One aspect of this invention relates to a vertical-via rotary valve including a valve body having a housing; one or more fluidic channels, each fluidic channel having a vertical channel portion defined in the valve body and being adjacent to the housing, wherein a fluid flow through the vertical channel portion is controllable by deforming a sidewall of the vertical channel portion; and an actuator received in the housing and rotatably engaged with the one or more fluidic channels to operably control the fluid flow through the vertical channel portion of each fluid channel.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

A nucleic acid extraction system, comprising: a nucleic acid extraction plate, and a pipetting device and positive pressure device that are arranged side by side, the pipetting device comprising: an infusion device, an infusion device mounting frame, an infusion device driving unit, and a plurality of infusion units, each of the infusion units comprising: a reagent supply device and a reagent flow controller; the positive pressure device comprises: a plug, an air pipe, a positive pressure provider and a positive pressure driving device. The nucleic acid extraction system is highly efficiency and low-cost when extracting nucleic acid.

Provided are valveless microfluidic flowchips comprising fluid flow barrier structures or configurations. Further provided are systems and methods having increased fluid transfer control in a valveless microfluidic flowchip. The systems and methods can be used in the present valveless microfluidic flowchips as well as in currently available valveless microfluidic flowchips.

A recess 22 provided in a passage block 20; a diaphragm covering the recess 22 to form a valve chest 21 in which a fluid flows; an inflow port 23 opened at the recess 22 and allowing the fluid to flow into the valve chest 21; an NC outflow port 24 and an NO outflow port 25 opened at the recess 22 and allowing the fluid to flow out from the valve chest 21; by oscillating the diaphragm, the diaphragm is closely fitted to any one of a first valve seat 24b formed by an opening 24a of the NC outflow port 24 and a second valve seat 25b formed by an opening 25a of the second outflow port 25, to allow the fluid in the valve chest 21 to flow out from the other outflow port. The recess 22 has a first inclined portion 81 and a second inclined portion 82 having a depth gradually increasing from the first valve seat 24b and the second valve seat 25b toward the inflow opening 23.

Exemplary embodiments of a high temperature aging cell provide a metal-to-metal fluid seal, and generally include a central tension post containing a flange having an inclined surface; and a seal ring concentrically arranged thereon, its outer circumference positioned at least partly intermediate the flange and the cell interior surface. In various embodiments, a thrust ring retains the seal ring; a thrust washer engages the thrust ring; a tension ring is attached to the tension post for biasing the thrust ring toward the flange; and an outer cap retains various components in relation to the aging cell. A pressure control device allows for pressure elevation. Exemplary embodiments of a sample aging method generally include aging a liquid sample by sealing the sample in the cell via biasing of the seal ring into sealing engagement with an interior surface of the cell. Subsequent sample treatment may involve elevating its temperature and/or pressure.

The invention concerns a circuit comprising a bag (11) comprising two flexible films (45, 46) and a press (10) comprising a first (14) and a second (13) shell clamping the bag to form pipes having a passage and edges (41); the first shell comprising a valve (20) which comprises a movable member (24) and a pad (31), which pad has a resting configuration in which a second face (33) of the pad is concave and locally delimits a channel (18) and a pinching configuration in which the second face (33) is convex; said movable member and said pad being configured so that, when said valve is in closed position and said pad in pinching configuration, said passage is pinched by said movable member against said second shell channel and said edges (41) are pinched flat by said movable member against said second shell (13).

Apparatus for extracting organic analytes from a sample comprising a first compressed gas source connected to valving and a sample extraction cell connected to the valving. A pressure regulator is connected to the extraction cell outlet to the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator blocks fluid flow when the pressure at the pressure regulator inlet is below a predetermined pressure and permits fluid flow when above said predetermined pressure. The apparatus is free of operative association with a mechanical pump or with a compressed gas source other than the compressed gas source. An extraction method for using the above apparatus is described.

Provided are a bubble eliminating structure and a bubble eliminating method which eliminate bubbles in a liquid by agitating the liquid, and an agitating method using the same. A first groove 114, which is an upstream bubble eliminating groove, and a second groove 131, which is a downstream bubble eliminating groove, are branched from a mixing well 13. After starting suction of the liquid from mixing well 13 into the first groove 114, suction of the liquid from the mixing well 13 into the second groove 131 is started, and after completion of discharge of the liquid from the first groove 114 into the mixing well 13, discharge of the liquid from the second groove 131 into the mixing well 13 is completed. This operation is repeated to eliminate bubbles.

A valve assembly used in a manifold system for processing fluid samples includes a body, a valve member, and a coupling assembly. The body defines a fluid passage and a valve passage in communication with the fluid passage and receiving at least a portion of the valve member therein. The valve member is selectively movable over a range of travel between an open position, in which fluid can flow through the fluid passage, and a closed position, in which the valve member occludes the fluid passage. The coupling assembly includes a coupling member and a retention lug. The retention lug is connected to one of the body and the coupling member. The other of the body and the coupling member defines a lug raceway configured to removably receive the retention lug therein to removably mount the coupling member to the body with the valve member being movably retained therebetween.