The present invention relates to a microfluidic device 100 for image multiplexing. The microfluidic device 100 comprises a base structure 110 comprising an optical window 140 and a fluid well insert 120 coupled to the base structure 110. The fluid well insert 120 is configured to retain a microscope slide 130 for mounting of a biological sample 150 within the microfluidic device 100. The fluid well insert 120 is also configured to provide a fluid to said biological sample 150. A fluid well insert lid 160 coupled to the fluid well insert 120 is also provided.

An implement for eliminating headspace in the testing space(s) (T.sub.9 or MP.sub.Well) of a test tube (T) or microtiter plate (MP), and methods of using such implements to measure oxygen concentration in a test sample. The implement projects into a test chamber (T.sub.9 or MP.sub.Well) to displace a portion of a fluid sample within the test chamber (T.sub.9 or MP.sub.Well) and has longitudinally extending grooves (109 and 229) through which the displaced fluidic content can be discharged from the test chamber (T.sub.9 or MP.sub.Well).

A system and method of fluid delivery for providing a surface fluid pattern, the system comprising: a fluid delivery head for fluid flow therethrough, the fluid delivery head comprising: a fluid delivery surface having surface openings defined therein and arranged across the fluid delivery surface as a two-dimensional display; wherein at least some of the surface openings are grouped as a surface opening unit having at least one aspiration opening through which fluid can be provided to the fluid delivery surface and at least one injection opening through which fluid can be moved away from the fluid delivery surface, the surface opening unit comprising at least three surface openings positioned as a two-dimensional display and outwardly of at least one other surface opening.

Cap arrangements for per-well fluidics and gas exchange for microplate, microtiter, and microarray technologies are presented for use with cell cultures or other applications. In example implementations, each individual well within in a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangements which can include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. Cap arrangements within the lid can include or provide one or more sensors of various types, including but not limited to selective gas sensors, chemical sensors, temperature sensors, pH sensors, biosensors, immunosensors, molecular-imprint sensors, optical sensors, fluorescence sensors, bioFETS, etc. Incubator interfacing and imaging are described.

Vessel closure assemblies are provided. The vessel closure assemblies may be engaged with vessels. The vessel closure assemblies may each include a vessel closure, inserts such as anchors and fluid conduits extending through the vessel closure, and a respiratory assembly. The respiratory assembly may include a housing and one or more gas permeable membranes. The gas permeable membranes may be oriented substantially perpendicular to a top wall of the vessel closure through which the inserts extend.

A system for preserving a surgically explanted tissue sample has a first packing station for placing the tissue sample in a selected container among a plurality of containers of different sizes. Each container has a hermetic lid (50) with an opening (33) equipped with a non-return valve (51). The system also has a final packing station equipped with a filling system for filling the selected container with a preservative substance, including a nozzle-holding head (28) mounted movable on a vertical guide (29). A method is also described which provides for the selection of the container based on the evaluation of the volume of the tissue sample, the hermetic closure of the container immediately after the insertion of the tissue sample, and the filling of the container by means of a nozzle (31) of a filling system inserted in the non-return valve (51) of the hermetic lid (50).

A storage vial (100, 200) may include a vial body (110, 210) having a first end (111, 211) and a second end (112, 212) and defining an internal volume (113, 213) configured to contain a biological material (B) therein, a first valve (120, 220) positioned at the first end of the vial body, a second valve (130, 230) positioned at the second end of the vial body, a first conduit connector (160, 260) positioned at the first end of the vial body, and a second conduit connector (170, 270) positioned at the second end of the vial body. The resulting construction may allow for closed system direct transfer of biological material from the storage vial to another vessel using aseptic techniques.

The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

The present invention relates to microfluidic check valves, as well as fluidic cartridges including such check valves. In particular examples, the check valve includes a pre-stressed spring formed from a planar substrate. Various characteristics of the valves, such as size, profile, opening pressure, etc., can be tuned to provide desired performance when employed within a fluidic cartridge.

Suggested is a method for the extraction of fragrances from natural starting material consisting of the following steps: (a) providing a sample of the natural starting material in a pressure proof sample container; (b) bringing in the sample in contact with liquefied petroleum gas of propane and/or butane gas, preferably; (c) extracting the fragrances from the natural starting material provided in step (b); (d) venting of the pressure proof sample container, while the liquefied petroleum gas is evaporated and the fragrances is maintained as residue in the container; and optionally (e) dissolving the fragrances in a suitable solvent.