Methods, systems and apparatus for automated extraction, purification, and processing of nucleic acids from biological samples are presented. In some embodiments, hydrogel supports are used to immobilize particulate biological input samples and extract nucleic acids during operations. The use of hydrogel facilitates automated sample processing on robotic liquid handling systems. Devices, methods, and systems are also provided for electrophoretic sample preparation.

A system for assaying a biological sample for a presence of a target analyte includes an assaying device and a computer controller. The assaying device includes a housing, a receptacle disposed in the housing, and a source of activation energy. The receptacle is configured to accept an electrophoresis cell. The electrophoresis cell has a recess area configured to accept a chip configured to accept the biological sample. The chip includes a polymeric separation medium with activatable functional groups that covalently bond to the target analyte when activated. The source of activation energy is configured to supply activation energy to activate the activatable functional groups. The computer controller is operably coupled to the source of activation energy and is configured to activate the source of activation energy to direct an application of activation energy to the polymeric separation medium to activate the activatable functional groups.

A multiple capillary florescent detection system employing optical fiber bundles that each fiber bundle has more than one fiber illuminating each sample vessel.

An apparatus includes a body portion that defines a reservoir and a set of substantially flexible capillaries. The set of substantially flexible capillaries are fixedly coupled to the body portion and in fluid communication with the reservoir. A connector is configured to be coupled to the body portion to be in fluid communication with the reservoir and the set of substantially flexible capillaries. The connector is further configured to be coupled to a vacuum source. The apparatus is arranged such that at least a part of the body portion is electrically conductive. Methods for separating and detecting an analyte from a biological sample with the apparatus are also provided. For example, methods for separating and detecting one or more proteins from a cellular lysate or a purified protein are also provided.

The disclosure provides detection apparatus having one or more nanopores, methods for making apparatus having one or more nanopore and methods for using apparatus having one or more nanopores. Uses include, but are not limited to detection and sequencing of nucleic acids.

A sample setting section in which at least one sample to be subjected to electrophoresis analysis and at least one standard sample are set, and a controller. The controller includes a standard data storage memory that stores standard data obtained by performing electrophoresis analysis of a standard sample under a predetermined condition, and a chip determination part configured to perform electrophoresis analysis of the standard sample under the predetermined condition using each of the at least one microchip before electrophoresis analysis of the sample set in the sample setting section is performed to acquire analysis data on the standard sample by the detector, and to perform a chip determination as to whether a state of each of the at least one microchip is suitable for performing electrophoresis analysis by comparing the acquired analysis data with the standard data on the standard sample.

A multicapillary electrophoresis device includes: a capillary array formed by arranging a plurality of capillaries; a light source irradiating the capillaries with excitation light; a photodetector detecting fluorescence from a sample in the capillaries; and an arithmetic control unit calculating a signal intensity of the fluorescence according to a signal from the photodetector. The arithmetic control unit is configured so as to correct the signal intensity according to a correction index determined for each of the combinations of any of the capillaries and a fluorophore labeled to the sample.

A carrier plate, which is used within an electrophoresis process, and to a holding device tailored to the carrier plate, the carrier plate having a region with a magnetic property and a positioning device. The magnetic property is designed to fix the carrier plate in the laboratory device. The positioning device is designed to guarantee a position of the carrier plate in the laboratory device.

A device for controlling, detecting, and measuring a molecular complex is disclosed. The device comprises a common electrode. The device further comprises a plurality of measurement cells. Each measurement cell includes a cell electrode and an integrator electronically coupled to the cell electrode. The integrator measures the current flowing between the common electrode and the cell electrode. The device further comprises a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, wherein an integrator from the plurality of measurement cells is electrically coupled to one analog-to-digital converter of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters.

A system and method for capturing and analyzing a set of cells, comprising: an array including a set of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber including a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and configured to hold a single cell, and a pore channel fluidly connected to the chamber outlet; an inlet channel fluidly connected to each chamber inlet of the set of parallel pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to each pore channel of the set of parallel pores; a set of electrophoresis channels fluidly coupled to the outlet channel, configured to receive a sieving matrix for electrophoretic separation; and a set of electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the set of electrodes is configured to provide an electric field that facilitates electrophoretic analysis of the set of cells.