Provided herein are devices and methods for generating positive and negative pressures. The devices and methods are suited for the generation of pressures; in particular, the pressures generated can be useful for controlling the flow of fluids, such as in fluidic device.

An apparatus suitable for clamping at least one microfluidic device, which includes (i) a fluid-tight chamber having a fluid inlet, the chamber being configured to receive a microfluidic device to be clamped by compression of at least one deformable part of the microfluidic device under the action of a pressure of a clamping fluid in the chamber, and (ii) a perfusion fluid management system configured to adjust the pressure of a perfusion fluid in the microfluidic device in such a way that, during a clamping operation, the pressure of the clamping fluid in the chamber is strictly higher than the pressure of the perfusion fluid in the microfluidic device.

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.

Contemplated herein is an automated microscope slide antigen recovery and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments for individually and independently processing a plurality of individual microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually heatable heating plate. Each slide support element may support a microscope slide. Each microscope slide can be enclosed within an individual pressurizable reaction compartment. Pressures exceeding 1 atm or below 1 atm can be created and maintained in the reaction compartment prior to, during or after heating of the slide begins. Because of the ability to pressurize and regulate pressure within the reaction compartment, and to individually heat each slide, each slide and a liquid solution or reagent thereon can be heated to temperatures that could not be obtained without the enclosed pressurized environment of the reaction compartment. A reagent dispensing strip having a plurality of reconfigurable reagent modules may also be used.

This disclosure is directed to a device and a system for picking a target analyte of a suspension. A picker introduces at least one force, such as by a magnetic gradient and/or by a pressure gradient, to extract the target analyte from a sample.

The present technology provides for a microfluidic substrate configured to carry out PCR on a number of polynucleotide-containing samples in parallel. The substrate can be a single-layer substrate in a microfluidic cartridge. Also provided are a method of making a microfluidic cartridge comprising such a substrate. Still further disclosed are a microfluidic valve suitable for use in isolating a PCR chamber in a microfluidic substrate, and a method of making such a valve.

An instrument system for acid digestion is disclosed. The instrument includes a heating block, a reaction vessel formed of a polymer that is resistant to acid and other chemical attack at temperatures above 150° C. and that has a structure (thickness, etc.) sufficient to withstand pressures above atmospheric, a metal sleeve surrounding the polymeric reaction vessel, and an opening in the block that has a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the metal sleeve.

An automated microscope slide staining system and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments or a pressurizable common chamber for individually and independently processing a plurality of microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually operable heating element.

Provided herein are methods for processing and/or detecting a sample. A method can comprise providing a barrier between a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises the sample, wherein the barrier maintains the first region at a first atmosphere that is different than a second atmosphere of the second region, wherein a portion of the barrier comprises a fluid in coherent motion; and using a detector at least partially contained in the first region to detect one or more signals from the sample while the first region is maintained at the first atmosphere that is different than the second atmosphere of the second region. The portion of the barrier comprising fluid may have a pressure lower than the first atmosphere, the second atmosphere, or both.

A sample concentrating unit and a sample concentrating method are described, which enable fast, precise and reproducible analyte concentration in a sample by evaporation of sample solvent. A specifically directed gas stream in cooperation with a vacuum generated in the sample concentrating unit keeps the sample at boiling point during the entire evaporation procedure while reducing analyte loss and risk of cross-contamination. The fully automated sample concentrating unit is designed to be integrated into an in-vitro diagnostic analyzer.