An adapter assembly for receiving a capillary includes a passage, into which the capillary is or can be received. The adapter assembly has an adapter cone which is configured for being received in or on a correspondingly configured counter cone. The adapter cone, at least over a section for bringing the adapter cone into contact with the counter cone, includes an elastic material that is more elastic than the material of the counter cone. The invention further relates to a counterpart for connecting to the adapter, to an apparatus and to a method for automatically exchanging capillaries.

Provided are methods and devices for automated analysis of one or more samples in single or multi-well plates or vessels, wherein the process of automated analysis comprises flow and hydrodynamic, electrokinetic, and optical forces for the analysis and sorting of samples, wherein the samples comprise liquid or particles in microfluidic channels, and wherein the devices comprise an assembly of components that enable processing of a said samples for analytical assessment by fluidic and/or particle based instruments. Microfluidic structures (channels, “T's”, “Y's”, branched “Y's”, wells, and weirs) are described for facilitating sample interaction and observation, sample analysis, sorting, or isolation. Detection can be accomplished using spectroscopic methods including, but not limited to, Raman spectroscopy of single cells and bulk cellular samples (collections of cells; several individuals to hundreds or thousands of cells).

A robotic arm of an automated pipetting system has a pipetting tip adapter and a slide switch to detect the presence of pipetting tips on the pipetting tip adapter is disclosed. The slide switch has first support member and second support member configured to slide relative to one another between first and second positions along a movement axis, an electrically conducting contact pad arranged on the first support member, an electrically conducting terminal physically attached to second support member in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in first position, where the terminal is a first resilient and inherently stable wiping member expanding along the movement axis, first wiping member is not in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in second position, and an electric current can flow between first wiping member and the contact pad when support members are in first position.

The invention relates to a pipetting device having tube with an opening at one end for suctioning or discharging a sample fluid, and can be operatively connected to a pressure generation device at the other end. A first electrode is formed on the pipetting device that forms a measuring capacitor together with a second electrode formed by at least one part of the sample fluid and that can be received in the tube and the measuring capacitor is operatively connected to a measuring unit, and the measuring unit is designed to determine a volume of the suctioned or discharged sample fluid according to the capacity of the measuring capacitor. The invention also relates to a fluid processing system having a pipetting device of this type, as well as a method for determining a processed fluid volume during pipetting with a pipetting device of this type.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for host cell improvement utilizing epistatic effects. The systems and methods described herein are host cell agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented to modulate or improve any host cell parameter of interest.

An auto-pipetting apparatus includes a dispensing head with at least one pipetting tip mandrel having an elongated stud body with an insertion end. The at least one pipetting tip mandrel mates with a pipetting tip. A first adjustable seal, disposed on the elongated stud body, and a second adjustable seal, disposed on the elongated stud body, seal the pipetting tip mated to the at least one pipetting tip mandrel. The first adjustable seal defines a snub surface. The snub surface effects a substantially continuous circumferential contact seal with radially impinging contact between the pipetting tip and the at least one pipetting tip mandrel. The second adjustable seal is adjustable between a disengaged position and an engaged position and effects a releasable grip and another substantially continuous circumferential contact seal between the pipetting tip and the at least one pipetting tip mandrel around the pipetting tip.

The invention relates to a multi-channel head (100) of a liquid handling apparatus for aspirating and dispensing a metered amount of liquid, comprising: an array of connectors (130) for picking up an array of disposable tips, whereby a peripheral end of each connector is provided with an elastomeric seal (140); an alignment plate (150) that is moveable in a z-direction and has a plurality of openings through which the connectors (130) extend, a linear displacement mechanism (170b, 175), driven by a motor (180), for moving the alignment plate (150) in z-direction relative to the connectors, and a controller for controlling the motor. The multi-channel head is configured to attach the array of disposable tips in a pick-up action, in which the multi-channel head (100) is lowered relative to the disposable tips so as to insert each connector into an internal passageway of a corresponding disposable tip by an amount sufficient to bring an upper collar of the disposable tips into contact with an underside (150s) of the alignment plate. This insertion deforms the elastomeric seal against the tip internal passageway so as to form a sealing contact therewith. The controller of the multi-channel head (100) is programmed such that once the pick-up action is complete, an alignment action is performed in which the alignment plate (150) is moved relative to connectors (130) by an amount sufficient to close any gap between the underside (150s) of the alignment plate and the upper surface of the tip collars that arises due to e.g. relaxation of the deformed seals (140).

A dispensing apparatus that sucks and discharges liquid through a tip includes a motor, a tip attaching and detaching unit allowing attachment and detachment of a plurality of the tips, a tip holder that holds the plurality of tips, a support member that supports the tip attaching and detaching unit in a displaceable manner, and a drive transmitter that transmits a driving force of the motor to the support member. The drive transmitter includes a transmission switch that switches the drive transmitter from a transmission state in which the driving force of the motor is transmitted to a non-transmission state in which transmission of the driving force of the motor is blocked when an overload on the motor exceeds an upper limit value in a case where the plurality of tips held by the tip holder is attached to the tip attaching and detaching unit along with a displacement of a position of the tip attaching and detaching unit.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a plurality of samples for an analytical method, comprising a carousel with a solid housing and moveable receiving parts for the sample containers; a control for controlling the receiving parts in the carousel; and a sample receiving device for providing the sample for the analytical method. Said arrangement is characterized in that one or more stations for preparing samples are provided on the carousel, the receiving parts for the sample containers of the carousel can be positioned on said stations. Said arrangement also comprises a centrifuge with pairs of opposite lying receiving parts provided for the sample containers, and said receiving parts are arranged such that they can move on the centrifuge for the sample holder such that a transfer of a sample holder between a receiving part in the carousel and a receiving part in the centrifuge can be carried out. The control takes place by the same control which is also provided for controlling the carousel.

A method of treating an isolated area of a sample with a liquid is disclosed. The method has the steps of generating an isolated area of a sample by a first fluid reservoir where the first fluid reservoir enclosing a distal end of a second fluid reservoir and the isolated area of the sample being sealed towards the remaining area of the sample, bringing the isolated area of the sample into fluid connection with the second fluid reservoir, dispensing a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a first direction, and aspirating the fluid from the first fluid reservoir into the second fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a second direction.