Disclosed herein are embodiments of a fixed magnet assembly that can be implemented into automated platforms for performing polynucleotide extraction from biological samples and preparing the polynucleotides into an amplification-ready form. The fixed magnet assembly can be used to provide magnetic energy to a container containing magnetic particles and a reaction mixture of polynucleotides, in order to bring about a separation of the magnetic particles from the reaction mixture. This can prevent or reduce magnetic particle carryover in the prepared amplification-ready sample, thereby improving amplification results.

A magnetic separator is disclosed. The magnetic separator comprises an array of magnets configured to interact with a tube holder plate, wherein the tube holder plate comprises an array of tubes. The magnetic separator comprises a raised frame extending around a periphery of the array of magnets such that the raised frame is configured to support the tube holder plate such that the array of tubes is suspended above the array of magnets.

A method for reconstituting a lyophilized reagent contained within a reagent well comprises the steps of drawing a diluent into a pipette tip attached to an automated pipettor and dispensing the diluent into the reagent well containing the lyophilized reagent. The reagent well has an internal side wall, a bottom wall, and an open upper end and includes one or more retention features disposed about the periphery of the internal side wall and defining a central opening into the well that permits passage of the pipette tip into the reagent well. The one or more retention features are integrally formed with the internal side wall, and each of the one or more retention features extends over a portion of the lyophilized reagent, thereby retaining the lyophilized reagent within the reagent well.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

A system for irradiating biological material includes a platform for holding the biological material and a radiation source for directing X-ray radiation to the biological material. The platform includes platform elements each including a chamber for containing the biological material. The platform includes a frame structure for mechanically supporting the platform elements and for mechanically supporting a gas-supply system for supplying gas to the platform elements. The gas-supply system can be for example a gas cartridge. The frame structure includes gas channels for receiving the gas from the gas-supply system and for conducting the gas to the platform elements so as to provide a desired gas composition in the chambers during irradiation of the biological material.

An expandable array and methods of maintaining a biological sample within an expandable array are provided. The expandable array includes a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a biological sample and a plurality of beams comprising a programmable material. Each beam of the plurality of beams is located between and connects at least two receptacles. The programmable material can be a shape-memory polymer or a magnetoactive material that transitions the plurality of beams from an extended state to a contracted state upon application of a stimulus.

Devices, systems, and methods for non-volatile storage include a well activation device operable to modify one or more wells from a plurality of wells of a flow cell to provide a set of readable wells. Readable wells are configured to allow exposure of a well to substances from nucleotide sequencing fluids, and prevent exposure to other substances and fluids, such as nucleotide synthesizing fluids. The well activation device may also modify wells to provide a set of writeable wells. This set of wells is configured to allow exposure to the nucleotide synthesizing fluids and substances; and prevent exposure to the nucleotide sequencing fluids and substances. There may also be provisions made for risk mitigation for data errors such as generating commands to write specified data to a nucleotide sequence associated with a particular location in a storage device, reading the nucleotide sequence and performing a comparison.

Provided herein is generally tubular container, preferably including a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The container can be adapted for acoustic ejection of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs. Alternatively, the container can be adapted for extraction of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs using a non-acoustic liquid handling method.

A micro-vial for handling micro-volume of sample fluids. The interior wall defined in the vial has a cylindrical sample section, a wider cylindrical alignment section, a tapered or conical guide section, and a relatively large cylindrical body section, arranged in sequence in that order along the center axis of the vial. The sample section holds a small volume of a sample fluid and receives the tip end of a capillary tube. The alignment section has a larger diameter than the sample section, receiving a cylindrical support that coaxially supports the relatively fragile capillary tube. The tip of the capillary tube dips into the micro-volume of sample fluid held in the sample section. The conical section guides the capillary tube and the support tube into the alignment section and the tip of the capillary tube into the sample section.

Provided are a method of analyzing biological samples, an analytical chip and an analytical system comprising same, the method comprising the steps of: introducing structures for assisting the formation of bioreactors on a substrate; providing a plurality of bioreactors on the substrate by means of forming the bioreactors, which are holding biological samples, on the peripheral parts of the respective structures so as to come in contact with the structures in at least one region; and checking a change in the biological samples present in the bioreactors.