A container assembly with improved mixing dynamics for mixing substances in preparation for injection by an injection device or for the dispersion of additives in the collection and analysis of biological samples is disclosed. In one configuration, the container assembly includes a first mixing element protruding into an interior of a container. With the container rotated about its longitudinal axis, the first mixing element forms at least one vortex which effectuates mixing of a first substance provided within the container interior and a second substance provided within the container interior.

The invention provides integrated Organ-on-Chip microphysiological systems representations of living Organs and support structures for such microphysiological systems.

A method of identifying the presence of an analyte may include providing an in vitro test device and a test swab; obtaining a sample using the test swab; transitioning the locking member from the first configuration to the second configuration; advancing the plunger into the housing to pierce the one or more reagent pouches in the reagent region to cause reagent therein to be released and mix; inserting the test swab with obtained sample into the interior of the plunger; rotating the in vitro test device and disposing it on its plunger base; and determining whether the analyte is present. The in vitro test device may include a plunger, a housing, one or more reagent pouches disposed in the housing, a lateral flow test strip, and a locking member having configurations that either allow or prevent reagent in the one or more reagent pouches from being released.

The present invention is notably directed to methods of fabrication of a microfluidic chip package or assembly (1), comprising: providing (S1) a substrate (10, 30) having at least one block (14, 14a) comprising one or more microfluidic structures on a face (F) of the substrate; partially cutting (S2) into the substrate to obtain partial cuts (10c), such that a residual thickness of the substrate at the level of the partial cuts (10c) enables singulation of said at least one block (14, 14a); cleaning (S4) said at least one block; and applying (S5-S7) a cover-film (62) to cover said at least one block (14, 14a), whereby at least one covered block is obtained, the applied cover film still enabling singulation of each covered block, wherein each covered block corresponds to a microfluidic chip after singulation. The present invention is further directed to microfluidic chips, packing or assembly, obtainable with such methods.

An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel. Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

A cartridge capable of a centrifugation and an automatic analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least two or more sample wells, a centrifugation well, a measuring well, and a tip receiving well, in which a container is formed into a lower portion along a circumference of a circular plate with a predetermined interval, wherein the centrifugation well is sealed with one lid paper along with at least two or more of the sample wells, a blood injection unit is further formed inside of a radius direction for the centrifugation well, the blood injection unit has an outer blood injection hole formed to be spaced inside the centrifugation well in the radius direction, an inclined passage that communicates with the centrifugation well from the outer blood injection hole, and a cover integrally attached to the outer blood injection hole to open and close the blood injection hole.

A microfluidic device can comprise a plurality of interconnected microfluidic elements. A plurality of actuators can be positioned abutting, immediately adjacent to, and/or attached to deformable surfaces of the microfluidic elements. The actuators can be selectively actuated and de-actuated to create directed flows of a fluidic medium in the microfluidic (or nanofluidic) device. Further, the actuators can be selectively actuated and de-actuated to create localized flows of a fluidic medium in the microfluidic device to move reagents and/or micro-objects in the microfluidic device.

A method is provided comprising loading shells into shell retention chambers of a shell management module, the shells including corresponding reservoirs configured to hold individual quantities of liquid, the shell retention chambers arranged in a predetermined pattern on a platform of the shell management module. The method further comprises orienting discharge ends of the shells along an actuation direction within the shell retention chambers, and covering the discharge ends with closure lids to seal bottoms of the corresponding reservoirs.

A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

A medical apparatus is provided including an elongated body and defining a loading chamber between a proximal end and a distal end thereof for storing a liquid therein, the elongated body defining an outlet at the distal end thereof; a cell block filter assembly including a cell block body and defining a well portion matingly engageable with the distal end of the elongated body for receiving fluid from the outlet of the elongated body and defining a well opening on a bottom thereof; a filter membrane disposed across the well opening on the bottom of the well portion; and a cover member positionable over the well portion wherein the entire cell block filter assembly is sliceable into slices having a thickness suitable for mounting on a laboratory slide.