The present invention describes a base module (100) and a tray insert (200, 300, 400) of a multipurpose tray (100) for an automated processing system, such as an analytical, pre-analytical or post-analytical processing system, as well as to a multipurpose tray comprising such base module and such tray insert, wherein the tray insert can be particularly used for holding a plurality of reagent or sample tubes to be processed in the automated processing system. The present invention further relates to a method of simplified loading/unloading of such a multipurpose tray into/from the automated processing system.

Provided is a centrifugal valve control apparatus including: a body part including a body having a chamber and a channel connected to the chamber, and a valve configured to open and close the channel; a heating part coupled to the body and including a heating member disposed at a position corresponding to the valve; and a rotation driving part configured to rotate the body part and the heating part together, wherein the valve is formed to open and close the channel by the heating member while the body part and the heating part rotate together. Accordingly, the valve of the centrifugal valve control apparatus may be accurately controlled.

An apparatus for directing fluid into and out of a fluidic device includes two or more fluid prime channels connected to a fluid inlet of the fluidic device, a flow control valve for each fluid prime channel to control flow between the fluid prime channel and the fluid inlet, one or more outlet channels connected to a fluid outlet of the fluidic device, and a flow control valve for each outlet channel to control flow between the fluid outlet and the associated outlet channel. An apparatus for delivering fluids to a fluid inlet includes a plate that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and a plurality of fluid compartments disposed on the plate, each compartment having a fluid exit port disposed at a common radial distance from the axis of rotation and positioned to align with the fluid inlet as the plate rotates about the axis of rotation.

An apparatus for directing a liquid through a porous medium includes a fluidic module rotatable about a center of rotation and including a fluid chamber and an inflow structure. A porous medium is disposed in the fluid chamber to allow centrifugal force-effected flow of the liquid impinging on a radially inner portion of the porous medium, to a radially outer portion of the porous medium. The porous medium is laterally at least partially spaced apart from chamber walls of the fluid chamber with respect to the flow, so that a fluid connection exists between the radially inner portion of the porous medium and the radially outer portion of the porous medium outside the porous medium. The inflow structure is configured to limit a centrifugal force-effected inflow of the liquid to the radially inner portion of the porous medium to a first flow rate, wherein a ratio of the first flow rate to a maximum possible flow rate through the porous medium is not greater than two.

The present invention provides an analyte detection system for detecting target analytes in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a detection system in a rotor or disc format that utilizes a centrifugal force to move the sample through the detection system. Methods of using the rotor detection system to detect analytes in samples, particularly biological samples, and kits comprising the rotor detection system are also disclosed.

A sample holder (10) comprises a sample chamber (33), a gas reservoir (32) and an upper layer (20) covering over the sample chamber (33) and gas reservoir (32), wherein a bottom surface of the upper layer (20) comprises a microstructure array (23) which overlies at least a portion of a top periphery of the sample chamber (33), and wherein the microstructure array (23) is in communication with a gas path which extends to the gas reservoir (32), to allow gas exchange between the sample chamber (33) and the gas reservoir (32).

Sample preparation systems and methods are described having pump control, valve configurations, and control logic that facilitate automatic, inline preparation dilutions of a sample according to at least two dilution operating modes. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves being configured to direct fluid flows from the first pump and the second pump according to at least two modes of operation to provide a single-stage sample dilution according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution according to a second operating mode.

A microfluidic structure in which a plurality of chambers arranged at different positions are connected in parallel and into which a fixed amount of fluid may be efficiently distributed without using a separate driving source, and a microfluidic device having the same. The microfluidic device includes a platform having a center of rotation and including at least one microfluidic structure. The microfluidic structure includes a sample supply chamber configured to accommodate a sample, a plurality of first chambers arranged in a circumferential direction of the platform at different distances from the center of rotation of the platform, and a plurality of siphon channels, each of the siphon channels being connected to a corresponding one of the first chambers.

A rotary analysis apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a rotary machine operable to rotate or spin a removable disk-type analytical cartridge. The cartridge includes a plurality of fluidly isolated processing trains for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Each process train includes an extractant mixing chamber, slurry filtration chamber, supernatant collection chamber, and reagent mixing chamber in fluid communication. In one use, soil sample slurry is prepared and added to the extractant mixing chamber. The slurry is mixed with an extractant by rotating the cartridge to separate out an analyte from the mixture. A sediment filter in the filtration chamber deliquifies and traps soil particles to produce clear supernatant. A color changing reagent or fluorescent agent may be mixed with the collected supernatant for subsequent colorimetric, fluorescent, turbidimetric, or other type of analysis.

A centrifugal rotor device includes a first chamber configured to hold a fluid, and a second chamber configured to receive the fluid from the first chamber. The centrifugal rotor device also includes a conduit coupled to the first chamber at a conduit inlet and coupled to the second chamber at a conduit outlet, the conduit configured to permit movement of the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. The conduit includes a first channel and a second channel formed adjacent to the first channel. The second channel is in fluid communication with the first channel and has a dimension smaller than the smallest dimension of the first channel. The conduit also includes one or more obstructive features present in the second channel configured to impede movement of the fluid in the second channel.