The invention relates to a method for determining the physicochemical properties of a nanoscale system (NSS) using analytical ultracentrifugation), comprising the steps of generating a multi-dimensional sedimentation analysis map associated with the NSS of interest; selecting sample-dependent parameters; determining sedimentation coefficient value/parameter in the sample; inserting sample sedimentation coefficient values onto the multi-dimensional sedimentation analysis map to obtain a NSS sample map value; and inferring from the NSS sample map value the physicochemical properties of the NSS sample. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for performing the method, a computer program product and a computer readable storage medium.

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 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 particle size distribution measuring apparatus includes a centrifugal sedimentation measuring mechanism and a dynamic light scattering measuring mechanism. The centrifugal sedimentation measuring mechanism causes particles to settle out by rotating a measurement cell accommodating particles dispersed in a dispersion medium and detects transmitted light by irradiating light to the measurement cell to measure a first particle size distribution on a basis of a change of transmitted light intensity of the transmitted light. The dynamic light scattering measuring mechanism detects scattered light occurred upon irradiation of light to particles so as to measure a second particle size distribution based on a change of scattered light intensity of the scattered light occurred due to Brownian motion of particles. After the centrifugal sedimentation measuring mechanism detects the transmitted light, the dynamic light scattering measuring mechanism measures the second particle size distribution by irradiating light onto the measurement cell.

A method for determining a vertical position of a horizontally extending interface between first and second components is presented. The first and second components are contained in a laboratory sample container in layers vertically separated from each other. The method comprises generating first data, generating second data in the form of picture data of the laboratory sample container containing the first and second components, determining a first probability distribution function in response to the first data, determining a second probability distribution function in response to the second data, and determining the vertical position of the horizontally extending interface depending on the first and second probability distribution functions. The first data depend on the vertical position of the horizontally extending interface. The first and second probability distribution functions assign a probability of the presence of the horizontally extending interface to a vertical position.

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.

A rotor system comprises a rotor constructed and arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation. A source of electromagnetic radiation is positioned at a first position of the rotor, the source of electromagnetic radiation configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at one or more wavelengths. The rotor system further includes a sample region. A detector is positioned at a second position of the rotor, the detector constructed and arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation that traverses at least a portion of the sample region.

A method of characterizing a serum or plasma portion of a specimen in a specimen container provides a fine-grained HILN index (hemolysis, icterus, lipemia, normal) of the serum or plasma portion of the specimen, wherein the H, I, and L classes may each have five to seven sub-classes. The HILN index may also have one un-centrifuged class. Pixel data of an input image of the specimen container may be processed by a deep semantic segmentation network having, in some embodiments, more than 100 layers. A small front-end container segmentation network may be used to determine a container type and boundary, which may additionally be input to the deep semantic segmentation network. A discriminative network may be used to train the deep semantic segmentation network to generate a homogeneously structured output. Quality check modules and testing apparatus configured to carry out the method are also described, as are other aspects.

The present invention relates to the field of biological sample testing technology, and in particular, to a testing system. The testing system includes a reagent reaction vessel and a test device. A reagent storage portion and a push rod movable relative to the reagent storage portion are packaged in the reagent reaction vessel, the reagent storage portion comprises at least one reagent containing cavity, and the reagent containing cavity is sealed by a sealing element; and the push rod is connected to the sealing element, and the push rod is used for cooperation with the test device to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. The test device includes a test cassette, wherein an ejection rod is arranged in the test cassette, and the ejection rod cooperates with the push rod to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. According to the present invention, when the reagent storage portion is inserted, the ejection rod can be quickly pushed to operate, and one operation completes multiple functions such as releasing the reagent, fixing the reagent reaction vessel, and focusing on a test area at the same time, thereby simplifying the reaction steps.

The invention relates to an apparatus for static sedimentation tests comprising a plurality of sedimentation cylinders, which are subject to the same mixing conditions, said apparatus comprises: a. A variable number of transparent sedimentation cylinders, the most common being 12; b. Each sedimentation cylinder is located inside a non-intrusive emitter and receiving sensor housing where each housing has an electronic ID card, electronic circuit boards and connection to a control system; c. A support structure containing the sedimentation cylinders and sensor housings which rotates around an axis of rotation; d. Each sedimentation cylinder has a bottom stopper and top stopper; e. Where each bottom stopper of each sedimentation cylinder is mounted on a lateral bar parallel to the rotation axis, by a fixing to the supporting structure; f. Also the sedimentation cylinders are fixed in the supporting structure by a clamping system around the top stopper of each sedimentation cylinder g. The top stopper of each sedimentation cylinder has an additive injection system. In addition, its presented a method for static sedimentation tests carried out simultaneously and under the same mixing conditions in a plurality of sedimentation cylinders, the most common being 12; which rotate around an axis of rotation; where each sedimentation cylinder is located inside a sensor housing which are connected to a control system.