A first output light beam (L2) that originates from a total internal reflection at a detection surface (111) of a total internal reflection TIR chamber (110) and a second output light beam (L2) that comes from the interior of an inspectable chamber (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620) are both received within an observation region (OR). Preferably, these output light beams are detected with the same light detector, e.g. an image sensor (12). A total internal reflection at the TIR chamber and reflected light from inside the inspectable chamber are both directed to the same observation region (OR). This is for example enabled by different inclinations of the windows encountered by the first and the second output light beams, by different optical elements (407) in the paths of the output light beams, and/or by light scattering surface structures (122, 223, 322, 422, 522, 622) in the inspectable chamber.

In one example, testing cells extend along a length of a slot. Each testing cell includes a microfluidic channel extending from the slot, a pump to move fluid from the slot into the channel, a discharge nozzle through which fluid exits the channel, a fluid discharger to discharge fluid from the channel through the nozzle and a photosensor. A light guide is provided to receive light from an external light source and is to serially transmit the light to the microfluidic channel of each of the plurality of testing cells.

An apparatus includes a housing and an actuator. The housing, which defines a reagent volume that can receive a reagent container, can be removably coupled to a reaction chamber. The housing includes a puncturer that defines a transfer pathway in fluid communication with the reagent volume. A delivery portion of the housing defines a delivery pathway between the transfer pathway and the reaction chamber when the housing is coupled to the reaction chamber. The actuator has a plunger portion disposed within the reagent volume. An engagement portion of the actuator can be manipulated to move the plunger portion within the reagent volume to deform the reagent container. The puncturer can pierce a frangible portion of the reagent container to convey a reagent from the reagent container into the reaction chamber via the transfer pathway and/or the delivery pathway.

The present invention relates to a cuvette for analysing biological samples and a method of making a cuvette for analysing biological samples.

An assay chip includes fluidic-channel member composed of a light-transmissive lower member and an upper member, forming a fluidic-channel therebetween, and a cover member fitted with the fluidic-channel member from the upper-member-side thereof. An inlet for injecting a sample solution into the fluidic-channel and a suction opening for sucking, from the downstream side, the injected sample solution, both communicating with the fluidic-channel, are formed on the upper surface of the upper member. A pot for carrying out predetermined pre-processing on the sample solution, a pot for first-reaction processing to bind a photoresponsive labeling substance to an analyte in the sample solution, an inlet insertion-hole for inserting the inlet, and a suction-opening insertion-hole for inserting the suction opening are linearly arranged on the upper surface of the cover member.

An apparatus includes a housing and an actuator. The housing, which defines a reagent volume that can receive a reagent container, can be removably coupled to a reaction chamber. The housing includes a puncturer that defines a transfer pathway in fluid communication with the reagent volume. A delivery portion of the housing defines a delivery pathway between the transfer pathway and the reaction chamber when the housing is coupled to the reaction chamber. The actuator has a plunger portion disposed within the reagent volume. An engagement portion of the actuator can be manipulated to move the plunger portion within the reagent volume to deform the reagent container. The puncturer can pierce a frangible portion of the reagent container to convey a reagent from the reagent container into the reaction chamber via the transfer pathway and/or the delivery pathway.

A microchip (3) has a fluid circuit in it. The fluid circuit includes: a specimen introduction portion (31) into which a specimen is introduced; a component separation portion (32) that, when a centrifugal force in a first direction (D1) occurs in the microchip (3), separates, under the centrifugal force in the first direction (D1), a component contained in the specimen introduced into the specimen introduction portion (31); and a reagent reaction portion (33) that has a carrier member (330) carrying a reagent and that makes part of the component introduced from the component separation portion (32) into the carrier member (330) react with the reagent. When a centrifugal force in a second direction (D2) different from the first direction (D1) occurs in the microchip (3), the component separated in the component separation portion (32) is introduced, under the centrifugal force in the second direction (D2), from the component separation portion (32) into the carrier member (330).

This present invention relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for performing optical and electrochemical assays and, more particularly, to devices and systems having universal channel circuitry configured to perform optical and electrochemical assays, and methods of performing the optical and electrochemical assays using the universal channel circuitry. The universal channel circuitry is circuitry that has electronic switching capabilities such that any contact pin, and thus any sensor contact pad in a testing device, can be connected to one or more channels capable of taking on one or more measurement modes or configurations (e.g., an amperometric measurement mode or a current drive mode).