Provided herein are an optical test platform and corresponding method of manufacturing the same. The test platform may include a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture of the shell may each be configured to optically couple the cavity with an exterior of the shell. The test platform may further include a first window and a second window embedded in the shell. The first window may seal a first aperture and the second window may seal a second aperture. The first window and second window may each permit the optical coupling of the cavity with the exterior of the shell. The first window and the second window may be optically coupled via the cavity, and the shell may prohibit optical coupling between the first window and the second window through the shell.

A biosensor includes: a base plate; an electrode layer located on a major surface of the base plate and including a first electrode pair; a spacer plate provided on the electrode layer, the spacer plate having a first opening and at least one partition located in the first opening and connected with a periphery of the first opening at one end so as to divide part of the first opening into two or more portions; a first reagent layer provided in each of the two or more portions of the first opening; and a cover plate having an entrance section including at least one entrance opening and provided on the spacer plate, the entrance section overlapping at least part of the first opening, wherein part of the first electrode pair is located in the two or more portions of the first opening of the spacer plate.

Individual biological cells can be selected in a micro-fluidic device and moved into isolation pens in the device. The cells can then be lysed in the pens, releasing nucleic acid material, which can be captured by one or more capture objects in the pens. The capture objects with the captured nucleic acid material can then be removed from the pens. The capture objects can include unique identifiers, allowing each capture object to be correlated to the individual cell from which the nucleic acid material captured by the object originated.

A processing system includes a processing unit configured to process a cartridge, in particular a microfluidic cartridge, and is further configured to process a biological sample received in the cartridge. The processing unit includes a computing unit configured to compare input or read in sample data with input or read in first cartridge data in order to determine a compatibility of the sample with the cartridge. The computing unit is further configured to output a first error message in response to a determination of incompatibility between the sample and the cartridge. A method includes using the processing system to determine a compatibility between a sample and a cartridge.

A pierceable self-resealing stopper for a container is disclosed. The disclosed stopper is suitable for sealing a container containing reagents for use in a high-throughput analysis system in which reagents in the container are accessed by an aspirator probe piercing the stopper. The stopper is configured for being pierced and resealing itself a large number of times without degradation of the stopper by coring or fragmentation, for example. A set of protrusions extending from a top surface of the stopper is depressed to stretch a thin diaphragm area between the protrusions prior to and during insertion of the probe. After extraction of the probe, the protrusions are allowed to return to a relaxed state, which discontinues stretching of the diaphragm area and reseals the container.

The present disclosure discloses an electronic cooling anti-condensation system, and an anti-condensation method for the same. The system comprises a testing chamber, electronic cooling plates, temperature sensors, a temperature and humidity sensor, a cooling plate control unit, and a main controller. The main controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensors, the temperature and humidity sensor, and the cooling plate control unit. The main controller is capable of calculating a dew point value of the air in the testing chamber according to a temperature value and a humidity value of the interior the testing chamber acquired by the temperature and humidity sensor, and if the dew point value of the air is greater than a pre-determined threshold, the main controller controls the cooling plate control unit to reduce the number of operating electronic cooling plates or output powers of the electronic cooling plates, wherein the pre-determined threshold is a temperature T1° C. of the electronic cooing plate or a temperature T1+n° C. of the electronic cooling plate acquired by the temperature sensor, and n≤is less than or equal to 10. The present disclosure achieves real-time control of operation states of the electronic cooling plates, thereby realizing redundant control of the cooling plates, and preventing the cooling plates from causing condensation in the chamber body, so as to achieve continuous operation when a failure occurs.

A microchip controlling system comprises a microchip which is configured by adhesion of an elastic sheet and a plate/sheet member, and on which a flow path is provided as an inadhesive section between the elastic sheet and the plate/sheet member; and a microchip controlling apparatus comprising a valve mechanism which is inflated or deflated so as to control the flow path to be opened or closed.

A pipette tip extension attachable to a pipette tip with the pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall having an outer side and inner side and forming at the proximal end a reception aperture for inserting a pipette tip, and at a distal end a dispense aperture. An inner cavity is enclosed by the inner side of the exterior wall and one or more distance elements connected to the inner side of the exterior wall. The distance element(s) being configured to position a pipette tip within the inner cavity and to establish fluid uptake area adjacent the inner side of the exterior wall with the fluid uptake area extending from the dispense aperture towards the reception aperture and being in fluid connection with the surrounding atmosphere at the reception aperture.

An automated laboratory system includes a storage system including a frame and a platform slidably mounted to the frame such that the platform is slidable relative to the frame between a docked position and an undocked position, the platform being configured to carry an instrument. The system also includes a robotic device proximate the storage system and being configured to access the instrument carried by the platform. Another automated laboratory system includes a storage system including a table and a tabletop having a central axis and being rotatably positioned on the table such that the tabletop is rotatable about the central axis between a docked position and an undocked position, the tabletop being configured to carry an instrument. The system also includes a robotic device proximate the storage system and being configured to access the instrument carried by the tabletop.

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.