A system for analysis of a sample to aid in diagnosis and/or detection of the presence or absence, and/or the identity of, an analyte in the sample is provided. A cartridge with reagents to isolate nucleic acid from a sample inserted in the cartridge and to amplify the isolated nucleic acid, and an instrument that interacts with the cartridge, together provide a self-contained sample to answer system for detection, identification, differentiation and/or quantification of a target nucleic acid in a sample.

The invention provides multi-function instruments for automatically and simultaneously carrying out a variety of tests including identification of targets in specimens and antimicrobial susceptibility testing thereof. Application-specific cartridges are pre-loaded with all required reagents and allow for tests to be performed in a single testing device with no specimen preparation to, for example, rapidly detect infections, identify infectious pathogens, and analyze their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents. Instruments include various stations for carrying out test steps that can be randomly accessed in any order dictated by the computer-controlled instrument. A carousel stores and incubates cartridges and, with a mechanical conveyor arm, transfers the cartridges between the required stations to carry out the tests. A plurality of different tests may be performed on a plurality of targets within an instrument, and the plurality of targets may be disposed in a single cartridge.

Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from, respectively, a pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device, are disclosed. The pipette tip couplers include an elastomeric element and an annular ring shaped raceway. When the pipette tip is mounted on the pipette tip coupler, the annular ring shaped raceway abuts a first portion of the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip, and the elastomeric element abuts a second portion of the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip.

The present invention relates to a holding structure for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers for substances for pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications or of devices having such containers, having a plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are arranged in a regular arrangement and are formed by in each case peripherally formed side walls. The receptacles have in each case one or two widened clearances having a dimension which is greater than the width of a gap between the containers received in the receptacles and side walls of the receptacles in the regions other than the widened clearances. The widened clearances additionally make available space for access to containers or devices which are received in the receptacles for handling thereof.

A device comprising a base and a support structure is disclosed. The base includes a vial receptacle for holding a vial. The support structure is coupled to an upper portion of the base and is configured to align a pipette comprising a pipette tip vertically over the vial receptacle. The support structure is configured to support a pipette such that an end of a pipette tip is positioned one or more predetermined depths within a vial in the vial receptacle.

A method for withdrawing a solution comprising a plurality of particles from a vial is disclosed. The method includes agitating the vial at a first predetermined mixing speed to suspend the plurality of particles in the solution. The method also includes withdrawing, during the agitating, a first volume of the solution from the vial with a pipette, such that an end of a pipette tip is positioned at a first predetermined depth within the vial.

A method for preparing an aliquot of solution comprising a plurality of particles is disclosed. The method includes agitating the solution with a baffle at a predetermined mixing speed to suspend the plurality of particles in the solution, wherein the baffle positioned at least partially within a vessel containing the solution, and wherein the vessel is engaged with a vessel receptacle configured to hold the vessel. The method also includes withdrawing, during the agitating, the aliquot of solution from the vessel with a pipette, such that an end of a pipette tip is positioned within the vessel.

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 method of manufacturing a digital dispense apparatus includes molding a monolithic carrier structure, forming cut outs into a planar top surface of the monolithic carrier structure, the cut outs including a reservoir extending into part of a thickness of the monolithic carrier structure and fluid routing to connect the reservoir with a fluid dispense device, and overmolding the fluid dispense device into the monolithic carrier structure on a side of the monolithic carrier structure that is opposite to the reservoir to fluidically connect to the fluid routing.

This present invention relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for performing bioimaging at the microscopic scale and, more particularly, to devices and systems including a disposable testing device configured to perform bioimaging at the microscopic scale, and methods of performing the bioimaging using the disposable testing device. In some aspects, a testing device is provided for imaging blood cells in a blood sample. The testing device having a sample entry port for receiving the blood sample; a sample testing conduit fluidically connected to the sample entry port, the sample testing conduit including: (i) a planar member, (ii) a transparent planar member, and (iii) a plurality of spacer elements having an average spacer height and disposed between the planar member and the transparent planar member; and an imager chip forming at least a portion of the planar member.