Devices, systems and methods for making and handling liquid samples are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for separating bubbles from a fluid comprising a chamber through which a fluid can pass. According to the invention the device is characterized in that the inner chamber wall has a geometry that generates within said chamber a continuous flow and at least one area with a discontinuous flow which has a low flow velocity so that bubbles remain at the inner chamber wall in said area and thus are separated from the fluid flowing out from the chamber.

The present invention discloses a centrifuge filtration tube comprising a centrifuge tube (2) and a centrifuge tube (1) housed in the centrifuge tube (2). One or more constant-volume vents (7) and multiple pores (4) are provided on a sidewall of the centrifuge tube (1). The one or more constant-volume vents (7) are located above the pores (4). The pores (4) are covered with a filtering membrane (3). The disclosed centrifuge filtration tube has the advantages of being simple, easy to use, highly efficient, and inexpensive, which can save large amounts of labor and time in analyses of large number of samples.

Systems, methods, and devices for analyzing small volumes of fluidic samples, as a non-limiting example, less than twenty microliters are provided. The devices are configured to make a first sample reading, for example, measure an energy property of the fluid sample, for example, osmolality, make a second sample reading, for example, detecting the presence or concentration of one or more analytes in the fluid sample, or make both the first sample reading and the second sample reading, for example, measuring the energy property of the fluid sample as well as detecting the presence or concentration of one or more analytes in the fluid sample.

A dispensing device for dispensing a defined volume of a liquid from a closed container includes a housing and a spring loaded piston disposed therein. The housing has a holding chamber that includes chamber snap fit elements on the chamber wall, piston stop(s), and a bottom having a central opening with a tubular member extending therefrom. The spring loaded piston includes a push cap including snap fit arms extending from underside of a top pusher and a spring around a piston rod under the top pusher. The device is so configured that engagement modes between arm snap fit elements of the push cap and chamber snap fit elements of the holding chamber control a venting position and an injection starting position of the spring loaded piston, and abutment of the push cap with the piston stop(s) in the holding chamber controls an injection ending position of the spring loaded piston.

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. In some embodiments, the reader component communicates with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.

A sample collection device for a fluid includes: a substantially disk-shaped body having a periphery; a capillary channel extending through the body and bounded by the periphery, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to draw the fluid into the channel by capillary action; a sample collection well located in the vicinity of the second end and in fluid communication with the capillary channel; and an axis of rotation extending through the center of the disk and which is substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the disk-shaped body. In a preferred embodiment, the sample collection device is adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation within a cartridge having a housing comprising an air vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel when the disk is rotated in a first position.

Disclosed is a mating structure of a liquid extraction piece and a test tube assembly, which comprises the liquid extraction piece (1) and the test tube assembly (4). A test tube plug (2) is arranged at an opening end (32) of a test tube (3). The lower portion of the liquid extraction piece (1) is mated with the test tube assembly (4). The body of the test tube plug (2) is provided with a blocking body (25). The blocking body (25) is provided with a movable portion (253) and a fixed portion (252). The movable portion (253) can move with respect to the fixed portion (252). An axial recess is arranged above an upper surface (251) of the movable portion (253). The lower portion of the liquid extraction piece (1) is mated with the recess. The blocking body (25) is located in a lumen (31) of the test tube (3).

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a modular microfluidic device, the component comprising a channel comprising an apex opening, wherein the apex opening that is at least partially surrounded by a collar configured to pin a liquid within the channel. The modular microfluidic device may also have a structural tip in or near the apex opening which is configured to allow for the flow of the liquid into the channel from a second component for a modular microfluidic device when the component is engaged with the second component.

A multiwell plate cover is provided, wherein the cover comprises a frame configured for attachment to a multiwell plate; a first movable guide member having two elongated side members that extend across the width of the plate, wherein a gap between the side members is substantially equal to a diameter of a single well in the multiwell plate and wherein the first movable guide member is slidable along the length of the frame; and a second movable guide member having two elongated side members that extend across the length of the plate, wherein a gap between the side members is substantially equal to a diameter of a single well in the multiwell plate and wherein the second movable guide member is slidable along the width of the frame, wherein the first and second movable guide member are configured to move independently from each other.