Provided herein is technology relating to cryopreservation and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos. In particular, provided herein are methods of using microfluidic devices to exposing biological material to a vitrification solution having a time dependent concentration of a cryoprotectant agent.

A thermal cycling method and associated device is described. The method is for carrying out a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process to amplify deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and the method includes: pre-heating a series of blocks to respective temperatures that correspond to different respective heating stages in a PCR process, in which each block of the series of blocks defines a respective heat transfer surface, in which the series of blocks define a sequence of positions along a path, with each position defined by a respective heat transfer surface of a respective block; and moving a PCR reaction vessel, which contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and PCR reagents, along the path into and out of each respective position in the sequence of positions according to a schedule, in which, at each respective position the PCR reaction vessel is in thermal contact with the respective heat transfer surface to equilibrate a temperature of the PCR reaction vessel to a target temperature that corresponds to a respective heating stage in the PCR process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an embedding apparatus capable of selectively changing a thickness above a hand-rest part of a mechanism for placing a hand. As solving means, the embedding apparatus (10) according to the present invention configured to dispense and embed an embedding material into an embedding tray includes a cold spot (16) configured to cool the embedding tray, a hand-rest part (18) provided on each of left and right sides with the cold spot (16) interposed therebetween, and a wrist-rest part (24) detachably attached onto the hand-rest part (18).

A sample heating/cooling device (2) comprises a plurality of members (6) operable in use to heat and/or cool one or more samples (22). Each member (6) has a sample contact surface and is biased towards a resting position under the operation of a biasing means. The members (6) are movable independently of one another against said bias under the application of a force on the sample contact surface and so are able to conform to the shape of a sample placed on the members to provide a uniform heating/cooling profile. The members (6) may be mounted in a heating/cooling element (4) and adapted to conduct thermal energy between the sample (22) and the element (4). The device (2) is particularly suitable for thawing frozen sample bags having an irregular shape. A corresponding method is also described.

A thermo-gravimetric analysis system includes a chamber having an interior; and a sample crucible connected to and inside of the chamber, the sample crucible configured to hold a sample material. The system further includes a reference crucible connected to and inside of the chamber; and a metal organic framework (MOF) crucible connected to and inside of the chamber, separate from the sample crucible, the MOF crucible including an MOF material.

Systems, devices and methods for cell analysis provide an end user with real-time cell analysis and imaging of single cells in a population. Various cell analysis systems can provide both optical imaging, as well as electroscopic imaging, which is an image of cellular response as detected by sensors covering a cell footprint or cellular efflux. An automated fluidic system can provide an end-user selected sequence of reagents to cells, while precision controlled sensor array device thermostatting, and analysis compartment environmental control provide consistency in the cell analysis system environment.

Described herein is novel, economical device for photodetection of presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample. Accordingly, the detection takes place based on difference in light intensities. The invention further describes the method and apparatus for detection of target nucleic acid using said device.

A lyophilization nest and method of using the same is described herein. In various embodiments, the lyophilization nest includes a base and first and second covers and is configured to support one or more receptacles each supporting one or more substances within interior spaces of the lyophilization nest. The interior spaces may be in fluid communication with the exterior of the lyophilization nest through one or more vent holes extending through the first and second covers. Each of the one or more vent holes have a corresponding sealing element configured to selectively form an air-tight seal within the vent holes, such that a controlled environment may be maintained within the interior spaces when the ambient conditions surrounding the lyophilization nest are not lyophilization conditions. The one or more sealing elements may be operable while the lyophilization nest is positioned within a sealed lyophilizer by depressing the sealing elements into corresponding vent holes to form the air-tight seal.

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for rapidly and uniformly cooling thermal cycling systems comprising selectively heating or cooling a thermal boundary layer at the edge of a bulk fluid flow.