A method for measuring a concentration of molecules, characterized in that the method measures the concentration of molecules dissolved in a continuous phase of a colloid and includes obtaining a test sample by mixing a number of molecules with a volume of colloid, obtaining a control sample by mixing a number of molecules with a volume of a composition comprising a particle-free solution extracted from a fraction of the continuous phase of same colloid used in the obtaining the test sample, so that a value of the concentration of molecules in the mixture is equal to the value of the concentration of molecules in the test sample obtained in the obtaining the test sample, and submitting the test and the control samples obtained in the obtaining the test sample and obtaining the control sample to a process in order to concentrate the particles of the test sample.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward devices, systems, and method for conducting nucleic acid purification and quantification using sedimentation. In one example, a method includes generating complexes which bind to a plurality of beads in a fluid sample, individual ones of the complexes comprising a nucleic acid molecule such as DNA or RNA and a labeling agent. The plurality of beads including the complexes may be transported through a density media, wherein the density media has a density lower than a density of the beads and higher than a density of the fluid sample, and wherein the transporting occurs, at least in part, by sedimentation. Signal may be detected from the labeling agents of the complexes.

The invention, provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

The present claimed invention is to facilitate cleaning work of a cell for a particle size distribution measuring device that measures a particle size distribution by means of a line start method, and comprises a cell 2 that houses a density gradient solution, a cell rotating mechanism 3 that rotates the cell 2 so that a centrifugal force is applied to the cell 2 from a smaller density gradient to a larger density gradient and a sample introducing mechanism 7 that introduces a measurement sample into the cell 2 that is rotated by the cell rotating mechanism 3, and is so configured that the cell 2 is detachable from a main body of the device.

The invention provides a full-automatic erythrocyte sedimentation rate analyzer, which comprises a base as well as a blending device and a detecting device mounted on the base, wherein the blending device comprises a sample rack, a sample rack bracket and a rotating device; the sample rack bracket is arranged on the base, and is connected to the sample rack through a rotating shaft; more than one test tube rack is arranged on the sample rack; the rotating device is connected to the rotating shaft, and drives the rotating shaft to rotationally drive the sample rack to turn over up and down; a plurality of holes are arranged in each test tube rack; a fixing device is arranged in the hole, and used for placing and fixing a closed container containing samples; the detecting device comprises a guide device, a driving device, infrared transmitting and receiving devices having the same quantity as that of the test tube racks, and a mounting rack; the driving device drives the mounting rack to move up and down along the guide device; the mounting rack drives the infrared transmitting and receiving devices to move; the closed containers containing the samples are located on moving paths of the infrared transmitting and receiving devices; and infrared rays penetrate through the closed containers to realize detecting.

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

An object of the present claimed invention is to improve cell cooling performance, keep a temperature of a dispersion medium constant, and improve measurement accuracy. The particle size distribution measuring device of this invention comprises a cell holding body 31 that holds a cell 2 housing a measurement sample and that is rotated by a motor 322, a case (C) having a housing space (S) for rotatably housing the cell holding body 31, and a cooling mechanism 8 for cooling the cell 2. The cooling mechanism 8 comprises a cooler 81, and a supply channel 82 that supplies a gas that has been cooled by the cooler 81 to the housing space (S).

Provided is a biological sample imaging device and a biological sample imaging method that are capable of disposing a sufficient number of large-sized particles in a biological sample so as to be moderately dispersed within an imaging range. The biological sample imaging method includes: a first step of introducing a biological sample containing particles into a liquid flow channel; a second step of causing the biological sample introduced into the liquid flow channel to flow in a forward direction; a third step of causing the biological sample to flow in a reverse direction after the second step; and an imaging step of taking, in an imaging cell, images of the particles contained in the biological sample that remains in the liquid flow channel after the third step.

A method for measuring a concentration of molecules, characterized in that the method measures the concentration of molecules dissolved in a continuous phase of a colloid and includes obtaining a test sample by mixing a number of molecules with a volume of colloid, obtaining a control sample by mixing a number of molecules with a volume of a composition comprising a particle-free solution extracted from a fraction of the continuous phase of same colloid used in the obtaining the test sample, so that a value of the concentration of molecules in the mixture is equal to the value of the concentration of molecules in the test sample obtained in the obtaining the test sample, and submitting the test and the control samples obtained in the obtaining the test sample and obtaining the control sample to a process in order to concentrate the particles of the test sample.

Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.