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.

Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

A method comprises: aspirating a sample through a needle capillary into a chamber having first and second windows, the capillary and chamber both affixed to a moveable robotic arm; causing a light beam generated by a light source that is affixed to the robotic arm to pass through the sample between the windows; detecting, using a photodetector that is affixed to the robotic arm, a quantity of the light that passes through the sample and the windows; determining an optical absorbance of the sample and a concentration of an analyte in the sample from the detected quantity of light; determining a quantity of the sample to dispense into an analytical apparatus based on the determined concentration; moving the robotic arm so as to cause the needle capillary to mate with an inlet port of an analytical apparatus; and dispensing the determined quantity of the sample into the analytical apparatus.

A fluid analysis arrangement (1) comprises a particle quantifying device (4), a holder (6), a robot (3), a washing station (5) and a control unit (2). The particle quantifying device (4) has a sensor unit (42) with a sensing stick (421) to be arranged in a fluid to sense for particles in the fluid, and an evaluation unit (41). The holder (6) has a plurality of seats each configured to receive a container in which a sample fluid is arranged. The control unit (2) is connected to the particle quantifying device (4) and the robot (3). The sensor unit (42) is mounted to the robot (3). The control unit (2) is configured to control the robot (3) to arrange the sensing stick (421) in one of the sample fluids of each container received in the seats of the holder (6) after another, activate the particle quantifying device to sense for particles in the sample fluids, and control the robot (3) to arrange the sensing stick (421) in the washing station (5) after each sensing for particles in one of the sample fluids and before arranging the sensing stick (421) in a next one of the sample fluids.

Systems and methods are described for indirect detection of a missed sample from an autosampler. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, drawing a fluid through operation of an autosampler; directing the fluid via a fluid line to a valve of a fluid handling system, the valve including or being adjacent to a sensor to detect a presence or absence of liquid sample; directing the fluid from the valve into a holding line coupled to the valve; determining whether a threshold amount of liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line; and when it is determined that liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line in an amount less than the threshold amount, transferring a carrier fluid having a marker component to an analytic detector, the marker component present in the carrier fluid in an amount indicative of a missed sample.

A system includes a fluidic device, a flow control valve, a first reagent fluid reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, a first fluid buffer reservoir fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve, and a common fluid buffer source fluidly connectable to the fluidic device by the flow control valve. The flow control valve permits flow comprising: (i) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, (ii) flow from the common fluid buffer source to the fluidic device, (iii) flow from the fluidic device to the first fluid buffer reservoir, (iv) flow from the first reagent fluid reservoir to the fluidic device, and (v) flow from the first fluid buffer reservoir to the fluidic device.

A system for sampling a sample material includes a probe which can have an outer probe housing with an open end. A liquid supply conduit within the housing has an outlet positioned to deliver liquid to the open end of the housing. The liquid supply conduit can be connectable to a liquid supply for delivering liquid at a first volumetric flow rate to the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust conduit within the housing is provided for removing liquid from the open end of the housing. A liquid exhaust system can be provided for removing liquid from the liquid exhaust conduit at a second volumetric flow rate. A droplet dispenser can dispense drops of a sample or a sample-containing solvent into the open end of the housing. A sensor and a processor can be provided to monitor and maintain a liquid dome present at the open end.

A disposable cartridge for mitigating cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents. The disposable cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a syringe barrel having an barrel port operative to inject and withdraw assay fluids in response to the displacement of a syringe plunger. Furthermore, the disposable cartridge includes a rotor defining a plurality of assay chambers in fluid communication with the barrel port through one of a plurality of rotor ports disposed about the periphery of the rotor. Finally, the disposable cartridge includes a flow control system between the barrel and rotor ports which prevents cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents from one assay chamber to another assay chamber.

Described herein are devices and methods of use thereof, the devices comprising: a sample conduit providing a path for fluid flow extending from a sample inlet to a sample outlet; a thermal housing enclosing the sample conduit, the thermal housing comprising a plurality of measurement regions; and a motorized stage translatable along the thermal housing so as to align a detector with one or more of the plurality of measurement regions. The devices can continuously flow a fluid precursor sample from the sample inlet to the sample outlet, the fluid precursor sample comprising a first precursor and a second precursor, such that the first precursor reacts with the second precursor as the fluid precursor sample continuously flows from the sample inlet to the sample outlet to form the sample before reaching the sample outlet, wherein the sample comprises a plurality of particles or an organic molecule.

A sample introduction device 10 includes a tube holding section 21 and a sample removing mechanism 40. The sample removing mechanism 40 removes a sample 6 in a sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21. Thus, in the sample introduction device 10, the sample 6 in the sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21 can be automatically removed. As a result, the operator no longer needs to perform an operation of taking out the sample 6 from the sample tube 2. Thus, a work load on the operator can be reduced.