Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method and a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store of an automatic analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents, which are present in at least one reagent store of the analyzer. In one embodiment, a analyzer is disclosed including cuvettes for holding the liquid samples and reagents, the cuvettes are arranged in at least one stationary, linear cuvette array. The analyzer further has an optical measurement unit with a stationary light-supplying unit which has at least one light distributor device that feeds the light from a plurality of LED light sources emitting in a spectrally different manner in the UV/VIS/NIR wavelength range into the inlet windows of the individual cuvettes of the cuvette array. The optical measurement unit further includes a stationary detection unit assigned to outlet windows of the cuvettes and further includes a plurality of photodiodes.

A device for handling a particle suspension, in particular a cell suspension, which includes at least one channel for flowing the particle suspension, a pumping unit configured to move a driving fluid and control element for controlling the pumping unit. Also, a method for handling a particle suspension, which includes flowing the particle suspension in or out of at least one channel using a driving fluid for driving the particle suspension in the channel.

A metering head for receiving and metering at least two media, having at least two media inlets, one or multiple dispensing terminals, and fluid lines connecting the media inlets to the one or multiple dispensing terminals. The one or multiple dispensing terminals each have at least two fluidically separated media outlets. A metering system, having a metering head, at least one connecting element for fluidically connecting the metering head to a carrier substrate or to a microfluidic cartridge, and optionally a connection piece, wherein the dispensing terminal is designed to receive the connecting element directly or to receive the connecting element indirectly via the connection piece.

The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention allows for the automated manipulation of any pipette commercially available to aspire and dispense liquids in a chemical or biochemical laboratory setting. Measuring the amount of liquid aspired or dispensed by a pipette is conducted by a load sensor that records the starting point of the displacement of a pushbutton of said pipette and a motor that drives the displacement of said pushbutton a predetermined distance past the starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette. The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention further detects whether a pipette tip is attached to said pipette and then automatically ejects said pipette tip at the end of a liquid handling process.

A container for taking up and dispensing a substance includes a glass tubule, a glass punch that slides adjustably in the glass tubule, forming a seal, and a glass sleeve closed on one side, in which the glass tubule is accommodated. The glass sleeve is shorter than the glass tubule, so that the glass tubule projects out of the glass sleeve. The glass punch is longer than the glass tubule and projects out of the glass tubule at the end situated outside of the glass sleeve. The glass punch does not fill the glass tubule completely, so that a substance chamber remains in the region of the end of the glass tubule situated within the glass sleeve.

The invention relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnet carrier base positioned below a scanning platform holding the assay cartridge. A microcomputer controls a stepping motor which controls movement of the magnet carrier base, and causes the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another, where the wells contain different assay reagents. An electromagnetic coil-spring assembly induces mixing of well contents with the magnetic beads on actuation. The assay cartridge is authenticated by sending its encoded identifier to a server or website, and assay instructions are provided remotely to the microcomputer. Following assay completion, the cartridge can have color change or other assay indication detected, and the results sent to the server or website or another recipient. Concurrently assaying a control allows modification of assay results based on measured field conditions.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for preparing a fluidic cartridge for use in an analyzer device. In one non-limiting aspect, the present invention provides a method of preparing a fluidic cartridge for use in an analyzer device. The method may include controlling valves and a vacuum pump of a priming station to evacuate air from a fluidic cartridge loaded in the priming station. The method may include controlling the valves and the vacuum pump to draw priming fluid into sipper wells and channels of the loaded fluidic cartridge. In another non-limiting aspect, the present invention provides a priming station for preparing a fluidic cartridge for use in an analyzer device. The priming station may include a vacuum pump, a priming manifold assembly, and a controller. The priming manifold assembly may be configured to interface with a fluidic cartridge loaded in the priming station.

An on-demand vapour generator includes a vapour chamber configured to produce a vapour and a vapour absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapour from the vapour chamber. The vapour absorption assembly includes a first vapour-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapour-permeable passage that is closed. When vapour absorption assembly receives a flow of vapour front the vapour chamber, the flow of vapour passes through the first vapour-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapour from the flow of vapour. However, when a flow of vapour is not received from the vapour chamber, vapour entering the vapour absorption assembly from the vapour chamber passes into the first vapour-permeable passage and the at least one second vapour-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

A quantitative sample transfer device for receiving and holding a sample while it is weighed and for transferring the weighed sample material into a flask without losing any sample, the quantitative sample transfer device having a hollow central body segment with a flat bottom surface, a first hollow neck at one end of the central body, a second hollow neck at the opposite end of the central body, a removable first cap for occluding the first hollow neck, a removable second cap for occluding the second hollow neck, an opening in the central body for introducing a sample into the body, a lid permanently attachable to the body segment over the opening that remains permanently closed once closed and a set of lateral ridges on at least one neck that allow for the release of air when a solvent is introduced into the transfer device to flush any remaining sample into the container. The lid may be hinged to the body segment.

An on-demand vapor generator includes a vapor chamber configured to produce a vapor and a vapor absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapor from the vapor chamber. The vapor absorption assembly includes a first vapor-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapor-permeable passage that is closed. When vapor absorption assembly receives a flow of vapor from the vapor chamber, the flow of vapor passes through the first vapor-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapor from the flow of vapor. However, when a flow of vapor is not received from the vapor chamber, vapor entering the vapor absorption assembly from the vapor chamber passes into the first vapor-permeable passage and the at least one second vapor-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.