Paraffin-embedded tissue is prepared removing paraffin from the tissue. The paraffin is removed by generating an electric field effective to produce plasma and direct charged species of the plasma to the paraffin, thereby rendering the paraffin responsive to the electric field. The electric field may move the paraffin out from the tissue due to electrostatic force. Movement of the paraffin may be assisted by moving an electrode utilized to generate the electric field relative to the paraffin. Movement of the paraffin also may be assisted by applying a solvent and/or heat energy to the tissue.

There is provided a nucleic acid extraction method using a cartridge comprising: (a) a driving part of a nucleic acid extraction device is connected to a control rod module disposed in an inner space of the upper body of a piston and a rotation control module coupled to the lower body of the piston; (b) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module, sequentially sucking sample and reagents from the plurality of chambers separated from each other into an interior space, and discharging the mixture of the interior space into the chamber of the cartridge; and (c) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module to suck the reagent inside the master mix bead chamber of the cartridge into the interior space of the piston upper body and then discharge the mixed reagent to a nucleic acid amplification module.

There is provided a nucleic acid extraction method using a cartridge comprising: (a) a driving part of a nucleic acid extraction device is connected to a control rod module disposed in an inner space of the upper body of a piston and a rotation control module coupled to the lower body of the piston; (b) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module, sequentially sucking sample and reagents from the plurality of chambers separated from each other into an interior space, and discharging the mixture of the interior space into the chamber of the cartridge; and (c) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module to suck the reagent inside the master mix bead chamber of the cartridge into the interior space of the piston upper body and then discharge the mixed reagent to a nucleic acid amplification module.

The disclosure provides a clearing composition and a method utilizing the clearing composition for rendering a biological sample transparent. The clearing composition includes a RI matching material, a permeating agent including a surfactant, at least two labeling materials, and a solvent. The sample rendering method includes the steps of: (a) fixing a biological sample with a fixative solution; (b) embedding the biological sample into an embedding material; (c) immersing a biological sample in the clearing composition so the sample is permeated by the cleaning composition; and (d) mounting, by a mounting solution, the permeated biological sample.

The disclosure provides a clearing composition and a method utilizing the clearing composition for rendering a biological sample transparent. The clearing composition includes a RI matching material, a permeating agent including a surfactant, at least two labeling materials, and a solvent. The sample rendering method includes the steps of: (a) fixing a biological sample with a fixative solution; (b) embedding the biological sample into an embedding material; (c) immersing a biological sample in the clearing composition so the sample is permeated by the cleaning composition; and (d) mounting, by a mounting solution, the permeated biological sample.

Methods and kits for isolation of cell-derived vesicles and their associated macromolecules like nucleic acids, proteins, lipids metabolites etc. from one or more blood, serum, plasma, saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, breast milk, tear, conditioned culture media etc. to assist detection, prevention, and understanding of disease biology. The invention offers various advantages including simple technical solutions which are cost-effective, time-saving and scalable for large industrial outputs.

Methods and kits for isolation of cell-derived vesicles and their associated macromolecules like nucleic acids, proteins, lipids metabolites etc. from one or more blood, serum, plasma, saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, breast milk, tear, conditioned culture media etc. to assist detection, prevention, and understanding of disease biology. The invention offers various advantages including simple technical solutions which are cost-effective, time-saving and scalable for large industrial outputs.

A sampling device comprising a filter to remove particulates greater than about 10 microns, a dryer active to remove water vapor present in the air sample, a chemical scrubber active to remove contaminants from the air sample, a cold trap to capture analytes which is configurable to be put into fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer. A method of obtaining and analyzing a sample utilizing the device is also disclosed.

An elemental analysis device includes a heating furnace in which a test sample that is placed in a crucible is heated so that a sample gas is generated from the test sample, an inflow path through which a carrier gas is introduced into the heating furnace, an outflow path through which a mixture gas made up of the carrier gas and the sample gas is led out from the heating furnace, a dust filter that is provided on the outflow path, an analysis mechanism that is provided on the outflow path on a downstream side from the dust filter, and that detects one or a plurality of predetermined components contained in the mixture gas, and a cleaning gas supply mechanism that supplies cleaning gas to the dust filter in an opposite direction from a direction in which the mixture gas is flowing.

An elemental analysis device includes a heating furnace in which a test sample that is placed in a crucible is heated so that a sample gas is generated from the test sample, an inflow path through which a carrier gas is introduced into the heating furnace, an outflow path through which a mixture gas made up of the carrier gas and the sample gas is led out from the heating furnace, a dust filter that is provided on the outflow path, an analysis mechanism that is provided on the outflow path on a downstream side from the dust filter, and that detects one or a plurality of predetermined components contained in the mixture gas, and a cleaning gas supply mechanism that supplies cleaning gas to the dust filter in an opposite direction from a direction in which the mixture gas is flowing.