A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow in the device. The device includes an upstream chamber having an outlet, a downstream chamber including a proximal portion radially inwards of a distal portion and including a first port disposed in the distal portion and a first conduit which connects the outlet of the upstream chamber to the first port of the downstream chamber. The first conduit extends radially inwards to a crest and radially outwards from the crest to the first port of the downstream chamber. A distance between the axis of rotation and the crest is greater than or equal to a distance between the axis of rotation and the outlet of the upstream chamber.

A sample holder 100 for use in a device for image-based analysis of multiple samples, the sample holder comprising: an optically flat surface 10; multiple locations of interest 16, 18 dispersed across the optically flat surface 10 that each, in use, correspond to locations of a sample of the multiple samples; and multiple focal structures 12 associated with the multiple locations of interest 16, 18; wherein the focal structures 12 each comprise at least one pyramid shaped indentation 30 in the optically flat surface 10.

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.

Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.

According to the disclosure, a target analyte detection cartridge includes a sample chamber into which sample is inserted, a metering chamber connected to the sample chamber to meter a predetermined amount of sample, a mixing chamber connected to the metering chamber to receive a magnet bead, and a waste chamber connected to the metering chamber. The metering chamber has one side connected to each of the sample chamber and the mixing chamber and another side connected to the waste chamber. A first pneumatic flow path to which pneumatic pressure is provided is connected to a waste flow path that joins the other side of the metering chamber to connect the metering chamber and the waster chamber.

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.

The present invention provides a thermocycler comprising: a rotatable platform having a plurality of reaction wells or being adapted to receive a plurality of reaction containers, wherein the rotatable platform and/or the reaction wells are formed, at least in part, of a material which is adapted to be inductively heated by exposure to electromagnetic energy. An electromagnetic energy source is provided and is configured to direct electromagnetic energy at the rotatable platform, wherein the electromagnetic energy source surrounds a sufficient amount of the rotatable platform in order to heat the entire platform substantially simultaneously. In preferred embodiments, the electromagnetic energy source completely surrounds the rotatable platform. The invention further comprises a method of cycling a reaction mixture between predetermined temperatures utilising the novel thermocycler apparatus of the invention. The invention also comprises use of the novel thermocycler apparatus of the invention for conducting a nucleic acid amplification reaction such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the ligase chain reaction (LCR).

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.

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.

A nucleic acid amplification disk apparatus using a temperature sensitive polymer synthesis and the analysis method using the same, and more specifically, and the nucleic acid amplification device, and the analysis method using the nucleic acid amplification disk unit and the nucleic acid amplification disk for amplifying the Bacterial DNA or RNA, and the driving control section for controlling the nucleic acid amplification disk.