An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

An automatic cell isolation and collection system for sorting out target cells from a sample includes a crush module, a centrifuge module, a transport module, and a control unit. The centrifuge module includes centrifuge tubes and a magnetic mechanism providing a magnetically attractive force to at least one of the centrifuge tubes. The control unit electrically communicates with the crush module, the centrifuge module, and the transport module, and controls operation of the crush module, transport of the sample via the transport module after the sample is crushed by the crush module, centrifugation of the centrifuge module, and operation of the magnetic mechanism for providing the magnetically attractive force.

Automated isothermal titration micro calorimetry (ITC) system comprising a micro calorimeter with a sample cell and a reference cell, the sample cell is accessible via a sample cell stem and the reference cell is accessible via a reference cell stem. The system further comprises an automatic pipette assembly comprising a syringe with a titration needle arranged to be inserted into the sample cell for supplying titrant, the pipette assembly comprises an activator for driving a plunger in the syringe, a pipette translation unit supporting the pipette assembly and being arranged to place pipette in position for titration, washing and filling operations, a wash station for the titrant needle, and a cell preparation unit arranged to perform operations for replacing the sample liquid in the sample cell when the pipette is placed in another position than the position for titration.

A carrier plate, which is used within an electrophoresis process, and to a holding device tailored to the carrier plate, the carrier plate having a region with a magnetic property and a positioning device. The magnetic property is designed to fix the carrier plate in the laboratory device. The positioning device is designed to guarantee a position of the carrier plate in the laboratory device.

A laboratory instrument comprising a single base plate is presented. The single base plate comprises at least one embedded consumable compartment, an embedded sample processing compartment, an embedded waste compartment, an embedded activation device compartment, an embedded rack receiving compartment, or a combination thereof. A laboratory system and a method adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory instrument or laboratory system are also disclosed.

The present invention defines a positioning assembly including a base part (110) and a holder part (120) for holding a device, whereby the assembly further includes a motor (160) for driving a displacement mechanism (150) mounted to the base part. The base part and the holder part are arranged parallel to each other and are connected via a displaceable slide link (140), which is configured to slide on a first guide rail (111) provided on the base part and on a second guide rail (122) provided on the holder part, whereby each guide rail extends in longitudinal direction (z). The slide link (140) is coupled to the displacement mechanism (150), which causes displacement of the slide link relative to the base part in longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the holder part (120) is moveably coupled to the base part (110) via a coupling arrangement which has a first element (115) provided on the base part, a second element (125) provided on the holder part and a third element provided on the slide link (140). The first, second and third elements of the coupling arrangement are configured to engage with each other such that linear displacement of the slide link (140) relative to the base part (110) in one direction causes linear displacement of the holder part (120) relative to the slide link in the same linear direction.

A robotic arm of an automated pipetting system has a pipetting tip adapter and a slide switch to detect the presence of pipetting tips on the pipetting tip adapter is disclosed. The slide switch has first support member and second support member configured to slide relative to one another between first and second positions along a movement axis, an electrically conducting contact pad arranged on the first support member, an electrically conducting terminal physically attached to second support member in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in first position, where the terminal is a first resilient wiping member expanding along the movement axis, first wiping member is not in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in second position, and an electric current can flow between first wiping member and the contact pad when support members are in first position.

A nest and tub arrangement for the storage of medical device components including a tub having a plurality of guide elements extending from at least one surface of the tub and into the interior of the tub, and at least one nest having a plurality of receptacles for the storage of a plurality of medical device components therein. The at least one nest is sized and configured for placement within the tub such that the plurality of guide elements align and removably retain the at least one nest within the tub.

The invention relates to an adapter for mounting a conductive pipette, a sample tube opening/closing device, and an automatic sample analysis system and, more specifically, to an adapter for mounting a conductive pipette, a sample tube opening/closing device, and an automatic sample analysis system, in which dispensing of a liquid sample and extraction, amplification and testing of nucleic acids are integrally carried out. The sample tube opening/closing device includes: a housing that forms an inner space isolated from the outside and includes a door for carrying in/out a multi-well plate for biological samples, including a plurality of sample tubes in which biological samples are accommodated; and a sample tube opening/closing part that is installed in the inner space to be spaced apart from the multi-well plate for biological samples and automatically opens and closes the sample tubes.

A bucket insert for use in a centrifuge is disclosed. The bucket insert comprises an insert body, the insert body comprising a plurality of elongated receptacles for receiving elongated sample vessels. The bucket insert is configured for orienting the elongated sample vessels in a tilted orientation. In the tilted orientation, at least some of the elongated sample vessels are oriented in a non-parallel fashion.