A sample holder (10) comprises a sample chamber (33), a gas reservoir (32) and an upper layer (20) covering over the sample chamber (33) and gas reservoir (32), wherein a bottom surface of the upper layer (20) comprises a microstructure array (23) which overlies at least a portion of a top periphery of the sample chamber (33), and wherein the microstructure array (23) is in communication with a gas path which extends to the gas reservoir (32), to allow gas exchange between the sample chamber (33) and the gas reservoir (32).

A cell capture, disruption, and extraction method includes a introducing a plurality of abrasives in a disruption chamber, which can include diamond powder, variably and multi dimensionally disbursed therein, and a pestle positioned in the disruption chamber. The method includes agitating the abrasives by moving the disruption chamber and/or pestle, agitation of the abrasives tearing cell structure in the solution to access its contents. A binding column or size exclusion column can be positioned downstream of the disruption chamber. Cell solution can first be introduced in the disruption chamber, the abrasives capturing the cells and allowing therethrough and purging the waste content, then breaking the cell content. The lysate can then bind to an extraction matrix downstream of the disruption chamber or it can be mixed in with the abrasives.

The present invention relates to a sampling housing and to a modular controller formed by this sampling housing when it is connected to a control station. This housing comprises a device supporting an assembly (3) consisting of a well plate (4), of a cap adapter (5) comprising as many orifices as there are wells and arranged on said well plate (4), and of caps (6), each cap (6) cooperating with a single well of the plate (4). The invention is applicable in the field of analyzing biological samples.

Disclosed herein are devices, apparatus, systems, methods and kits for collecting and storing a fluid sample from a subject. A device for collecting the fluid sample can include a housing comprising a recess having an opening, a vacuum chamber in the housing and in fluidic communication with the recess, and one or more piercing elements that are extendable through the opening to penetrate skin of the subject. The vacuum chamber can be configured for having a vacuum that draws the skin into the recess. The recess can be configured having a size or shape that enables an increased volume of the fluid sample to be accumulated in the skin drawn into the recess.

A housing for a laboratory appliance with a floor, ceiling, rear wall, side walls and front wall, which together enclose a work space. The front wall is movable between closed position and open positions. A work area in which liquids can be handled is provided in the work space. A filter device for ambient air is connected to the work space via at least one air outlet. At least one air inlet is connected to the environment, and a fan and an air filter are located downstream from the air inlet and upstream from the air outlet. An outflow opening is also located on the housing. The at least one air outlet and the at least one outflow opening are arranged on the housing such that, during operation of the filter device, the filter air stream flows substantially parallel to and along the work area.

A cell-trapping device includes a microchannel portion for trapping a plurality of cells with an average diameter of at most 25 μm for high-throughput microinjection of an injectant into the cells. The cell-trapping device includes a microchannel portion having formed therein a cell-trapping area including a plurality of cell-trapping microchannels configured to trap one cell per cell-trapping channel. A method for preparing the cell-trapping device and an apparatus for high-throughput microinjection is also provided. Further provided is a method for injecting an injectant into a plurality of cells. The cell-trapping device, apparatus, and method allow for a rapid and highly reproducible microinjection into small cells with high productivity, high accuracy and a good cell survival rate.

Modular active surface devices for micro fluidic systems and methods of making same is disclosed. In one example, the modular active surface device includes an active surface layer mounted atop an active surface substrate, a mask mounted atop the active surface layer wherein the mask defines the area, height, and volume of the reaction chamber, and a substrate mounted atop the mask wherein the substrate provides the facing surface to the active surface layer. In other examples, both facing surfaces of the reaction chamber include active surface layers. Further, the modular active surface device can include other layers, such as, but not limited to, adhesive layers, stiffening layers for facilitating handling, and peel-off sealing layers. Further, a large-scale manufacturing method is provided of mass-producing the modular active surface devices. Further, a method is provided of using a plasma bonding process to bond the active surface layer to the active surface substrate.

An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank; an ultrasonic transducer; a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction; and an air layer or a metallic member that is provided in an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction under the cleaning tank, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly in a vibration mode accompanied by a deformation in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical hole and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction in a bottom portion of the cleaning tank is formed of a material mainly including resin.

Methods of increasing the capture efficiency of a microfluidic device for a target reagent, without additional complications to the design of existing microfluidic devices, and more particularly methods of increasing the capture efficiency of a microfluidic device for magnetic microbeads within a microfluidic channel using sequentially switched electroosmotic flows.

A sulfur chemiluminescence detector 200 includes: a heating furnace including a gas passage having first and second supply ports, and a heater configured to heat the gas passage; an oxidation-reduction gas supply unit configured to supply, to the gas passage, an oxidizing-agent gas through the first supply port and a reducing-agent gas through the second supply port; a reaction cell configured to make a sample gas that has passed through the gas passage react with ozone; an ozone supply unit configured to supply the ozone into the reaction cell; a vacuum pump connected to the reaction cell; a photodetector configured to detect light generated inside the reaction cell; a signal receiving unit configured to receive a shutdown signal; and a shutdown functioning unit configured to control each unit to automatically stop supplying the reducing-agent gas and the oxidizing-agent gas by the oxidation-reduction gas supply unit, heating the gas passage by the heater, supplying the ozone by the ozone supply unit, and evacuating by the vacuum pump, upon the shutdown signal being received by the signal receiving unit.