The present invention provides a microfluidic system, method and kit for performing assays. The system may comprise a microfluidic device and a detector, wherein the assay yields results that may be read by a detector and analyzed by the system. The assay may comprise one or more chemical or biological reaction against, or performed on, a sample or multiple samples. The sample(s) may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The sample(s) may be present within a vehicle, or on a carrier within a vehicle, in the microfluidic device, and wherein the vehicle may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The assay may be a cascading assay comprising a series of multiple assays, wherein each assay may be the same or different, and wherein each assay in the series of multiple assays may further comprise one or more process or step.

A thermocycling device and method of operating a thermocycler instrument, the instrument including a sample holder, at least one thermal cycling element, and at least one first and second temperature sensors, for causing the sample holder containing the at least one sample to undergo polymerase chain reaction amplification by repeated cycling between at least a denaturation heating stage and an annealing cooling stage. The first temperature corresponding with the temperature of the sample holder is monitored using the at least one first temperature sensor, and a second temperature corresponding with the temperature external of the sample holder is monitored using the at least one second temperature sensor. Based upon the first temperature and the second temperature, the power that is delivered to the at least one thermal cycling element of the instrument is dynamically controlled.

A pipette comprises a pipette housing comprising an upper end and a lower end, a nipple configured to contact and retain a pipette tip, a drive apparatus configured to aspirate a liquid specimen into the pipette tip and expel the liquid specimen from the pipette tip, and an ejection apparatus. The ejection apparatus comprises a curved support rotatably mounted within the pipette housing, an ejection rod, a first sensing element positioned on the ejection rod and configured to be guided on a first curve on a perimeter of the curved support, and an operating element coupled to the curved support and configured to rotate relative to the pipette housing. The ejection apparatus is configured to rotate the curved support out of a start position by rotating the operating element. The first curve displaces the first sensing element downward a the ejection rod moves the pipette tip off of the nipple.

A nucleic acid analysis apparatus includes a casing, a main frame, a fluid delivery unit, a thermal unit, a driving unit, and at least one optical unit. The casing has an upper casing and a lower casing. The main frame is disposed in the lower casing and has a chamber for mounting a cartridge therein. The fluid delivery unit is adapted to transport reagents within the cartridge for sample purification and/or nucleic acid extraction. The thermal unit is adapted to provide a predefined temperature for nucleic acid amplification. The driving unit is disposed in the lower casing and connected with the main frame, and includes a motion control unit capable of pressing the cartridge during sample purification and/or nucleic acid extraction and rotating the cartridge with a predefined program during nucleic acid amplification and/or detection. The optical unit includes plural optical components for detection.

A cassette for arranging and loading reagent containers into a staining apparatus includes a housing with a base and walls upstanding from the base to define a plurality of compartments. Each compartment is configured for receiving a reagent container. The housing includes two portions, pivotably coupled together at respective first ends thereof, and configured to pivot between an open configuration and a closed configuration. Each portion of the housing in the closed configuration is received within a corresponding one of an adjacent pair of channels located within the staining apparatus when the cassette is loaded therewithin.

Lysis devices, methods, and systems are disclosed including a lysis device comprising a sample vessel having an outer surface, a microchannel within the confines of the outer surface, a first port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel, and a second port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel; and an acoustic transducer bonded to the outer surface of the sample vessel to form a monolithic structure, the acoustic transducer configured to emit ultrasonic acoustic waves into and/or to induce shear forces into a blood sample within the microchannel, thereby rupturing the blood cells.

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.

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

A device for analyzing a liquid sample. The device includes an inlet for receiving the sample, a reaction chamber, an analysis module, and at least one pump for moving fluid within the one or more flow paths. The device includes one or more flow paths arranged so as to provide a fluid flow path between the inlet and the reaction chamber, and a fluid flow path between the reaction chamber and the analysis module. The device may be used for analyzing a liquid sample, such as, but not limited to nipple aspirate fluid (NAF).

This disclosure is directed to a device and a system for aspirating and dispensing a target analyte, target material, or fluid. A picker may aspirate and dispense the desired material by introducing a pressure gradient. The picker may include a hydraulic fluid to hydraulically couple at least two components, such as a moveable pump component and a cannula.