A method for producing a liquid reaction mixture containing a radioisotope, in particular, a radioactive composition, minimizes device contamination with radioactive substances and increase speed and accuracy with which droplets are mixed. The method for producing a radioactive composition includes placing at least one first droplet L1 containing a radionuclide and at least one second droplet L2 containing a labeling substance on at least two respective dimples 5 among dimples 5 on a front surface 4b of an insulating layer 4 of a liquid manipulation device 1, and obtaining a liquid mixture M by using a change in electrostatic force caused by changing voltage applied to the electrodes 3 to thereby cause a relative movement between the at least one first droplet L1 and the at least one second droplet L2 so that the at least one first droplet L1 and the at least one second droplet L2 are mixed together at any one dimple among the dimples 5.

An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder with multiple receptacle wells. Each well has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. A cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position relative to the holder and is configured to exert a force onto any receptacles in the wells when the cover is in the closed position. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each of the optical fibers provides optical communication between one of the wells and an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. A thermal element is positioned between a thermally-conductive support and the receptacle holder.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.

An optofluidic diagnostic system and methods for rapid analyte detections. The system comprises an optofluidic sensor array, a test plate and an optical detection cartridge. The sensor array supports one or more distinct sensor units, each having a reactor section designed to temporarily enter a series of different kinds of wells in the test plate. One kind of well is a sample reservoir that holds reagent solution to be transferred into the reactor section. Another kind of well is a drainage chamber that removes reagent solution from the reactor section. A third kind of well is a colorant reservoir that holds a colorant reagent transferable into a reactor section. Finally, the sensor unit is transferred to the optical detection cartridge where it is placed into an isolation booth during the optical detection process so that its flat observation face is stationed in a viewing window opposite an optical detector lens.

The present disclosure relates to a medical diagnostic system. In various embodiments, the system includes a housing, a first receptacle in the housing for receiving a reagent container, a second receptacle in the housing for receiving a working fluid and waste container, where the second receptacle is larger than the first receptacle, two reagent access needles positioned and fixed within the first receptacle with each of the two reagent access needles being substantially horizontal to horizontally access the reagent container, and a working fluid access needle and a waste access needle positioned and fixed within the second receptacle with the working fluid access needle and the waste access needle being substantially horizontal to horizontally access the working fluid and waste container.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic chip including a plurality of microcavities, at least two of the plurality of microcavities have different volumes.

Vial assemblies comprising a tubular body and a flexible bottom or flexible liner are described herein, wherein the flexible bottom or liner is configured to compress at least partially upon the application of force. Methods for storing and removing frozen samples from such vial assemblies are also described herein.

Provided is a cell culture test device including a plurality of well units. Each of the well units includes a first inlet portion through which a first fluid is introduced, a first accommodation space communicating with the first inlet portion to accommodate a flow of the first fluid introduced through the first inlet portion, a second inlet portion through which a second fluid is introduced, and a second accommodation space in which the second fluid is accommodated. The second accommodation space accommodates an island structure connected with an island-connecting structure extending from the wall surface of the second accommodation space. A third inlet portion through which an antibiotic is loaded is formed above the island structure. The antibiotic loaded through the third inlet portion is fixedly accommodated on the inner and outer surfaces of the island structure.

Magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for and methods of actuating magnetically-responsive microposts in a reaction (or assay) chamber is disclosed. For example, a microfluidics system is provided that includes a microfluidics device (or cartridge) that includes the reaction (or assay) chamber in which a field of magnetically-responsive surface-attached microposts is installed. The presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are provided in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive microposts wherein the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are used for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts. For example, the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms generate an actuation force that is used to induce, for example, synchronized beat patterns and/or metachronal beat patterns in the magnetically-responsive microposts. Additionally, a method of using the presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts is provided.

Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in the concentration of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), hydrogen ions, and nucleotide triphosphates.