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

Disclosed is a station, for testing an analyte in a sample, enabling accurate and quick reaction and analysis of the sample and a reagent in one apparatus. To this end, the present disclosure provides a station, which is for testing a sample by means of inserting a cuvette, having a standby chamber on which a collecting member is placed, a sample chamber, a reagent chamber and a detection unit. The station comprises: a housing which has an input/output part into which a cuvette is inserted; a driving unit which is provided inside the housing, horizontally moves the cuvette, vertically moves a collecting member, reacts a sample in a sample chamber and a reagent in a reagent chamber, and injects a reaction result thereof into a detection unit; and an optical reader which is provided on the horizontal movement path of the cuvette and is for analyzing the reaction result.

A liquid path system (12), comprising a flow path selection valve (10), a pump assembly (14), and a fluid network (60). The fluid network (60) comprises a reservoir (64), a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a reaction device (62). The first flow channel and the second flow channel are each independently in flow communication with the reservoir (64) and the reaction device (62). The pump assembly (14) is in communication with the flow path selection valve (10). The pump assembly (14) is in communication with the fluid network (60). The flow path selection valve (10) is configured to rotate between a first valve position and a second valve position. In the case that the flow path selection valve (10) is at the first valve position, the pump assembly (14) induces the liquid in the reservoir (64) to flow to the reaction device (62) through the first flow channel, and in the case that the flow path selection valve (10) is at the second valve position, the pump assembly (14) induces the liquid in the reservoir (64) to flow to the reaction device (62) through the second flow channel.

Disclosed are multi-well plate inserts that can be used to separate solid debris, including paper punch containing a blood sample, from a liquid containing target biological molecules, such as nucleic acid molecules and proteins. Also provided are methods of using the insert, for example as part of a method that analyzes target biological molecules.

Embodiments of fluid distribution manifolds, cartridges, and microfluidic systems are described herein. Fluid distribution manifolds may include an insert member and a manifold base and may define a substantially closed channel within the manifold when the insert member is press-fit into the base. Cartridges described herein may allow for simultaneous electrical and fluidic interconnection with an electrical multiplex board and may be held in place using magnetic attraction.

This sample injection device is provided with a plunger drive unit for driving a plunger by a pulse motor, an encoder for detecting an operating position of the pulse motor, and a control unit for adjusting a reference position of the tip end of the plunger with respect to the syringe based on the operating position detected by the encoder when the tip end of the plunger is brought into contact with the end portion in the syringe on the tip end side.

A pierceable cap 11 may be used for containing sample specimens. The pierceable cap 11 may prevent escape of sample specimens before transfer with a transfer device 43. The pierceable cap 11 may fit over a vessel 21. An access port in the shell of the pierceable cap 11 may allow passage of a transfer device 43 through the pierceable cap 11. At least one frangible layer 215, 216 may be configured with cross slits 506 in a particular cross slit geometry. The cross slits 506 may contain an openable portion 644 or be covered by a thin membrane 645. The shell 610 and frangible layer(s) 215, 216 may be integrated into a one piece cap 601, or be separate components 634. The membrane on which the cross slits 506 are placed can be flat or contoured to guide the transfer device 43 to the cross slits 506.

Apparatus for processing life-based organic particles, including particles selected from the list comprising cells, cellular spheroids, tissues, eukaryotes, micro-organisms, organs or embryos, comprises a hollow volume (10) that (a) is internally divided into at least first (14), second (16) and third (17) sub-volumes by at least two phaseguides (12, 13) formed inside the volume and (b) includes parts that are relatively upstream and relatively downstream when judged with reference to the movement of a meniscus or a bulk liquid in the volume (10). The apparatus includes at least first, second and third fluid conduits (19, 21, 22) connected to permit fluid communication between the upstream exterior of the volume (10) and a respective said sub-volume (14, 16, 17); and at least one further conduit (24) connected to permit fluid communication between the downstream exterior of the volume (10) and a said sub-volume. The first sub-volume (14) contains one or more life-based particles supported in or by a gel or gel-like substance; and the second sub-volume (16) communicates with the first sub-volume so as to permit transport of substances between the first and second sub-volumes (14, 16) and contains at least one gel or gel-like substance.

A distillation head of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a vertical tube which extends to and partially through a fraction collector. The vertical tube is mostly filled with a distillation key which is attached to a top side of the fraction collector and extends downwards through the vertical tube without coming into contact with same. A class housing or shell surrounds the vertical tube, which in turn, surrounds the distillation key or, at least a majority of each while the vertical tube extends past an area circumscribed by the shell and the distillation key extends past an area circumscribed by the vertical tube in some embodiments of the disclosed technology.

The present invention provides methods, devices, and kits to improve procedures for reducing carbohydrates, such as glycans released from glycoconjugates, or for labeling carbohydrates by reductive amination.