The present invention provides a method of separating beads in a fluidic chip comprising an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, in which at least one of the reactants are beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force, the method comprises the steps of: providing at least a first set of beads (8a) having a density m1 and a second set of beads (8b) having a density m2 in a section (7, 15, 18) of the fluid circuit, the section comprising at least a first outlet (16, 13, 17); providing a first liquid medium in the section, the liquid medium having a density d3, such that m1<d3<m2; and applying a first centrifugal force (G) such that the first set of beads (8a) and the second set of beads (8b) migrates in opposite directions within the section.

The present invention provides a method of analyzing a sample containing an analyte to be qualitatively and/or quantitatively determined, comprising a binding step and a washing step, wherein the binding step comprises: interacting the analyte with beads having a density m1; obtaining a structure of packed beads comprising quantifiable bead complexes having a density m2; and the washing step comprises: dispersing the packed beads in a liquid medium having a density d>m2 and m1; and separating the liquid medium and the beads comprising the quantifiable bead complexes.

The present invention provides a method of transferring beads in a fluidic chip comprising an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, in which at least one of the reactants are beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force, the method comprises the steps of: providing beads (8) having a density equal to, or lower than, m1 in a section (7, 15) of the fluid circuit, the section comprising at least a first outlet (16, 13); providing a first liquid medium to the section, the liquid medium having a density d2, such that d2>m1; and applying a centrifugal force such that the beads migrate in the opposite direction of the centrifugal force.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light, an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable around a rotational axis, has a support structure with a front face perpendicular to the rotational axis, a fluidic structure for processing a biological sample into the processed biological sample, a measurement structure with at least one detection zone on the front face, and a rotatable lid covering the front face. The rotatable lid is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the support structure from a first position relative to the support structure to a second position relative to the support structure. The rotatable lid has a sample inlet opening and a detection zone opening. In the first position, a sample inlet is aligned with the sample inlet opening and the measurement structure is covered by the rotatable lid. In the second position, the sample inlet is covered by the rotatable lid and the measurement structure is aligned with the detection zone opening.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light, an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

A Microplate comprising a plurality of wells (2) is arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each well (2) is inclined or pivotably mounted in the microplate (1) so that the wells (2) align with the direction of a centrifugal force during centrifuging of the microplate (1).

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.