An apparatus and method for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple preparation and assay steps. The apparatus and methods described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of diagnostic assays. The apparatus includes mechanical actuating elements using linear and/or rotational motion.

An apparatus and method for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple preparation and assay steps. The apparatus and methods described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of diagnostic assays. The apparatus includes mechanical actuating elements using linear and/or rotational motion.

A linear reciprocating actuator for mixing, agitating, separation, continuous sampling and/or harvesting or filtration, gas mixing, and various other applications. The actuator may have a housing closed on one end, and attached to a vessel in a hermetically-sealed manner such that it is part of the fluidic envelope of the vessel. An agitation device may be attached to a shaft which is partially surrounded by the housing, or the agitation device may surround the housing where the housing protrudes into the vessel. The actuator enables agitation of the contents of a hermetically-sealed vessel without mechanical coupling from outside the fluidic envelope of the process. The agitation device is solely acted upon by a magnetic field, is contained entirely within the fluidic envelope of the process, and is not attached to the vessel in any way. The magnetic flux which drives the agitation device passes through the housing.

The present invention relates to a particle manipulation method to disperse magnetic particles 70 in a liquid 35 filling up a tube container 10, wherein a circumferential direction moving step to move the magnetic particles 70 along the circumferential direction of the container 10 in the liquid 35 and in a radial direction moving step to move the magnetic particles 70 as crossing the radial direction of the container 10 in the liquid 35 are implemented repeatedly. Such manipulations can be achieved by combining rotation of the container and gravity force and magnetic field manipulations.

The present invention provides methods and devices for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple sample preparation and assay steps. The methods and devices described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of complex diagnostic assays in equipment-free, non-laboratory settings.

A device mixes bone cement and stores parent components of the bone cement. The device has a cartridge comprising an interior, that is closed on one side by a movable delivery plunger, a receptacle comprising side walls for receiving a monomer liquid container that are closed at least in some regions. The receptacle has at least one deformable closed side wall, a screen and/or a filter arranged below the receptacle so that the contents of the opened monomer liquid container flow through the screen and/or the filter. The device further has a connecting line through which the monomer liquid is to be routed into the interior of the cartridge, a hollow cylinder which is connected to the connecting line and which is connected to the receptacle by way of a fluid connection so that the hollow cylinder is arranged in a fluid line between the receptacle and the interior of the cartridge. A pump plunger is arranged in the hollow cylinder, which is axially displaceable in the hollow cylinder, and an opening device, which is movably mounted against the deformable side wall of the receptacle. The opening device extends into the hollow cylinder, wherein, by pressing the pump plunger into the hollow cylinder, the opening device is to be pressed against the deformable side wall of the receptacle so that the deformable side wall deforms such that a monomer liquid container located in the receptacle is to be opened by the pressure of the opening device.

A method for separating glass from a laminate of glass and binder by breaking sheets of laminated glass into pieces; placing the pieces into a chamber with water; and then pressurizing the chamber, whereby the glass separates from binder; and removing the separated glass from the chamber. The separation can be enhanced by agitating and alternately pressurizing the chamber and freezing the water in the chamber.

A mixing system and mixing method are provided. The mixing system includes a tank assembly, a container positioned within the tank assembly, a mixer disposed within a compartment of the container, a linear motor, and a shaft having a first end secured to the mixer and an opposing second end secured to the linear motor. The linear motor provides a variable stroke length for the shaft. The mixing method includes providing a tank assembly having a linear motor, positioning a mixing assembly including a mixing bag in the tank assembly, combining two or more components in a compartment of the mixing bag, attaching a mixing shaft extending from a mixer disposed within the mixing bag to the linear motor, and raising and lowering the mixing shaft to mix the two or more components. A stroke length of the mixing shaft during the raising and lowering is varied.

A system for oxygenating a biological culture includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween; a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end; a gas supply coupled with the tubular member and being configured to blow gas through the tubular member; and a mixing element disposed within compartment of the container at a location between the terminal end of the tubular member and the bottom wall of the container, the mixing element being configured to mix the liquid.

A system for delivering to a patient a slurry which includes a fluid and a material that is non-dissolvable or immiscible in the fluid. The system includes a container adapted to contain the slurry and a supernate of the slurry, a syringe adapted to contain the slurry after dilation with the supermate, a fluid path between the syringe and the contents of the container, the fluid path including a needle at least partially disposed within the contents of the container, a plunger disposed in the syringe and adapted to create pressure in the syringe to cause a dilated slurry to flow into the syringe through the fluid path, and a fluidizing systen associated with the container and comprising a holder adapted to move the needle within the container to affect dilation of the slurry with a portion of the supernate.