Methods and systems are provided for a sample holder for a multi-detector quantitative microscopy system. In one example, the sample holder includes a frame with a central opening, a pivotable arm positioned adjacent to the central opening and having a whippletree assembly at a first end of the pivotable arm, and a movable ram, in contact with a second end of the pivotable arm, the movable ram configured to pivot the pivotable arm.

A system and method facilitates transfers of specimen containers between a cryogenic freezer and a portable, bulk carrier. An interrogation station has a frame and a well that includes a bottom and at least one sidewall that extends upwardly from the bottom towards a top, wherein the bottom, the at least one sidewall, and the top collectively delineate an interior cavity of the well. The frame includes at least one opening that extends through the top so as to provide entry and access to the interior cavity of the well to receive buckets therein. The interrogation station further includes at least one array of antennas arranged within a plane and positioned beneath the bottom at a location in which the at least one array of antennas is aligned with the at least one opening along a vertical direction, which is perpendicular to the plane.

The invention(s) cover systems and methods for target detection in a multiplexed and rapid manner. Embodiments of the system can include: a base substrate; and an array of sample processing regions defined at a broad surface of the base substrate, wherein each of the array of sample processing regions includes: a set of microwell subarrays arranged in a gradient by volumetric capacity between an upstream end and a downstream end of each respective sample processing region, and a boundary separating each respective sample processing region from adjacent sample processing regions. The system can support methods, with example implementation by an automated platform, for returning preliminary results from a subset of microwells of the samples processing regions, as well as results pertaining to specific and non-specific amplification, for multiple targets of a sample.

A system for biological analysis includes a housing, a block assembly within the housing having a sample block and a baseplate, a heated cover and a cover carrier. The sample block receives a sample holder comprising an RFID tag. A first drive mechanism generates relative movement between the sample block and the baseplate along a first axis. A second drive mechanism generates relative movement between the heated cover and the cover carrier along a second axis that is different from the first axis. Based on a first command the first drive mechanism releasably engages the sample block and operates the second drive mechanism to releasably engage the heated cover with the cover carrier. The system also includes first and second RFID antennas that receive RFID data from the sample holder RFID tag that is read by at least one RFID reader.

A thin-walled microplate suitable for use in the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique comprising a plurality of thin-walled tubes or wells arranged in a fixed array, each well having an upper portion with an open top and a lower, frustoconical portion having a substantially flat bottom.

A media holder can be used for preparing samples. The media holder can comprise a base, a pair of walls extending upwardly from the base, and a plurality of transverse members positioned on and coupled to a respective upper end of each of the walls. Each of the transverse members can define a receiving slot for receiving at least a portion of a media therein.

In one example, a dispenser platform can include an enclosure that includes a first actuator to move a support in a first plane, wherein a portion of the support extends outside the enclosure, and a second actuator coupled to the portion of the support that extends outside the enclosure to move a stage coupled to the support in a second plane.

An incubation cassette for reducing liquid evaporation from wells of a microplate with a frame for receiving a microplate with wells, the frame having a central first opening surrounded by an inner wall, the dimensions are designed for inserting a microplate, and the frame having an outer wall that runs essentially parallel to the inner wall and which is attached to the inner wall connects so that a liquid reservoir surrounding the first central opening for receiving a liquid is formed by the two walls and the intermediate base is disclosed. The incubation cassette also includes a float provided in the liquid reservoir that can be brought into fluid contact with the liquid held in the liquid reservoir in such a way that the float is in relation to the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid reservoir absorbed liquid experiences buoyancy.

A system for biological analysis includes a housing, a block assembly within the housing having a sample block and a baseplate, a heated cover and a cover carrier. The sample block receives a sample holder comprising an RFID tag. A first drive mechanism generates relative movement between the sample block and the baseplate along a first axis. A second drive mechanism generates relative movement between the heated cover and the cover carrier along a second axis that is different from the first axis. Based on a first command the first drive mechanism releasably engages the sample block and operates the second drive mechanism to releasably engage the heated cover with the cover carrier. The system also includes first and second RFID antennas that receive RFID data from the sample holder RFID tag that is read by at least one RFID reader.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and a fluorescence detection device for reaction analysis. The nucleic acid amplification apparatus of the present invention uses a plurality of blocks having different reaction temperatures by independent temperature control and the movement between the blocks is performed along sliding recesses formed in the blocks, enabling to greatly shorten the total amplification time (TAT). In the fluorescence detection device of the present invention, the positions of the light source and the photodetector are very unique for the reaction vessel in which an excitation light is provided and an emission light is generated.