Provided is a handheld fluid transfer apparatus, more particularly a pipette or repeater pipette, and a laboratory system comprising the handheld fluid transfer apparatus, which comprises: a control apparatus, which comprises a data processor capable to execute a control program for controlling at least one electronically controllable function of the handheld fluid transfer apparatus using input data, a user interface device for receiving a user input, the user interface device comprising a motion sensor device for measuring motion data of the handheld fluid transfer apparatus and for providing at least one motion data sequence, which contains subsequently measured motion data, a motion data memory for storing the at least one motion data sequence, an evaluation device being configured to determine the input data in dependence on the evaluation of the at least one motion data sequence. A method is provided for operating the fluid transfer apparatus or the laboratory system.

Provided herein are devices and methods suitable for sequencing, detecting, amplifying, analyzing, and performing sample preparation procedures for nucleic acids and other molecules. In some cases, the devices and methods provided herein are used for computation.

An automated labware marking system that includes a platform. The platform includes at least one slot for receiving a labware. The labware includes a rack and a plurality of labware containers. The rack further includes a plurality of cavities for receiving the plurality of labware containers. The automated labware marking system includes a marking device for marking the labware. A first sensor detects a marking area on the labware for marking. A second sensor is configured to take information of each labware container before the labware container is marked by the marking device. A manipulator moves at least one labware container from the rack to a labware holding device and places the at least one labware container in a position suitable for marking by the marking device.

Fluidic systems including cartridges with modular components (cassettes) and/or microfluidic channels for performing chemical and/or biological analyses are provided. The systems described herein include a cartridge comprising, in some embodiments, a frame, one or more cassettes which may be inserted into the frame, and a channel system for transporting fluids. In certain embodiments, the one or more cassettes comprise one or more reservoirs or vessels configured to contain and/or receive a fluid (e.g., a stored reagent, a sample). In some cases, the stored reagent may include one or more lyospheres. The systems and methods described herein may be useful for performing chemical and/or biological reactions including polymerase chain reactions (PCR) such as those performed within a laboratory, clinical (e.g., hospital), or research setting.

Devices and related methods for automated processing of nucleic acids are provided herein. In some aspects, the application relates to devices comprising at least two cartridge bays having at least one shared resource which is shared between or among the at least two cartridge bays.

Fluidic systems including cartridges with modular components (cassettes) and/or microfluidic channels for performing chemical and/or biological analyses are provided. The systems described herein include a cartridge comprising, in some embodiments, a frame, one or more cassettes which may be inserted into the frame, and a channel system for transporting fluids. In certain embodiments, the one or more cassettes comprise one or more reservoirs or vessels configured to contain and/or receive a fluid (e.g., a stored reagent, a sample). In some cases, the stored reagent may include one or more lyospheres. The systems and methods described herein may be useful for performing chemical and/or biological reactions including polymerase chain reactions (PCR) such as those performed within a laboratory, clinical (e.g., hospital), or research setting.

Biological analysis system and methods for operating devices of the system are provided. A library preparation device of the biological analysis system may perform a library preparation protocol on a biological sample, where the library preparation protocol is determined based on information from an encoded identifier associated with the biological sample and a resource to be used by the library preparation device. A sequencing device may perform a sequencing process on a library prepared by the library preparation device. Configuration of the sequencing device to perform the process may include receiving sample information generated by the library preparation device and processing the sample information to generate configuration information for the sequencing device. Results from the sequencing process may be analyzed to determine nucleic acid sequences based on the sample information.

A microfluidic processing device includes a substrate defining a microfluidic network. The substrate is in thermal communication with a plurality of N independently controllable components and a plurality of input output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller. Each component has at least two terminals. Each terminal is in electrical communication with at least one contact. The number of contacts required to independently control the N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals. Upon actuation, the components typically heat a portion of the microfluidic network and/or sense a temperature thereof.

A microfluidic system includes a microfluidic cartridge and a detector assembly. The microfluidic cartridge includes a first and second side and at least one flow channel and an inlet to flow channel(s) for feeding a liquid sample, the flow channel(s) includes a plurality of first optical detection sites. The detector assembly includes a slot. The detector assembly and the microfluidic cartridge are constructed such that when the microfluidic cartridge is inserted to a first predetermined position into the slot, one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source, and when the cartridge is inserted to a second predetermined position into the slot, another one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source.

A microfluidic cartridge includes first and second sides and at least one flow channel and an inlet to the flow channel(s) for feeding a liquid sample, the flow channel(s) include a plurality of first optical detection sites. A detector assembly includes a slot for inserting the microfluidic cartridge and a first fixed light source with a beam path and an optical reader for reading out optical signals from at least one of the first optical detection site(s). When the microfluidic cartridge is inserted to a first predetermined position into the slot, one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source, and when the cartridge is inserted to a second predetermined position into the slot, another one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source.