including a plurality of projections for engaging the heating and cooling element to hold the heating and cooling element on the heat sink. A thermal block assembly for use in a biological analysis system includes a heating and cooling element, a sample block including a lower surface configured to be thermally coupled to the heating and cooling element, one or more temperature sensors configured to extend through the one or more slots of the lower surface of the sample block, and one or more thermal pads between the one or more temperature sensors and heating and cooling element.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.