Herein, systems and methods are disclosed including a sample acquisition component (SAC) for user-friendly sample collection, a separation component for optional separation of plasma, and one or more stabilization components for stabilizing analytes. In a particular embodiment, the system and methods are directed towards sample collection and stabilization with optional sample separation. Other embodiments can perform any combination of collection, separation, stabilization or detection.

Methods and apparatus provide filtration for concentrating analytes, such as bacteria or exosomes, of a biological sample, such as blood or urine. The technology may employ membrane devices that implement one or more tangential flow filtration processes such as in stages. An example membrane device may typically include a membrane having sides and ends. The membrane may selectively permit constituent(s) of the sample to pass through while retaining other constituents at one side. An input chamber of the device may include an inlet near one end and an outlet near the other end, and that may permit a tangential flow of the sample along the first side surface, and a trans-membrane passing of constituent(s). An output chamber of the device may be configured at the second side surface to receive the passing constituents. Such devices may be provided in a kit to facilitate targeting of a desired biological analyte concentration.

A reverse osmosis filtering module includes: a purified water discharge pipe in which a purified water discharge path is formed, and which has a communication hole that is formed on an outer periphery thereof and communicates with the purified water discharge path; a reverse osmosis filtering part including a reverse osmosis filtering member in which a purified water flow space is formed, and which is wound around the purified water discharge pipe such that the purified water flow space communicates with the communication hole; a first flow channel formation cap provided at one side and having an inlet hole; and a second flow channel formation cap provided at the other side of the reverse osmosis filtering part and having an outlet hole.

A device including a housing, a zone and a means for testing a fluid sample within the housing is disclosed. The housing is constructed of a fluid impermeable material, and defines a first fluid port, and a second fluid port. The first fluid port is configured to connect to a fluid collection device to receive a fluid sample from the fluid collection device into the housing. The second port is configured to pass the fluid sample from the housing into a testing instrument. The zone is formed in the housing. The zone is constructed of a material that allows an analysis of the fluid sample positioned within the housing, and located adjacent to the zone.

A membrane filter apparatus for splitting a feed into filtrate and retentate is provided. The apparatus comprises a body chamber, a feed inlet disposed on the body chamber, a retentate outlet located in the body chamber, a feed distribution tube connected to the feed inlet, and a filter assembly having a filter. The feed distribution tube has a length sufficient to cause the feed to enter the body chamber at a feed distance from the filter assembly of no greater than 50% of a total length of the body chamber. The feed flows across the filter in a direction parallel to a surface of the filter assembly. The filtrate passes through the filter assembly and the retentate flows through the body chamber in a direction antiparallel to the feed flow through the feed distribution tube and out through the retentate outlet.

Nanofiltration of aqueous solutions or other water-based fluids in various applications, such as desalination, dialysis, seawater purification, for example, may be enhanced through precisely controlling a filtration cutoff within graphene oxide nanofilters. By initially compressing and constraining the stacked thickness of multiple graphene oxide layers deposited between porous substrates, the interlayer gap size, and thus, the filtration cutoff may be adjusted and optimized.

The present invention relates to a filter apparatus (1) for use in an automated system (100) for the preparation of a fluid sample for a chemical or composition analysis. The filter apparatus (1) comprises an inlet portion (2) with a conduit (3) ending in an entry port (4) for receiving the sample in an unfiltered state; a septum (5) held at and closing the entry port (4) of the conduit (3) of the inlet portion (2); an outlet portion (6) with a channel (7) for dispensing the filtered sample to a receptacle (70); and an intermediate portion (8) having a filter chamber (9) in fluid connection with the conduit (3) of the inlet portion (2) and with the channel (7) of the outlet portion (6) and a filter layer (10). The filter chamber (9) of the intermediate portion (8) has a diameter larger than a diameter of the conduit (3) of the inlet portion (2) and than a diameter of the channel (7) of the outlet portion (6). The filter layer (10) extends through the filter chamber (9) such that the conduit (3) of the inlet portion (2) is separated from the channel (7) of the outlet portion (6) by the filter layer (10). The present invention also deals with an automated system (100) for the preparation of a sample for a chemical or composition analysis and with a correlated method of preparing such a sample. The automated system (100) comprises an injection head (50) for the injection of an amount of sample in a receptacle (70) and a filter apparatus (1) as above introduced. The injection head (50) is equipped with a needle (51) adapted to be affixed to the filter apparatus (1) by piercing a septum (5) of the filter apparatus (1).

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame with a membrane support structure having first and second membrane support plates that are free from perforations and that include a plurality of microgrooves configured to provide flow channels for at least part of the permeate stream. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a return conduit fluidly connecting a buffer tank and a reformate conduit, a return valve assembly configured to manage flow in the return conduit, and a control assembly configured to operate a fuel processing assembly between run and standby modes based, at least in part, on detected pressure in the buffer tank and configured to direct the return valve assembly to allow product hydrogen stream to flow from the buffer tank to the reformate conduit when the fuel processing assembly is in the standby mode.

A funnel-less filtration device that attaches directly to a storage container such as a cell culture media bottle. The device includes a filter collar containing one or more membranes, an inlet with a coupling device for attaching the filter device to a supply of liquid to be filtered, an outlet at a lower portion of the collar, a vacuum port in the collar below the membrane(s) and a filtered vent in the collar above the membrane(s). Optionally, the device may include a filtrate reservoir attached to the outlet, preferably by a threaded connection. Optionally, the upper opening to the filter collar is selectively and removably sealed with a lid until used. The lid is then removed the filter device inverted over a storage container such as cell culture media bottle and the two are attached via the upper opening of the filter collar. The assembly is then inverted so the supply container is above the filter device. Upon subjecting the sample in the bottle to a driving force such as vacuum, the sample flows through the filtration element, and into a filtrate reservoir below the outlet of the filter collar.

The invention relates to a heating device for a rack of a diagnose robot comprising: -a polygonal, oval or cylindrical ring (221) defining a polygonal, oval or cylindrical closed wall, having a bottom opening (222) and a top opening (223) -wherein the bottom opening matches the size and form of a filter membrane and/or supporting body (2, 3) of a carrier (1) of a filtration assembly; and -one or more heating elements (224) selected from -a heating element which is integrated into the ring, -a heating element which is arranged on the outer and/or inner surface of the wall defining the ring, and -a heating element arranged in or on a lid, wherein the lid matches the size and form of the opening of the ring.