A sample container carrier, a laboratory sample distribution system comprising such a sample container carrier and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are presented.

A gripping device includes a body defining a constraint opening. A gripping member is engaged to the body and is configured to grasp a container. The gripping member includes deformable gripping elements arranged in correspondence of the constraint opening and configured to embrace, when the gripping device is in use, a respective portion of the container. The gripping elements are configured to form an inner gripping space. The gripping member is configured to operate at least between a rest configuration and a gripping configuration wherein the deformable gripping elements are deformed and retain, when the gripping device is in use and in correspondence of the inner gripping space, a container.

An analysis device for a detection chip, a method for operating an analysis device, and an analysis system are provided. The analysis device includes a base and a control module. The control module includes a positioning sub-module, an operation sub-module, and a detection sub-module. The positioning sub-module includes an accommodating structure, and the accommodating structure is configured to accommodate the detection chip. The operation sub-module includes at least one operation part, and the at least one operation part is configured to perform a contact mechanical operation. The detection sub-module is configured to perform a detection operation.

The present disclosure is, in one aspect, directed to a locking assembly for securing a sample tube assembly to a sample manifold of a measurement system. The locking assembly includes a ramp block having one or more slots defined therein and configured to at least partially receive a portion of the sample tube assembly. The ramp block also includes a plurality of surface features defined therealong and configured to engage and move the sample tube assembly toward and into engagement with the sample manifold. The ramp block further is movable between a plurality of positions including an open position for allowing the sample tube assembly to be received through the one or more slots or openings, and a closed position substantially sealing the sample tube assembly against or within the sample manifold. Other aspects also are described.

A media sample holder includes a base and a plurality of retention assemblies including retaining tabs and opposing flexible release lever arms, configured to allow attachment of the base to an attachment adapter. The media sample holder can attach a media sample on or near a filter. The media sample holder held in the media sample holder can have a different removal efficiency curve than a removal efficiency curve of the filter. The media sample can be placed at or near the filter for a period of time, them tested to determine the status and/or life of the filter based on the relationship between the remaining life, exposure, or removal efficiency of the filter and the exposure or removal efficiency of the tested media sample.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to microfluidic devices that allow for scalable on-chip screening of combinatorial libraries and methods of use thereof. Droplets comprising individual molecular species to be screened are loaded onto the microfluidic device. The droplets are labeled by methods known in the art, including but not limited to barcoding, such that the molecular species in each droplet can be uniquely identified. The device randomly sorts the droplets into individual microwells of an array of microwells designed to hold a certain number of individual droplets in order to derive combinations of the various molecular species. The paired droplets are then merged in parallel to form merged droplets in each microwell, thereby avoiding issues associated with single stream merging. Each microwell is then scanned, e.g., using microscopy, such as high content imaging microscopy, to detect the optical labels, thereby identifying the combination of molecular species in each microwell.

A sorbent tube holder (100) for securing a sorbent tube (10) in position in a fluid-flow system, the sorbent tube holder (100) comprising: an mounting element (126) having first and second opposed ends (126a, 126b) which define a tube mounting axis (A-A); at least one fastener (128) in communication with the mounting element (126) for providing a releasable tube retaining force; at least one sorbent tube (10) engaged with the mounting element (126); and a holder frame (130) to which the mounting element (126) is attached to prevent or limit movement of the mounting element (126) perpendicular to the tube mounting axis. A method of preventing or limiting unintentional damage to a sorbent tube, and a portable tube holder are also provided.

The present invention provides an apparatus for conducting an assay in a microfluidic system comprising magnetic beads, said apparatus comprising: a platform upon which a microfluidic system can be mounted, one or more actuators having a magnet, configured to directly influence movement of magnetic beads housed within a microfluidic system when a microfluidic system is mounted on said platform, and a control means configured to control relative movement of the one or more magnets, and a microfluidic system when mounted, to enable the magnet to trace a desired path across a mounted microfluidic system, said magnet being positionable at any x- and y-coordinates of a mounted microfluidic system, wherein said apparatus further comprises: a) at least one rotary actuator configured to enable magnet movement in an x-axis, and/or b) a means for moving a mounted microfluidic system in a stepwise fashion.

An apparatus for moving a sample holder 110 on a platform 652 from a loading position, where the sample holder 110 can be removed from the platform 652, to a locked position, where the sample holder 110 is securely held, wherein the sample holder 110 rests on wheels 690a within a recessed portion 651 on the platform 652, wherein the apparatus is configured such that movement from the loading position to the locked position causes a vertical clamping means 653 to lower down on top of the sample holder 110, and a horizontal clamping 657 means to be pressed to the outer periphery of the sample holder 110, and such that that movement from the locked position to the loading position causes the vertical clamping means 653 to raise above the sample holder 110, and the horizontal clamping means 657 to be moved away from the outer periphery of the sample holder 110.

The invention provides a high-throughput screening system based on multi-manipulators, and belongs to the field of biotechnology and detection equipment. A high-throughput screening system based on multi-manipulators, comprises of the first manipulator, sampler, pipette, plate washer, microplate reader, the second manipulator, centrifuge, deep-well plate library, waste shallow-well plate barrel, shallow-well plate library, waste needle plate barrel, needle library, waste deep-well plate barrel, collection box. The present invention is a combination of microbiology and mechanics. The aim of the invention is to realize the automation and intelligentization of the high throughput screening experiment, effectively improve the experimental accuracy, reliability and efficiency. It contributes to the development of high throughput screening technology for microorganisms and drugs.