Methods and apparatus for manufacturing and operating a microfluidic arrangement are disclosed. In one arrangement, a continuous body of a first liquid is provided in direct contact with a first substrate. A second liquid is provided in direct contact with the continuous body of first liquid and covering the continuous body of first liquid, the second liquid being immiscible with the first liquid. A separation fluid, immiscible with the first liquid, is propelled through at least the first liquid and into contact with the first substrate over all of a selected region on the surface of the first substrate, thereby displacing first liquid that was initially in contact with the selected region away from the selected region without any solid member contacting the selected region directly and without any solid member contacting the selected region via a globule of liquid held at a tip of the solid member, the selected region being such that one or more walls of second liquid are formed that modify a shape of the continuous body of first liquid.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

An electronic angle adjustment mechanism for a pump and a motor generally includes a base and a linear actuator. The base has an upper portion mounted to a motor, a lower portion mounted to a pump, and a hinge for pivotably moving the upper base portion in relation to the lower base portion. The linear actuator is mounted to on an attachment plate that also attaches the motor to the upper base portion. The linear actuator can drive a flexible member or connect to a gear wheel or worm screw to pivot about the hinge and change an angle between the upper and lower base portions.

A blister actuator assembly for actuating a blister assembly of a diagnostic cartridge assembly and dispensing fluid from the blister assembly is provided. The blister actuator assembly includes an articulated actuator having a drive body and a plurality of driven links. The drive body is configured to translate generally along a first axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon being acted on by an actuation force directed generally along the first axis. The driven links extend in inclined relation from the drive body, with the driven links being configured to pivot relative to the drive body into forcible engagement with the blister assembly to dispense fluid from the blister assembly in response to the drive body translating along the first axis.

A microfluidic probe head is provided. The microfluidic probe head comprises a processing surface. The processing surface has a first and second aperture and a fluid injection channel, which leads to the first aperture. The microfluidic probe head comprises also a first fluid aspiration channel which leads to the second aperture. Thereby, the second aperture forms a slot in the processing surface. Furthermore, a microfluidic probe may be provided comprising the microfluidic probe head.

A manually actuated chromatography device comprising a chamber for receiving a liquid sample, a pump with a metering valve, and a chromatography element, wherein the pump moves a predetermined volume of liquid from the sample chamber to the chromatography element.

The disclosure features methods, fluid delivery platforms, and apparatus for preparing a sample on a substrate that includes a substrate handler configured to move a substrate between a first position and a second position, and a platform positioned so that when the substrate is in the second position, the platform faces the substrate, where the platform includes a fluid delivery area having a second surface formed from a hydrophilic material for which a water contact angle is 40 degrees or less, and a first surface facing the substrate when the substrate is in the second position, formed from a hydrophobic material for which a water contact angle is 100 degrees or more.

The present invention provides an analytical system comprising a sample management module. A pressure delivery assembly is configured to compress and deform a mixing chamber containing a sample preparation, and simultaneously open a plug of the mixing chamber to release the sample preparation. The system can be manufactured as a sample box combinable to a detector box, and is particularly convenient for patients to use at home, for example, screening colorectal cancer with their fecal sample.

A reagent cartridge according to an embodiment includes a housing part, a tubular member, and a dispense part. The housing part houses therein a reagent. The tubular member is filled with the reagent housed in the housing part. The dispense part dispenses the reagent supplied from the tubular member. The tubular member has elasticity, and supplies the reagent to the dispense part when a side face part thereof is compressed.

The disclosure relates to a sample vessel including a cavity for accommodating a sample, a first opening for introducing the sample and a bottom opposite the first opening as well as at least one additional opening of the cavity. According to the disclosure, the at least one additional opening opens toward the outside of the cavity on the side of the cavity opposing the bottom. The disclosure further relates to a carrier plate, an evacuation needle, as well as a method for evacuating a sample.