Provided is a liquid droplet discharging unit including a liquid droplet discharging port, a liquid retaining section including the liquid droplet discharging port, two tubes disposed in communication with the liquid retaining section, and first and second liquid sucking/ejecting members coupled to the two tubes respectively, wherein while the first liquid sucking/ejecting member is in a sucking or ejecting state, the second liquid sucking/ejecting member is in a non-sucking or non-ejecting state correspondingly.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

An apparatus having a spectrometer and techniques for use thereof for efficient and effective point-of-care diagnostics are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided. The device includes: an intake port; fluidic channels connecting the intake port to a detecting chamber(s), wherein the detecting chamber(s) is configured to permit optical measurements of a fluid sample; a vent leading away from the detecting chamber(s); and a liquid blocker between the detecting chamber(s) and an opening of the vent, wherein the liquid blocker permits air to pass therethrough while at the same time restricting liquid flow. A method for analyzing a fluid sample is also provided. The method includes: introducing the fluid sample to the device; contacting the fluid sample with a reagent(s) prior to the fluid sample entering the detecting chamber(s); and making optical measurements of the fluid sample in the detecting chamber(s).

A mug including a stirring unit connected to the liquid space of the mug, for stirring a beverage contained in the liquid space of the mug simultaneously by the same hand in which the mug is held, and in which mug the stirring unit includes a pumping space separate from the liquid space, and a pumping device connected to the pumping space, configured to increase and to decrease the pressure of air inside the pumping space in an alternating manner. In the mug according to the invention, a flow channel extends from the pumping space to the liquid space, enabling the flow of the beverage contained in the liquid space from the liquid space to the pumping space and from the pumping space to the liquid space, whereby a liquid flow can be formed in the flow channel, for stirring the beverage in the liquid space by the pumping device.

The invention relates to a device (12) for mixing/dosing liquid coating materials, in particular for use in a coating system (10) for spectacle lenses, said device having at least a first and a second storage container (14-24) for liquid starting materials, a conveying device (26) for sucking in and expelling liquids, a mixing container (28), and a liquid outlet (30) for mixed/dosed liquid coating materials. In between there is a multi-way valve (32), which can be switched into different valve positions and is constructed to produce one of the following connections (a, b, c, d) and in the process to disconnect the other connections: (a) connection between the first storage container and the conveying device, (b) connection between the second storage container and the conveying device, (c) connection between the conveying device and the mixing container, and (d) connection between the conveying device and the liquid outlet.

Improved methods, devices, and systems for mixing fluids, including small volumes of fluid, are provided. Pressing a pipette tip against an inner surface of a mixing vessel allows pressure to be applied within the tip. Greater pressure may be built-up than would be possible without engaging the tip with the mixing vessel. Disengaging the tip allows fluid flow through the tip, providing improved fluid mixing as compared to methods lacking engagement of a pipette tip with an inner surface of a mixing vessel while applying pressure within the pipette tip.

Mixing vessels having features on an inner surface that are configured to engage a pipette tip, and to occlude an orifice of a pipette tip, are provided. Sample analysis devices and systems including pipette tips and mixing vessels configured to engage each other for pressure application within the tip are provided.

A mixing method for particle agglutination includes the following steps of: dropping testing materials into an accommodating recess at one end of a channel structure; pressing a flexible layer on the other end of the channel structure; and releasing the flexible layer to an initial position after pressing the flexible layer such that a negative pressure is generated by an air chamber that is covered by the flexible layer and draws the testing materials that are in the accommodating recess to move toward the air chamber along a diverging channel of the channel structure. The testing materials are mixed with each other in the diverging channel, in which the depth of the diverging channel is gradually increased from the accommodating recess to the air chamber.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

A method includes, under control of control circuitry implementing a mixing protocol, aspirating reagents from multiple different reagent reservoirs into a cache channel. Designated amounts of the reagents are automatically aspirated from the corresponding reagent reservoirs by corresponding sippers based on the mixing protocol implemented by the control circuitry. The method also includes discharging the reagents from the cache channel into a mixing reservoir, and mixing the reagents within the mixing reservoir to form a reagent mixture.

Improved methods, devices, and systems for mixing fluids, including small volumes of fluid, are provided. Pressing a pipette tip against an inner surface of a mixing vessel allows pressure to be applied within the tip. Greater pressure may be built-up than would be possible without engaging the tip with the mixing vessel. Disengaging the tip allows fluid flow through the tip, providing improved fluid mixing as compared to methods lacking engagement of a pipette tip with an inner surface of a mixing vessel while applying pressure within the pipette tip. Mixing vessels having features on an inner surface that are configured to engage a pipette tip, and to occlude an orifice of a pipette tip, are provided. Sample analysis devices and systems including pipette tips and mixing vessels configured to engage each other for pressure application within the tip are provided.