In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.

A fluid handling system includes a fluid handling device including an opening for introducing a fluid or discharging the fluid; a tube including a flange, where one end of the tube is for connection to the opening, and the other end of the tube is for connection to an introduction device for supplying the fluid or to a discharge device for discharging the fluid; a support member including a first through hole into which the tube is inserted, and movably supporting the tube; and a first elastic member including a second through hole into which the tube is inserted, and holding a part of the tube while the first elastic member is in contact with the flange and the fluid handling device or the support member.

A sampling module of a fluid processing apparatus includes at least one multi-configuration device connected to a filtration module. The invention relates to an area of non-disruptive sampling from any flow stream including the ones containing solids. The fluid processing apparatus remains in fluid communication with a sample processing module in all configurations of the sampling module and the parameters deemed critical for a chemical process remain unaffected during the sampling event. The entire event is controlled from a computer and the results are collected to make decisions on analytical and process controls.

A device and method for purification of information or particles from a sample and provides a device for performing washing steps in automated analyzer systems, the device comprising a multilayer unit with liquid channel and valves. The multilayer unit may comprise three layer.

A method of operating a pump can include advancing a stepper motor one or more additional steps in a first direction after detecting a first change in a limit sensor state corresponding to a piston reaching an end of its travel in a first direction. After advancing the stepper motor the additional step or steps in the first direction, the stepper motor can be reversed and advanced in a second direction until a second change in the limit sensor state is detected. The stepper motor can then be advanced in the second direction a predetermined number of steps associated with a full travel of the piston.

A microfluidic platform and method are provided. The microfluidic platform includes a base having an outer surface and a plurality of wells formed in the outer surface thereof for receiving fluid therein. The plurality of wells are in fluid communication with each other. A lid includes a plurality of channels having corresponding inputs and outputs. The lid is moveable between a first position wherein the lid is disengaged from the base and a second position wherein the inputs of each channel communicate with corresponding wells in the base. The fluid in each well is drawn into corresponding channels through the inputs thereof by capillary action.

Various embodiments of the teachings relate to a system or method for sample preparation or analysis in biochemical or molecular biology procedures. The sample preparation can involve small volume processed in discrete portions or segments or slugs, herein referred to as discrete volumes. A molecular biology procedure can be nucleic acid analysis. Nucleic acid analysis can be an integrated DNA amplification/DNA sequencing procedure.

Method and devices are provided for assessing tissue samples from a plurality of tissue sites in a subject using molecular analysis. In certain aspects, devices of the embodiments allow for the collection of liquid tissue samples and delivery of the samples for mass spectrometry analysis.

A method for controlling a magnetic valve and particularly a method for dispensing and/or aspirating a volume of liquid as well as a corresponding dispenser/pipetting apparatus is disclosed. The method for controlling a magnetic valve has measuring a capacitance at the magnetic valve and determining a position of a plunger based on the measured capacitance. The method for dispensing or aspirating a volume of liquid has controlling a flow of a system fluid by a magnetic valve located between a pressure source and a dispenser/pipetting tip, dispensing or aspirating a volume of liquid through an exterior opening of the tip dependent on the flow of the system fluid, wherein controlling the flow and determining a flow time in dependence of the volume of liquid to be dispensed or aspirated, and controlling the magnetic valve is held open for the duration of the flow time.

This dispenser comprises a syringe (52), a piston (56) that moves inside the syringe (52), and a tip-connecting part (51) for connecting the syringe (52) with a tip (53). The tip-connecting part (51) comprises: a first flow channel (61); a second flow channel (62); two grooves (54a) and (54b), which are each provided over the entire circumference of the side surface of the distal end where the tip (53) is to be installed and are mutually separated in the tip (53) insertion direction; and elastic bodies (55a) and (55b), which are respectively provided in the two grooves (54a) and (54b). The first flow channel (61) extends in the movement direction of the piston (56) and passes through the tip-connecting part (51). The second flow channel (62) is separated from the first flow channel (61), and one end is exposed between the two grooves (54a) and (54b).