Example fluidic channels for microfluidic devices are disclosed. In examples disclosed herein, an example microfluidic device includes a body having a microfluidic network. The microfluidic network includes a main fluid channel to transport a biological fluid from a first cavity of the microfluidic network to a second cavity of the microfluidic network. An auxiliary fluid channel is in fluid communication with to the main fluid channel. The auxiliary fluid channel has a first end and a second end. The first end is in fluid communication with the main fluid channel and the second end is spaced from the main fluid channel. A fluid actuator is positioned in the auxiliary fluid channel to induce fluid flow in the main fluid channel.

A device and a method of discharging a liquid in a state of solid particles being dispersed in the liquid with a minimum additional structure for dispersing the solid particles. A discharge device and an application device each include a storage container; a measuring unit having a measuring hole; a plunger disposed in the measuring hole; a nozzle; a selector valve having a first position at which the storage container and the measuring unit are communicated, and a second position at which the measuring unit and the nozzle are communicated; a plunger drive device; a selector valve drive device; and a discharge control device, wherein a discharge control program includes a filling stepinto the measuring hole; an ejection step; an inflow step causing the liquid material in the measuring hole to flow into the storage container; a discharge step; and a stirring step.

An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel. For this, the reagents may be aspirated from a recipient into the volume or channel, ejected back into the recipient, and this process may be performed repeatedly to enhance mixing

An analysis instrument may perform analytical operations on an analyte that is combined with multiple reagents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a nozzle sipper that aspirates reagents from a recipient, along with an analyte. The reagents may be directed to a volume and may be repeatedly moved into and out of the volume by cycling of a pump. The reagents may be ejected into a destination recipient with the nozzle sipper promoting vorticity in the recipient to enhance mixing. The repeated aspiration and ejection through the nozzle sipper effectively mixes the reagents and the template in an automated or semi-automated fashion.

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.

Provided is a container for preparing a diluted solution of a biological sample to be used for biological sample analysis. Specifically, provided is a container for specimen dilution, including: an open; a first bottom; a second bottom formed on an inner side wall of the container; and a groove upwardly formed, on the inner side wall of the container, from the second bottom, in which the groove has a constant width equal to a width of the second bottom, or the groove has, at a lower end thereof, a width equal to the width of the second bottom and upwardly widens.

In a liquid stirring method, after a second liquid is discharged into a reaction container accommodating a first liquid from a dispensing probe provided with a dispensing tip at the leading end thereof, a mixture of the first liquid and second liquid in the container is stirred by being sucked out and discharged by the dispensing probe. The number of stirrings through sucking out and discharging is changed according to the total volume of the first liquid and second liquid. If the total volume of the first liquid and second liquid is below a preset threshold, sucking out and discharging is repeated for a prescribed number of times.

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.

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.

In one embodiment described herein, a cartridge is provided comprising a cartridge frame; a plurality of diluents each in an expandable container; a plurality of reagents each in an expandable container; and a plurality of mixing vessels comprising empty expandable containers.