A pipette with an adjustable dosing increment, wherein a control apparatus determines a dosing volume by a set dosing increment when a syringe is inserted in the pipette, and determines a maximum possible number of dosing steps following an execution of a reverse stroke without refilling the syringe given the set dosing increment and completely or partially filled syringe by the position of a displacement means on the path, and displays the maximum number of dosing steps on a display apparatus until the reverse stroke is executed. The control apparatus also determines the number of executed dosing steps and displays the number of executed dosing steps and/or the number of dosing steps still possible without refilling the syringe on the display apparatus.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.

A pipetting device for outputting amounts of a dosing fluid of less than 1 μl including a fluid volume; a pipetting plunger that can be moved along a plunger path, wherein a displacement of the pipetting plunger brings about a first pressure change in the fluid volume; a movement drive which is force-transmittingly connected to the pipetting plunger in order to drive the pipetting plunger such that it moves along the plunger path; a sound source which is designed to generate at least one sound impulse as a second pressure change in the fluid volume; and a control device which is designed to control the movement drive and the sound source, the pipetting device having a pipetting channel which extends along a channel axis and in which both the pipetting plunger is moveably accommodated along the channel axis as the plunger path and the fluid volume is accommodated, wherein the fluid volume includes a working gas which wets a plunger surface of the pipetting plunger, wherein, in addition, the sound source is designed and arranged to generate the at least one sound impulse in the working gas.

A dispenser for receiving and dispensing volumes of fluid, on which a piston/cylinder unit having a piston and a cylinder, can be fitted in a releasable manner by means of a movement running at least substantially in an axial direction of the dispenser. The dispenser has a piston actuator for moving the piston relative to the cylinder. The piston actuator is arranged in a movable manner in the dispenser and is driven by means of a drive. The dispenser has a locking element which is arranged in a movable manner in the dispenser and is driven by a further drive. Also disclosed is a system for receiving and dispensing volumes of fluid, to a method for fitting a piston/cylinder unit in a releasable manner on a dispenser, and to a method for releasing a piston/cylinder unit which has been fitted on a dispenser.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides dual-depth thermoplastic microfluidic devices, related kits, microfluidic systems comprising the dual-depth thermoplastic microfluidic device, methods of isolating nucleic acid analytes from a liquid sample, and methods of isolating extracellular vesicles from a liquid sample.

An example device includes a droplet ejector including a nozzle to eject droplets of a fluid and a target medium to receive the droplets of the fluid. The target medium is separated from the droplet ejector by a gap to be traversed by the droplets. The example device further includes a frame affixing the target medium to the droplet ejector. The target medium is immovably held with respect to the droplet ejector.

A droplet discharge device for discharging a droplet into one or more droplet storage parts of a storage vessel; the droplet discharge device including: a droplet discharge part configured to discharge the droplet in a predetermined amount from a nozzle hole of the droplet discharge part; a storage vessel holding part configured to hold the storage vessel; a mover part configured to move the droplet discharge part relative to the storage vessel that is held by the storage vessel holding part; and a detecting part configured to detect a shape of a surface of the storage vessel that is held by the storage vessel holding part.

An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.

An apparatus for washing an array plate includes one or more dispensers and one or more aspirators that are distinct from the one or more dispensers. A respective dispenser of the one or more dispensers is configured to dispense a first liquid on the array plate, and a respective aspirator of the one or more aspirators is configured to aspirate liquid on the array plate. A method for washing particles is also disclosed.