Automated pipetting systems and methods are disclosed for aspirating and dispensing fluids, particularly biological samples. In one aspect, a liquid dispenser includes a manifold and one or more pipette channels. The manifold includes a vacuum channel, a pressure channel, and a plurality of lanes. Each lane includes an electrical connector, a port to the pressure channel, and a port to the vacuum channel. The pipette channels can be modular. Each pipette channel includes a single dispense head and can be selectively and independently coupled to any one lane of the plurality of lanes. In some aspects, a valve in the pipette channel is in simultaneous fluid communication with a pressure port and a vacuum port of the manifold. The valve selectively diverts gas under pressure and gas under vacuum to the dispense head in response to control signals received through the electrical connector of the manifold.

A system and method for accessing contents of a tank through a tank opening disposed on the tank. The system and method may obtain samples, use a sensor to analyze sludge or may clean the tank. The system has a rotatable head connected to a rigid tube having a central axis. The rotatable head is adapted to be inserted through the tank opening. The rotatable head comprises a displacer and a head opening. A flexible tube has an insertable end and an external end. The flexible tube is slideably movable within the rigid tube and has a range of motion relative to the rigid tube so that the insertable end of the flexible tube can be directed by the displacer through the head opening at an angle offset from the central axis of the rigid tube.

An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.

Automated pipetting systems and methods are disclosed for aspirating and dispensing fluids, particularly biological samples. In one aspect, a liquid dispenser includes a manifold and one or more pipette channels. The manifold includes a vacuum channel, a pressure channel, and a plurality of lanes. Each lane includes an electrical connector, a port to the pressure channel, and a port to the vacuum channel. The pipette channels can be modular. Each pipette channel includes a single dispense head and can be selectively and independently coupled to any one lane of the plurality of lanes. In some aspects, a valve in the pipette channel is in simultaneous fluid communication with a pressure port and a vacuum port of the manifold. The valve selectively diverts gas under pressure and gas under vacuum to the dispense head in response to control signals received through the electrical connector of the manifold.

A system and method for accurate, automated collection of a sample of a process fluid flowing through a transport line includes: a first container for collecting the sample and being pre-filled with a displacement fluid immiscible with the process fluid; a second container having smaller volume than the volume of the first container, for collecting the displacement fluid; an actuated valve positioned between the first container and the second container and actuated by a controller to move from an open position to initiate collection of the sample in the first container and transfer the process fluid displaced from the first container into the second container, and to move the actuated valve to the closed position upon receiving a signal from the fluid level sensor regarding level of fluid in the second container.

The disclosed methods for preparing cytological samples may include placing a cytological sample in a concave filter in a filtration system, applying a negative pressure to an outer side of the concave filter with a vacuum device to withdraw a liquid from the cytological sample, applying a sectionable matrix material over the filtered cellular material within the concave filter, and removing an assembly including the filtered cellular material and the sectionable matrix material from the filtration system. Various other related methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.

Sampling devices for sampling an aqueous source (e.g., field testing of ground water) for multiple different analytes are described. Devices include a solid phase extraction component for retention of a wide variety of targeted analytes. Devices include analyte derivatization capability for improved extraction of targeted analytes. Thus, a single device can be utilized to examine a sample source for a wide variety of analytes. Devices also include an isotope dilution capability that can prevent error introduction to the sample analysis and can correct for sample loss and degradation from the point of sampling until analysis as well as correction for incomplete or poor derivatization reactions. The devices can be field-deployable and rechargeable.

A method of processing an adipose tissue material sample to create and collect fat aspirate particles having particle diameters less than or equal to a selected size includes providing the adipose tissue particle sample in a syringe, and connecting a proximal end of a transfer cannula to the syringe. A filter screen assembly having a first open end, a second closed end, and a screen portion therebetween is inserted into an interior of a container. The screen portion includes a plurality of apertures having diameters of the selected size. The transfer cannula is inserted into the filter screen assembly and positioned to leave selected apertures of the filter screen assembly unobstructed by the transfer cannula. Adipose tissue material is then expelled from the transfer cannula through the apertures of the filter screen assembly into the container to create and collect the fat aspirate particles having controlled maximum particle diameters.

An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.

Sampling devices for sampling an aqueous source (e.g., field testing of ground water) for multiple different analytes are described. Devices include a solid phase extraction component for retention of a wide variety of targeted analytes. Devices include analyte derivatization capability for improved extraction of targeted analytes. Thus, a single device can be utilized to examine a sample source for a wide variety of analytes. Devices also include an isotope dilution capability that can prevent error introduction to the sample analysis and can correct for sample loss and degradation from the point of sampling until analysis as well as correction for incomplete or poor derivatization reactions. The devices can be field-deployable and rechargeable.