Systems, including apparatus and methods, for the microfluidic manipulation, dispensing, and/or sorting of particles, such as cells and/or beads.

The invention provides methods of preparation of lipoproteins from a biological sample, including HDL, LDL, Lp(a), IDL, and VLDL, for diagnostic purposes utilizing differential charged particle mobility analysis methods. Further provided are methods for analyzing the size distribution of lipoproteins by differential charged particle mobility, which lipoproteins are prepared by methods of the invention. Further provided are methods for assessing lipid-related health risk, cardiovascular condition, risk of cardiovascular disease, and responsiveness to a therapeutic intervention, which methods utilize lipoprotein size distributions determined by methods of the invention.

A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

An automated system is provided for performing slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a slide tray holding a plurality of slides in a substantially horizontal position and a workstation that receives the slide tray. In a particular embodiment, a workstation delivers a reagent to slide surfaces without substantial transfer of reagent (and reagent borne contaminants such as dislodged cells) from one slide to another. A method for automated processing of slides also is provided.

A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

A device for collecting, transferring and/or conserving samples of biological material, comprising at least: a support body having at least a housing seating for a conserving element for samples, the housing seating being configured for enabling removably housing the conserving element for samples of biological material, the support body being configured for maintaining at least a conserving portion of the conserving element accessible for depositing a sample when the conserving element is housed in the housing seating; an operating portion, movable between a first closed position in which it is arranged in proximity of said housing seating and at least an open position in which it is arranged in a distanced position from the housing seating; and engaging portion configured for selectively and removably engaging a sampling element for samples, in particular an element for buccal sampling, to the support body and/or to the operating portion.

A container for selective transport of samples of biological material or of biological origin comprising a body (2) having at least a compartment (3) suitable for containing at least a fluid or liquid and/or for containing at least a portion (16a) of a collecting device (16) for biological samples, said body (2) comprising at least an access opening (4) to the compartment (3) and at least a containing wall (5) provided with at least a selective passage portion (6) configured such as to prevent exit of a fluid or liquid from the container (1), through the passage portion (6), at least in at least an operating sealed condition characterised at least by a rest state of the container (1) or by a first value of mechanical shaking of the container (1) and/or by a first value of relative centrifugal force to which the container (1) is subjected for a first interval of a predetermined time, and configured such as selectively to enable exit of the fluid or liquid from the container (1), across the passage portion (6), at least in an operating passage condition, characterised at least by a corresponding second state of mechanical shaking of the container (1) and/or wherein the container (1) is subjected to a corresponding second relative centrifugal force, for a second predetermined time interval.

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. The reaction conditions for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.

A receptacle comprises opposed members, a plurality of chambers having perimeter walls defined by seals formed between the opposed members and portals interconnecting the chambers, and a rigid frame supporting the opposed members at their peripheral edges. The frame comprises a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, and the peripheral edges of the opposed members are retained between the front and rear frame portions. An inlet port extends between the front and rear frame portions and is in fluid communication with one of the chambers.

A method of processing a sample in a receptacle comprising a plurality of chambers. Each of the chambers is connected to at least one other chamber by a portal and at least a first one of the chambers is formed of a flexible material. The method includes the steps of causing gas bubbles contained in the first chamber to accumulate in a portion of the first chamber, applying a compressive external force to the first chamber to cause some or all of the liquid contents of the first chamber to flow into an interconnected second chamber through a portal connecting the first and second chambers; and preventing the gas bubbles accumulated in a portion of the first chamber from flowing through the portal into the second chamber