(Object) To improve the accuracy of the placement of liquid droplets. (Means of Achieving the object) A liquid droplet discharging method is performed by a liquid droplet discharging apparatus configured to discharge a liquid droplet from a nozzle hole formed in a film-like member, the liquid droplet discharging method including positioning the nozzle hole inside a recessed portion provided in a container; and discharging the liquid droplet from the nozzle hole positioned inside the recessed portion.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid ejection controller is described. The fluid ejection controller includes a firing board to pass control signals to a fluid ejection device to eject fluid from the fluid ejection device. A mount pivotally holds the firing board between a disengaged position where electrical pins of the firing board are not in contact with electrical pads of the fluid ejection device and an engaged position where the electrical pins are in contact with the electrical pads. The mount includes a slot to receive the fluid ejection device and at least one biasing spring to bias the firing board away from the fluid ejection device during insertion of the fluid ejection device. The fluid ejection controller also includes a handle coupled to a cam shaft to move the firing board between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

Among other things, the present invention is related to devices and methods of performing biological and chemical assays, particularly an easy sample manipulation and/or a rapid change or a rapid thermal cycling of a sample temperature is needed (e.g. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for amplifying nucleic acids).

Reusable network of spatially-multiplexed microfliuidic channels each including an inlet, an outlet, and a cuvette in-between. Individual channels may operationally share a main or common output channel defining the network output and optionally leading to a disposable storage volume. Alternatively, multiple channels are structured to individually lead to the storage volume. An individual cuvette is dimensioned to substantially prevent the formation of air-bubbles during the fluid sample flow through the cuvette and, therefore, to be fully filled and fully emptied. The overall channel network is configured to spatially lock the fluidic sample by pressing such sample with a second fluid against a closed to substantially immobilize it to prevent drifting due to the change in ambient conditions during the measurement. Thereafter, the fluidic sample is flushed through the now-opened valve with continually-applied pressure of the second fluid. System and method for photometric measurements of multiple fluid samples employing such network of channels.

Provided is a packaging container including a bag main body portion having a first surface, a second surface and an opening portion; and a tongue piece portion formed to be continuously extended from the first surface. The bag main body portion and the tongue piece portion have an aluminum vapor-deposited layer on an outside thereof, the packaging container further includes an adhesion portion which is provided on the second surface to be spaced from the opening portion; and a folded-back portion which is provided between the adhesion portion and the opening portion to fold back the tongue piece portion to the opening portion side. A length of the tongue piece portion is a, a length from the opening portion to the folded-back portion is b, and a length from the folded-back portion to the adhesion portion is c. And,
a<b+c.

A method of sample preparation for streamlined multi-step assays is provided. The method includes the step of providing a microfluidic device including a reservoir defined by a surface configured to repel an aqueous solution. A dried reagent is provided on a portion of the surface and the reservoir is filled with an oil. A first droplet formed from the aqueous solution is positioned on the dried reagent so to pick-up and re-dissolve the dried reagent therein so as to expose the portion of the surface. In addition, a second droplet of an aqueous solution may be deposited on a hydrophilic spot patterned on the surface. A magnetic force may be configured to interact magnetically with the paramagnetic beads within the first droplet to move the droplet through the oil in the reservoir or to move the paramagnetic beads from the first droplet, through the oil, into the second droplet.

The present invention relates to test devices comprising one or more retaining members for removably retaining a sample applicator, sample applicators for use with such test devices, and kits comprising test devices and sample applicators of the invention.

A system for performing biological reactions is provided. The system includes a chip including a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites. The plurality of reaction sites are each configured to include a liquid sample of at most one nanoliter. Further, the system includes a control system configured to initiate biological reactions within the liquid samples. The system further includes a detection system configured to detect biological reactions on the chip. According to various embodiments, the chip includes at least 20000 reaction sites. In other embodiments, the chip includes at least 30000 reaction sites.

In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to study cells in isolation so that cells having unique and desirable properties can be identified within a heterogenous mixture of cells. Processes and methods disclosed herein provide for encapsulating cells within a microfluidic device and assaying the encapsulated cells. Encapsulation can, among other benefits, facilitate analyses of cells that generate secretions of interest which would otherwise rapidly diffuse away or mix with the secretions of other cells.

A testing module is provided. The testing module includes a carrier, a block member, and a sampling assembly. A flow path connects a storage chamber to a mixing chamber to guide the flow of a fluid. The block member is formed in the flow path to block the fluid from flowing from the storage chamber to the mixing chamber before the connection of the sampling assembly. When the sampling assembly which contains a test sample is connected to the carrier, the fluid mixes with the test sample and flows to the mixing chamber.