Disclosed herein is a novel method of producing monodisperse aqueous droplets, as well as a novel microfluidic droplet generator. In some examples, the method comprises flowing an aqueous solution through a microchannel and into a sample reservoir of the microfluidic droplet generator, wherein monodisperse droplets of the aqueous solution form by step-emulsification at a step change in height at an intersection of a reservoir end of the microchannel and a sidewall of the sample reservoir. In some examples, the aqueous solution is a hydrogel precursor solution and monodisperse droplets of the hydrogel precursor solution form by step-emulsification at the step change in height at the intersection of the reservoir end of the microchannel and the sidewall of the sample reservoir. In some examples, the monodisperse droplets of the hydrogel precursor solution are incubated under conditions suitable for gelation to form hydrogel beads.

Devices and methods for performing pre-analysis sample processing of biological and chemical samples using robotic liquid handlers are disclosed. Methods for solid phase extraction, protein precipitation and filtration of biological and chemical samples using automation and the devices in a rapid and convenient way are described.

The invention relates to a holding apparatus for holding a pipetting container, in particular a serological pipette, at a pipetting apparatus, comprising a tubular connecting section that is configured to hold a tube-shaped end of a pipetting container in a pipetting position by means of a clamping connection, a clamping connection device that is arranged at the connecting section and that comprises a spring device for the establishment of the clamping connection and an air chamber device for releasing the clamping connection by means of a vacuum. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pipetting apparatus with that holding apparatus.

Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.

A pipette includes an end section, a first section, a second section and a third section aligned along a central axis of the pipette tip. The end section comprises an orifice for aspirating and dispensing a fluid. A first kink is formed in an inner surface of the pipette tip between the first section and the second section, such that an angle between the inner surface of the first section and the central axis is smaller than an angle between the inner surface of the second section and the central axis. A second kink is formed in the inner surface of the pipette tip between the second section and the third section, such that the angle between the inner surface of the second section and the central axis is smaller than an angle between the inner surface of the third section and the central axis.

An apparatus, multi-well plate and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and amplification. The plate includes a lysis well, at least one wash well, an elution well, and a PCR chip. The apparatus includes a vertically aligned rotor mixer comprising a magnetic tip and actuators for moving the rotor mixer in a vertical and horizontal directions, to transfer magnetic beads from well to well. The rotor mixer is used to vortex lysis mixtures, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and mixer tip and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA in an elution solution that is transferred to the PCR chip for amplification of target sequences.

A dosing device has a dosing tip for dispensing liquid medium and at least one pressure vessel with a pressurizing gas, in which an overpressure or a negative pressure can be set as a predefined pressure setpoint value of an internal pressure by a pressure regulator, the internal pressure set by means of the pressurizing gas acting on a first liquid medium. A bidirectional flow meter is provided to measure a quantity of the first medium that is moved by the internal pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel. Furthermore, a dosing valve is provided upstream of the dosing tip, which is adapted to enable or disable a flow of the first medium from the flow meter to the dosing tip. For precise dosing, the first medium is moved by means of a change in the predefined pressure setpoint value of the internal pressure of at least one pressure vessel, and the moved quantity of the first medium is measured by means of the flow meter.

The present invention provides a pipette tip, which can be used in in-vitro diagnostics, in particular in the diagnostic testing of body fluids, such as in coagulation testing. The Pipette tip contains two constituents in a spatially separated manner. The present invention furthermore provides a method of performing such diagnostics, e.g. coagulation analysis, and to the use of the pipette tip in such diagnostic testing.

Embodiments of lab automation workstations are disclosed in which the pod that performs pipetting operations is integrated with pipette tip-loading functionality. To generate the necessary tip-loading force, a dual drive system is used that is symmetric about the Y-axis to allow for offset or partial tip box loads by dynamically centering the drive force (e.g., the tip-loading force) over the reaction load. This minimizes the need for oversized linear motion components while still allowing for the generation of high tip-loading forces needed to properly load a large number of pipette tips simultaneously.

A tool for the distribution of a sample of biological or microbiological material, the tool including an elongated body, provided with a first portion and a second portion; a distributing element, the distributing element being configured at least for distributing a sample of biological or microbiological material on a culture medium; a connector being configured for allowing the joining of the tool with a supporting element of a machine configured for carrying out a distribution of a sample of biological or microbiological material, in particular of a pipetting machine; wherein the connector is adapted and specifically configured for being removably coupled to a supporting element in alternative to another tool, in particular to a tip or pipette for the collection and/or deposit of the sample of biological or microbiological material.