Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them to prevent or limit evaporation and surface fouling of the DMF apparatus. In particular, described herein are air-matrix DMF apparatuses and methods of using them including thermally controllable regions with a wax material that may be used to selectively encapsulate a reaction droplet in the air gap of the apparatus; additional aqueous droplets may be combined with the encapsulated droplet even after separating from the wax, despite residual wax coating, by merging with an aqueous droplet having a coating of a secondary material (e.g., an oil or other hydrophobic material) that may remove the wax from the droplet and/or allow combining of the droplets.

The invention shows and describes a vibration mill for at least two grinding beakers performing vibrations in the horizontal position, with at least one multi-part pendulum drive, wherein the pendulum drive has at least one eccentric shaft mounted to rotate about a vertical eccentric axis, and at least two rockers each mounted so as to be capable of vibrating about a vertical vibration axis and connected by means of couplers to the eccentric shaft, said rockers holding the grinding beakers. The pendulum drive further has a motor unit coupled to the eccentric shaft as a drive for the eccentric shaft and optionally further components, wherein a rotary movement of the eccentric shaft via the couplers can be converted into a vibrating movement of the rockers. According to the invention, the centre of gravity of the pendulum drive in a horizontal centre of gravity plane is substantially equidistant from both vibration axes.

A container or consumable like a reaction tube for use in diagnostic assays. The present disclosure provides a system for fluid handling and transport, comprising a plate with at least one cavity for receiving a fluid which is surrounded by a rim, and a separate cover comprising a centrally arranged surface as a sealing element which is surrounded by a rim, wherein the plate or the cover comprise at least one snap-fit mechanism for connecting at least two plates, at least two covers or a plate and a cover, wherein the snap-fit mechanism extends upwards or downwards from the surrounding rim of the plate or the cover, and wherein the rim of the plate or cover which is to be connected is configured for accommodating the snap-fit mechanism of an upper or lower plate or cover in a retaining element arranged at the rim.

A device for contactless, damage-free, high-precision cell and/or particle extraction and transfer through acoustic droplet ejection includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a focused ultrasonic transducer positioned to focus an acoustic wave onto the substrate such that a droplet that includes at least one cell or particle is ejected from the bulk or from the first surface per each actuation of the focused ultrasonic transducer through droplet ejection. The substrate includes cells or particles inside the substrate or on top of the substrate. The focused ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric substrate having a top face and a bottom face, a Fresnel acoustic lens including a plurality of annular rings of air cavities disposed on the top face, and a first patterned circular electrode disposed over the top face and a second patterned circular electrode disposed over the bottom face. The first patterned circular electrode overlaps the second patterned circular electrode.

A drug screening device is provided. A method of determining optimal drug concentrations and efficacy in a patient using the device are provided. A method of determining effective chemotherapeutic drugs and effective concentrations thereof using the device is provided. Also, a method of determining safety and efficacy of drugs using the device is provided.

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. The reader component may communicate 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.

An assembly for storing sample processing consumables can include a cover and a tray. The cover defines a cover cavity. The tray defines a first plurality of wells. The tray includes a first portion received within the cover cavity such that a press fit is formed between a first tray surface of the first portion of the tray and a first cover surface of the cover defining the cover cavity, thereby releasably coupling the cover to the tray. Each of the first plurality of wells contains a sample processing consumable. The assembly can be used to load sample processing consumables into a sample processing instrument.

An optofluidic diagnostic system and methods for rapid analyte detections. The system comprises an optofluidic sensor array, a test plate and an optical detection cartridge. The sensor array supports one or more distinct sensor units, each having a reactor section designed to temporarily enter a series of different kinds of wells in the test plate. One kind of well is a sample reservoir that holds reagent solution to be transferred into the reactor section. Another kind of well is a drainage chamber that removes reagent solution from the reactor section. A third kind of well is a colorant reservoir that holds a colorant reagent transferable into a reactor section. Finally, the sensor unit is transferred to the optical detection cartridge where it is placed into an isolation booth during the optical detection process so that its flat observation face is stationed in a viewing window opposite an optical detector lens.

A test sensor container for use with an analyte measuring system may include a cartridge that includes a base, two opposite sidewalls extending away from the base, and a plurality of compartments each dimensioned to hold a test sensor. At least one of the two opposite sidewalls is oriented at an acute angle relative to a reference axis that is perpendicular to the base. The test sensor container may further include at least one foil cover sealing the plurality of compartments and an ejection mechanism.

Device for collecting lymph nodes from fatty tissue, which includes a fenestrated sample chamber configured to receive a sample of fatty tissue having lymph nodes; a lockable gate that regulates passage of tissue out of the sample chamber longitudinally; and a pusher that moves longitudinally through the chamber. After treating a sample of resected fatty tissue with a solvent that dissolves fat, the sample is pushed through the fenestrated sample chamber, where the dissolved fat is eluted transversely through the fenestrations. Remaining lymph nodes, arteries, veins, nerves and connective tissue are packed to form a tissue block, which is sized for use with histology cassettes.