Rotary valve systems with integrated sensors are described that facilitate stabilizing electrical connection from a valve actuator. A valve system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a multi-port rotary valve; an actuator attached to the multi-port rotary valve, wherein the actuator comprises a power connection fed from electronics associated with the actuator; an actuator cap attached to the actuator, the actuator cap configured to allow the power connection to pass through; a valve collar with an integrated press-on connector, wherein the valve collar comprises an electronic feedthrough passage for the power connection; and a retainer portion comprising two retainer pins, wherein the two retainer pins are configured to mate with apertures on the actuator cap, the retainer portion configured to allow electrical connection between the power connector and a sensor connector when the two retainer pins fit within the two apertures on the actuator cap.

The present invention relates to a liquid handling and processing tool for analyzing a biological sample. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a fluid processing and detection module for processing a liquid sample and for detecting analyte in the sample.

A method for dilution of a blood sample for analysis and to an apparatus for implementation of this method is provided.

In the method, an aliquoting device is used, making it possible to carry out a single collection, to form a first dilution in a chamber, to collect a portion of the first dilution in order to form a second dilution in another chamber, to count the blood cells in the first and the second chamber, to carry out a differentiation based on the first dilution, to rinse the first chamber, to form a third dilution based on a quantity of first-dilution liquid remaining in the aliquoting device, then to carry out a differentiation of reticulocytes based on this third dilution.

Systems and methods for safe collection and transportation of fluid samples for analysis are described to avoid exposure of hazardous materials to personnel during collection and transfer of samples to laboratory processing equipment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a sample module including an enclosure configured to separate a sample from an external environment; a filling station defining a compartment into which the sample module can be received, the filling station configured to direct a fluid sample into the sample module and to rinse fluid connections between the filling station and the sample module prior to decoupling of the sample module from the filling station; and a sample transfer station configured to receive the sample module and to transfer sample from the sample module and direct the sample into a sample container.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor. The assembly, pneumatic system, and control unit operate together to prepare the sample and provide the prepared sample to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also process measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

An analysis system includes a degassing cell, at least one first valve, and at least one second valve. The at least one first valve is fluidly coupled with a top of the degassing cell, the at least one first valve configured selectably connect the degassing cell to a displacement gas flow and to a vacuum source. The at least one second valve is fluidly connected with a lateral side of the degassing cell and separately fluidly connected with a bottom of the degassing cell. The at least one second valve is selectably coupled with any of a source of a sample-carrying fluid, a transfer line configured to deliver a sample to an analysis device, or a waste output.

A fluid transportation system and method use a negative pressure driving mode to absorb fluids from a fluid storage assembly and a positive pressure driving mode to load the absorbed fluids into the fluid-using system. At least two working modules are used to transport fluids to the fluid-using system, the process of transporting fluid in each working module being divided into the processes of absorbing fluids into a fluid transfer assembly, and loading fluids into a fluid transfer assembly. The process of absorbing fluids in each working module and the processes of absorbing fluids and/or loading fluids in any other working module overlap at least partially along the time axis. With the present disclosure, the accuracy and speed of fluids transportation are improved, a device utilizing the system and method is also disclosed.

A field apparatus (also referred to as a “biosampler”) is configured to automatically capture multiple samples of an aqueous medium (for example, water from a lake) and process same to preserve unstable analytes in the field. In this way, a set of samples from the aqueous medium can, for example, be captured at multiple points in time, processed with a biopreservative to preserve unstable analytes (for example, RNA) and then later collected for further analysis. Alternatively, multiple samples of the aqueous medium can be collected and preserved at one moment.

Valve assemblies and related systems are disclosed. An apparatus includes or comprises a system including or comprising an imaging system, a flow cell interface having a corresponding flow cell receptacle, a stage assembly, and a valve assembly including or comprising a valve and a valve drive assembly. The stage assembly moves the flow cell interface relative to the imaging system and the valve drive assembly is to drive the valve using shaped input signals to reduce vibration imposed on at least one of the stage assembly or another component of the apparatus based on movement of the valve.

The present invention is an automated separation system comprised of a liquid handling device and one or more pipette tip columns, wherein the liquid handling device is equipped with two or more nozzles arranged to respectively receive a pipette tip column comprising separation media. Further, the system includes means for applying either high positive or negative pressure to the column inside chamber above the column bed, enabling aspiration and dispensing into and out of each pipette tip column. To enable sealing to the pressures used to move liquid through the column bed without inadvertently ejecting the column from the nozzle during the separation process, each nozzle has been provided with at least one annular protrusion arranged to engage with the inside of a substantially evenly tapered pipette tip column, without any corresponding recess. Each nozzle may be provided with slide ejector to enable the removal of a pipette tip column.