A diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge includes a body having a sample chamber for receipt of a sample, an analysis chamber, and a reagent-containing dispensing member. A valve member is coupled to the body for selective movement between first and second states. The valve member has a fluid passage with a hydroscopic, gas permeable vent. In the first state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample chamber and is registered for fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member. The vent prevents fluid from passing therethrough and allows air to vent therefrom as reagent flows into and fills the fluid passage. In the second state, the fluid passage remains in fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member and is brought into fluid communication with the sample chamber to facilitate transporting the sample to the analysis chamber.

A fluidic connection assembly and methods for quickly connecting or disconnecting a tube to a port by hand and without the use of tools. A body is adapted to receive a tube therethrough, and may have at least two sides which are hinged. Each of the hinged sides has corresponding latching portions or projections located near a lower end of the body. These projections are adapted to fit into a port or other fitting and be securely held in place. The assembly may include a tube extending through a body and through a spring located between the end of the body and the end of the tube, whereby the spring exerts a force directly or indirectly against the end of the tube and against the body, thus holding the tubing securely and sealingly engaged in the port when the assembly is connected. The body may further comprise an additional body or an adapter, and/or a cap and latch. A second spring may be used to push a projecting member into a groove or notch of an adapter when an end of the adapter is inserted into one end of the latch or the body. The fluidic connection assembly is useful in analytical instrument systems, such as for in vitro applications and/or in high pressure applications, among other things, and may be used in methods for connecting, or disconnecting, tubing or a fluidic connection assembly from a port or other fitting or connection.

The present disclosure relates to a cell extraction device comprising: a plurality of cell extraction modules arranged in a single layer array, the single layer array having a cell-receiving side wherein an opening of at least one of the plurality of cell extraction modules on the cell-receiving surface is configured to receive and retain a single target cell from a fluid sample, and a fluid-evacuating side wherein an opening of the or each of the plurality of cell extraction modules on the fluid-evacuating side is configured to allow fluid from the fluid sample to be evacuated from the cell extraction device, wherein at least one of the plurality of cell extraction modules comprises a micropore capillary configured at a first end that is open on the cell-receiving side to receive a target cell, and configured at a second end that is open on the fluid-evacuating side to allow fluid to pass through.

An automated analyzer includes a rod-like member 12a, a driving portion 12c, and a control mechanism 30. The driving portion 12c lifts and lowers the rod-like member 12a a direction of being inserted into and removed from the container 24. The control mechanism 30 controls the driving portion 12c so that the rod-like member 12a is lifted after being lowered so that a tip portion of the rod-like member 12a reaches a first position in the liquid L, and at a time when the rod-like member 12a reaches a second position where the tip portion is not separated from the liquid, an upward motion of the rod-like member 12a is stopped for a given period of time to reduce liquid film adhering to the rod-like member.

A container assembly prevents a situation in which an aqueous liquid layer is contaminated by a component of another aqueous liquid layer even when stored for a long time. A container assembly has a structure in which an adsorption container, a reaction container, a washing container, and an elution container are joined to form a flow channel through which the target nucleic acid is moved. The washing container may include a first washing container, a second washing container, and a third washing container. The washing containerseal-tightly holds a first washing liquid, a second washing liquid, a third washing liquid, a first oil, a second oil, a third oil, and a fourth oil, the first oil, the second oil, the third oil, and the fourth oil being immiscible with the first washing liquid, the second washing liquid, and the third washing liquid. The first washing liquid, the second washing liquid, and the third washing liquid are liquids with which a magnetic bead on which a nucleic acid is adsorbed is washed. The elution container seal-tightly holds an eluent and a fluid that is immiscible with the eluent. The eluent is a liquid with which the target nucleic acid is eluted from the magnetic bead.

A system for mixing a sample with a combined buffer includes a sampler body, the sampler body including a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The system further includes a first separator forming a first enclosure with the sampler body for the first reservoir. The system further includes a second separator forming a second enclosure with the sampler body for the first reservoir. The system further includes a third separator, in conjunction with the second separator, forming a third enclosure and a fourth enclosure, respectively, both in conjunction with the sampler body, for the second reservoir.

Fluidic devices and methods are provided.

A universal pipette that can serve as a standard pipette or as a capillary action pipette. A side tube emanates from a main tube in the pipette. The side tube comprises a through hole which is sealed with a through hole tab. The through hole tab can be broken off by a user, thereby removing the seal and exposing the through hole to outside of the pipette. Liquid can now easily be drawn into the tip of the pipette by virtue of capillary action which is now enabled do to the exposed through hole.

Described is a dispensing needle for a fraction collector. The dispensing needle includes a conduit having a fluid channel to conduct a chromatographic flow, an interior wall that defines the fluid channel, an exterior surface and an endface through which the chromatographic flow is dispensed. The dispensing needle also includes a coating of a hydrocarbon material or a fluorocarbon material that is bonded to the endface. The coating is also bonded to at least a portion of the exterior surface that is adjacent to the endface and at least a portion of the interior wall that is adjacent to the endface. The coating operates to reduce a droplet volume of a liquid dispensed from the endface that may remain at the tip of the dispensing needle. Consequently, the concentration variation in a collected fraction due to a missing droplet or extra droplet is reduced.

Disclosed is a liquid discharging nozzle, including a needle stem having a hollow chamber and an outlet end located at one end of the needle stem, an angle between a normal line of an end surface of the outlet end of the liquid discharging nozzle and an extension direction of the needle stem is equal to or smaller than 90°. Further disclosed are a motion controlling mechanism, a microdroplet generating device and method, a liquid driving mechanism and method, a microdroplet generating method, and a surface processing method of a liquid discharging nozzle.