A tissue sample that has been removed from a subject can be properly fixed for evaluation using the disclosed transporter assembly for carrying a tissue sample and method for fixing an unfixed tissue sample. In one embodiment, the disclosed assembly includes a transport container, a fixative in the transport container, and a cooling device that reduces and/or maintains the temperature of the fixative to perform a pre-soaking process at a temperature of less than about 7° C. The pre-soaking process can, for example, be performed during sample transport or during extended periods of storage, such as over a weekend.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence amplification method and apparatuses thereof that are simple in the design and easy to miniaturize and integrate into complex apparatuses, with capability of using DNA polymerases that are not thermostable. In the present invention, a plurality of heat sources are combined to supply or remove heat from specific regions of the sample such that a specific spatial temperature distribution is maintained inside the sample by locating a relatively high temperature region lower in height than a relatively low temperature region.

A heating hood according to the disclosure comprises a spherically formed heat transfer region, in particular for receiving at least partially spherical objects; a frame device, wherein position of the heat transfer region is at least partially predefined by the frame device; and a heating device arranged between the heat transfer region and the frame device. A slit for guiding air is formed at least sectionally between the frame device and the heating device, wherein air can be introduced into the slit on a first side of the frame device, and wherein the introduced air can be diverted from the slit on another side, which is spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the frame device.

An incubation system includes an actuator, a platform, an incubation lid, and a dispenser. The actuator includes a motion disc and a shaft connected to the motion disc. The shaft extends away from the motion disc. The platform is connected to the shaft of the actuator in a manner allowing movement transmission. The platform has a through hole and a thermal conductive plate. One end of the through hole is sealed by the thermal conductive plate. The incubation lid is movably disposed over the platform. The platform is thermal insulating. The incubation lid has an opening allowing fluid communication, and the dispenser suspends over the thermal conductive plate of the platform.

Provided is a microfluidic device including a lower panel including flow velocity measuring structures for measuring a flow velocity of a fluid; an upper panel separated from the lower panel and including a microfluidic channel through which a sample passes; a thin film provided at a portion where the lower panel and the upper panel adjoin each other in order to prevent the sample passing through the microfluidic channel from coming into direct contact with the flow velocity measuring structures, the thin film being configured to separate the lower panel and the upper panel to enable the lower panel to be repeatedly used multiple times; a specific functional unit configured to perform a specific operation on the sample passing through the microfluidic channel; and a negative pressure forming means configured to suck the lower panel and the upper panel with a negative pressure.

A thermal block assembly is provided. The assembly can comprise a substrate comprising a first surface configured with a plurality of reaction sites each reaction site configured to contain a biological sample and a sample block comprising a plurality of pedestals configured to thermally modulate the plurality of biological samples wherein each pedestal is thermally coupled to one of the reaction sites. The assembly can further comprise cooling blocks, slots and insulating rings associated with reaction sites each capable of minimizing heat flow between reaction sites. A method for thermally isolating reaction sites is also provided. The method can comprise providing a substrate including a plurality of reaction sites, each reaction site configured to contain a biological sample, providing a sample block comprising pedestals, each pedestal having a dimension substantially equal to a dimension of the reaction site and thermally coupled to the reaction site, thermally isolating the reaction sites with a thermal isolating feature, modulating the temperature of the pedestals through a sequence of temperature and hold times and cooling the reaction sites with cooling blocks.

A tissue sample that has been removed from a subject can be properly fixed for evaluation using the disclosed transporter assembly for carrying a tissue sample and method for fixing an unfixed tissue sample. In one embodiment, the disclosed assembly includes a transport container, a fixative in the transport container, and a cooling device that reduces and/or maintains the temperature of the fixative to perform a pre-soaking process at a temperature of less than about 7° C. The pre-soaking process can, for example, be performed during sample transport or during extended periods of storage, such as over a weekend.

Embodiments include a reaction vessel having a first reaction chamber filled with a first material; a first light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the first reaction chamber; a second reaction chamber filled with a second material; a second light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the second reaction chamber; a temperature sensor disposed within the second reaction chamber; and one or more energy sources configured to direct light at the first light absorbing region and the second light absorbing region. A processor may be employed to determine a first temperature of the first material from a second temperature of the second material measured by the temperature sensor. Methods of manufacturing such a reaction vessel are also disclosed.

A sample plate for a thermal cycler suitable for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure includes a base plate and a number of reaction vessels extending upward from the base plate. The sample plate further includes a vertical wall surrounding an outer perimeter defined by the reaction vessels. The vertical wall can be a continuation vertical wall, an intermittent vertical wall, or a perforated vertical wall. The intermittent vertical wall can include a plurality of wall portions, each of which plurality of wall portions is separated from other wall portions via a plurality of gaps.

A container may include a storage volume configured to store a payload. A thermal insulation layer may surround the storage volume. A thermoregulation layer may surround the thermal insulation layer. There may be activation of a chemical reaction in the thermoregulation layer. The thermal insulation layer may have R-value per inch configured to expose the payload to a desired temperature to ensure viability of the payload and dampen a temperature spike of the chemical reaction. A system of containers may include a system storage volume with N containers in the system storage volume, wherein N is a whole number of 2 or more. A method of making an insulated container may include preparing an outer skin barrier layer, stacking a thermoregulation layer on the outer skin barrier layer, stacking a thermal insulation layer on the thermoregulation layer, and stacking an inner skin barrier layer on the thermal insulation layer.