Electroporation is a technique in which an electrical field is applied to cells in order to increase the permeability of the cell membrane. This allows for chemicals, drugs, and/or macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids to be introduced into the cells. Embodiments relate to an electroporation apparatus. The electroporation apparatus comprises: a plurality of chambers configured to store a plurality of cells during an electroporation process; a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a plurality of electric fields within the plurality of chambers during the electroporation process, each electric field of the plurality of electric fields corresponding to one chamber of the plurality of chambers; a flow channel configured to transport the plurality cells during a cell collection process after the electroporation process; and a plurality of valves connecting the plurality of chambers to the flow channel.

The present invention provides a microporous membrane for detecting at least one target analyte in a sample. The membrane includes an array that comprises at least one capture element and at least one control element printed on the membrane surface, at least one capture element corresponding to and being able to bind a target analyte, the plurality of control elements, when present including: i) at least one fiduciary marker, ii) at least one negative control to monitor background signal, iii) at least one negative control to monitor assay specificity, iv) at least one positive colorimetric control, and v) at least one positive control to monitor assay performance or any combination thereof.

This invention relates to a cartridge assembly tray for conducting automated biochemical tests, such as immunoassay tests. The tray comprises a base member, a hinged frame and a locking mechanism. The base member includes a plurality of slots within the base member. Each of the plurality of slots is to receive a test cartridge. The hinged frame is coupled to the base member. The hinged frame is capable to rotate to an opened position or a closed position. The hinged frame includes a horizontal push bar configured to apply a downward force to test cartridges received in the plurality of slots when the hinged frame is in the closed position. The locking mechanism is to lock the hinged frame in the closed position when the hinged frame rotates to the closed position.

Disclosed herein are a device and method for the easy removal of selected individual wells, selected groups/strips of wells, or all strips of wells quickly and safely from a well strip plate. A well strip extractor press may include a manually pivotable well strip plate carrier having an open bottom, and an adjustable well strip extractor assembly having multiple press arms positioned to engage the bottom of a well strip plate positioned in the well strip plate carrier. A user may manually position a selection of press arms to align with those well strips that the user wishes to remove from the well strip plate. The user may lower the plate carrier into a frame assembly that pivotably mounts the press arms, causing the selected well strips that are to be dislodged from the well strip plate to engage individual extractor pins on the selected press arms, in turn causing those extractor pins to push the bottom portions of the selected well strips upward so as to at least partially dislodge from their seating within the strip well plate. Thereafter, a user may slide the strip well plate out from the plate carrier and remove the selected well strips from the well strip plate with ease.

A cell culture container is provided which is filled with a cell culture substrate (14) including a gel layer formed of a gel (15) capable of being denatured by heating and a gold nanoparticle layer (13) formed on one surface of the gel layer, in which a cell is cultured on a side of the one surface or a side of the other surface in the cell culture substrate. A method for manufacturing a cell culture container, including: a step of filling the cell culture container with a gel capable of being denatured by heating; and a step of forming a gold nanoparticle layer on one surface of the gel. A method for acquiring a cell, including: a step of selecting a cell to be acquired from cells placed in the cell culture container; a step of irradiating a cell culture substrate in the vicinity of the selected cell with light; and a step of recovering the selected cell.

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 reagent container includes a base defining a plurality of wells having openings exposed at an upper surface of the base and a tube receptacle. The plurality of wells include a first set of wells and a second set of wells. Each well of the first set of wells has an opening to a well bore and a channel in communication with the well bore. The opening has a first portion disposed over the well bore and a second portion disposed over the channel. The first portion has a larger area than the second portion. An angle defined by tangents to the inner surface of the first and second portions at a junction between the first and second portions is at least 100 and not greater than 180. The reagent container further includes a top coupled over the top surface of the base and defining windows providing access to the openings of the plurality of wells and the tube receptacle.

Provided herein are devices and methods for securing microplates and/or microplates comprising tube strips. The devices provided herein may use a magnetic force to secure the microplates and/or the tube strips during heat sealing of wells or tubes.

Disclosed herein are a device and method for the easy removal of selected individual wells, selected groups/strips of wells, or all strips of wells quickly and safely from a well strip plate. A well strip extractor press may include a manually pivotable well strip plate carrier having an open bottom, and an adjustable well strip extractor assembly having multiple press arms positioned to engage the bottom of a well strip plate positioned in the well strip plate carrier. A user may manually position a selection of press arms to align with those well strips that the user wishes to remove from the well strip plate. The user may lower the plate carrier into a frame assembly that pivotably mounts the press arms, causing the selected well strips that are to be dislodged from the well strip plate to engage individual extractor pins on the selected press arms, in turn causing those extractor pins to push the bottom portions of the selected well strips upward so as to at least partially dislodge from their seating within the strip well plate. Thereafter, a user may slide the strip well plate out from the plate carrier and remove the selected well strips from the well strip plate with ease.

Compositions, kits, and methods of using the kits and compositions to determine the hardness of and/or magnesium concentration in a solution are described. The kit can include a lyophilized composition that has an absorbance at a detectable wavelength in response to the hardness of the solution and or the concentration of magnesium in the solution.