This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel, a displacement fluid, and a tube. The tube includes a funnel, a cannula, and a cavity. The cannula allows for fluid communication between the funnel and the cavity, such that the processing vessel is inserted into the cavity, and the cannula extends into the processing vessel.

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a plurality of processing vessels and a collector. The collector funnels portions of the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessels. Sequential density fractionation is the division of a sample into fractions or of a fraction of a sample into sub-fractions by a step-wise or sequential process, such that each step or sequence results in the collection or separation of a different fraction or sub-fraction from the preceding and successive steps or sequences. In other words, sequential density fractionation provides individual sub-populations of a population or individual sub-sub-populations of a sub-population of a population through a series of steps.

Filtration head (1) for a filter system, comprising base (2) including filter support (3) for removable filter element (4) and a fluid path from one side of filter element (4) on filter support (3), through filter element (4), and to drainage outlet (5) of base (2), and holder device (6) for removably attaching funnel (7) to base (2) to form a sample fluid reservoir on one side of filter element (4), wherein holder device (6) comprises ring-shaped element (8) configured to extend about bottom peripheral flange (7a) surrounding a lower end of funnel (7) and to selectively apply a biasing force on a radially outward protruding portion (7b) of bottom peripheral flange (7a) of funnel (7) to press funnel (7) against base (2). The filtration head allows the use of cardboard funnels without risk of liquid leakage between the funnel and the base.

A microfilter having a hydrophilic surface and suited for size-based capture and analysis of cells, such as circulating cancer cells, from whole blood and other human fluids is disclosed. The filter material is photo-definable, allowing the formation of precision pores by UV lithography. Exemplary embodiments provide a device that combines a microfilter with 3D nanotopography in culture scaffolds that mimic the 3D in vivo environment to better facilitate growth of captured cells.

A flow test unit (1) with a housing (2) which is sealingly closed to the outside at least when coupled to a sample container. At least one test strip (3) is accommodated in the housing (2), and the housing (2) has at least one admission opening (4). The test strip (3) is arranged inside the housing (2) such that, after a liquid connection (22) to a sample container has been produced, a wetting region (5) can be wetted with liquid (6) entering via the at least one admission opening (4).

A container includes a lower portion and a lid to connect with the lower portion. The lid includes a fluidic interface, a swing bar, and a counter structure disposed on an opposite side of the fluidic interface relative to the swing bar. The fluidic interface includes a first liquid port, a second liquid port, a gas port, and a seal ring disposed around the first liquid port, the second liquid port, and the gas port, the first liquid port disposed along a center axis of the container.

A medicine-holding body is disposed in a flow path of a nozzle portion of an adapter for blood dispensing. The medicine-holding body is formed of a plurality of fibers which is made of polyester and is bundled by aligning a longitudinal direction thereof in a flowing direction which is a direction in which blood flows. The medicine-holding body holds an anticoagulant for suppressing coagulation of blood, as a medicine to be mixed into blood. The surface area of the medicine-holding body is greater than or equal to 10 mm.sup.2 and less than 600 mm.sup.2. In a case where the surface area of the medicine-holding body is greater than or equal to 10 mm.sup.2, the concentration of the anticoagulant becomes greater than or equal to a lower limit value of 10 U/mL even under most severe conditions such as a dispensing speed of 500 L/second. In a case where the surface area of the medicine-holding body is less than 600 mm.sup.2, it is possible to maintain the occurrence rate of hemolysis to be less than or equal to 10%.

A device and associated method for centrifuging a physiological fluid includes a syringe including a tip, a base and a barrel extending between the tip and the base to hold a physiological fluid. The syringe includes a plunger positioned within the barrel and the plunger includes a plunger seal in sealing engagement with an inside wall of the barrel. An exoskeleton is provided to support the syringe at least partially within the exoskeleton for use in a centrifuge. The syringe is removably coupled to the exoskeleton using an interference fit. The method includes holding the physiological fluid in the syringe, supporting the syringe at least partially within the exoskeleton, and centrifuging the physiological fluid in the syringe supported by the exoskeleton.

An adapter for connecting an array of pipette tips having through bores with conical upper ends to a multichannel air displacement pipettor having a plurality of ports with compliant internal sealing surfaces. The adapter comprises a planar base with an array of openings extending between its top and bottom surfaces. Sealing tubes project upwardly from the top surface, and tip mounting tubes project downwardly from the bottom surface, with pairs of sealing tubes and tip mounting tubes being arranged coaxially and in communication with respective ones of the openings in the base. The tip mounting tubes are externally dimensioned and configured for insertion into the conical upper ends of the pipette tips, and the sealing tubes are externally configured and dimensioned for insertion into the ports of the pipettor and into sealing interengagement with their compliant internal sealing surfaces.

The invention features methods and apparatus for concentrating a nucleic acid. Methods of the invention include providing an initial suspension of a nucleic acid and an initial liquid, contacting the initial suspension with a housing having a filter that does not pass the nucleic acid, pressurizing the housing to produce a filtrate and a nucleic acid retentate from the initial solution, and detecting the volume of the nucleic acid retentate. Apparatus of the invention include a chamber configured to hold a filter housing containing a nucleic acid suspension, a pressure source to filter the suspension, and a detector to depressurize the housing upon detecting the volume reaching a predetermined threshold. The methods and apparatus described herein are useful in filtering, concentrating, and reconstituting nucleic acids, such as mRNA, in processes such as complete buffer replacement.