Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.

Various embodiments provide a connector for the sterile transfer of a liquid medium from a container to a bioprocess engineering system. The connector has two coupling devices. The coupling devices each have a housing and a control element which is adjustably mounted in the housing interior and forms a channel. The channel extends from a control element inlet opening to a control element outlet opening. The housings are able to be mechanically connected to one another and have a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet of one housing and the fluid inlet of the other housing overlap. The control elements are each adjustable from a starting position, into an operating position, in which the control element inlet opening is fluidically connected to the fluid inlet and the control element outlet opening is fluidically connected to the fluid outlet.

Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.

Performing sample quantitation and sample amplification may be performed in a sample cartridge or sample cartridges. Sample quantitation using qPCR may be performed during STR PCR on the sample. Samples need not be normalized prior to performing STR PCR. In certain embodiments, qPCR and STR PCR are performed on the same cartridge, optionally at the same time (or in real-time, or overlapping in time) and optionally using some or all of the same PCR apparatus. In other embodiments, qPCR and STR PCR are performed on different cartridges. Quantitation of the STR PCR sample may be performed without substantially delaying the STR PCR process.

A valve block assembly for a bottle attachment apparatus for handling liquids has a valve block, an intake valve insert and/or an exhaust valve insert, and a valve receptacle assigned to the respective valve insert. The valve insert is inserted in a replaceable and sealing manner in the valve receptacle. The valve insert has a stop portion, a fastening portion distinct therefrom and a sealing portion distinct from both. The associated valve receptacle has stop, fastening, and sealing portions matching the equivalent portions of the valve insert. When the valve insert is installed correctly both the stop portions and the sealing portions bear on one another in a planar manner.

A valve block assembly for a bottle attachment apparatus for handling liquids has a valve block, an intake valve insert and/or an exhaust valve insert, and a valve receptacle assigned to the respective valve insert. The valve insert is inserted in a replaceable and sealing manner in the valve receptacle. The valve insert has a stop portion, a fastening portion distinct therefrom and a sealing portion distinct from both. The associated valve receptacle has stop, fastening, and sealing portions matching the equivalent portions of the valve insert. When the valve insert is installed correctly both the stop portions and the sealing portions bear on one another in a planar manner.

A droplet dispenser comprises a chamber (3) with a fluid inlet valve (2) and a fluid outlet valve (4). The chamber (3) is arranged such that the volume of the chamber may be varied in use to cause fluid to be alternately drawn in to the chamber (3) through the inlet valve (2) then subsequently expelled from the chamber through the outlet valve (4) to dispense a droplet. The droplet dispenser is capable of dispensing from an open reservoir and one may change the dispensed drop volume simply and easily. The droplet dispenser can also handle liquids which are normally seen as difficult to dispense, such as cyanoacrylate adhesives.

Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.

A microfluidic chip and a detection system. The microfluidic chip comprises fluid inlet channels (21) and a microvalve (1), and the microvalve (1) comprises a magnetic valve core (12), a valve core movement channel (11) and a magnetic control device (13); the valve core movement channel (11) is provided with at least two adapter openings (111), and at least one adapter opening (111) is connected to the fluid inlet channels (21); the magnetic valve core (12) is located in the valve core movement channel (11) and may move in the valve core movement channel (11), and the radial size of the magnetic valve core (12) is greater than that of each adapter opening (111); and the magnetic control device (13) is located outside the valve core movement channel (11), and is configured to move along the valve core movement channel (11) so as to drive the magnetic valve core (12) to move in the valve core movement channel (11).

Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.