In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for nucleic acid extraction and an operation method thereof. The apparatus for nucleic acid extraction includes: a first rack having a plurality of sample tube receivers arranged in a circle; a second rack having a plurality of elution tube receivers arranged in a circle on an outer side thereof and a washing solution receiver positioned at the center thereof, a part of the washing solution receiver extending outwards to have projections formed in alternation with a plurality of the elution tube receivers; a main body having the first and second racks arranged to position the first rack on the top of the second rack; a rotational driver for separately rotating the first and second racks; a dispenser for separately dispensing a washing solution and an eluting solution into sample tubes; and a pressurizer for maintaining the inside of the sample tubes under raised pressure.

The present invention relates to novel modules for transferring magnetic beads, an automated system comprising the same and a method for extracting nucleic acids using the same. The specifically designed magnet module and cover module of the present invention can be employed in the automated liquid handling apparatus by means of pre-existing moving modules (e.g., pipettor module) of the apparatus. The present invention enables a bead transfer-type method for extracting nucleic acids to be performed in an automated manner on the automated liquid handling apparatus. The present invention provides advantages of higher level of automation, more reduced cost and no need for another separate liquid handling apparatus compared to the conventional bead transfer-type method usually performed in the small apparatus designed to be used only for this bead transfer-type method. Also, the present method has the merits of more shortened reaction time compared to the conventional liquid transfer-type method.

The invention relates to a method and a system (1) of pre-treating biomass (2), in particular biomass (2) that is resistant to cell disruption, for improving the accessibility of a compound therefrom.The inventions further relates to a method for extracting a compound from a biomass (2), in particular a biomass (2) that is resistant to cell disruption, comprising the steps of pre-treating the biomass (2) and extracting the compound from the pre-treated biomass (2). In order to improve the extraction of compounds from biomass (2) that is resistant to cell disruption, the inventive method comprises the step of incubating the biomass (2) in plasma activated water (4). The inventive system (1) comprises a plasma activated water stage (3) configured to incubate the biomass (2) in plasma activated water (4); and an electric field stage (5) comprising at least one capacitor (6) for generating and applying an electric field to the biomass (2).

Embodiments disclose an apparatus and methods for biological sample processing enabling isolation and enrichment of microbial or pathogenic constituents from the sample. A vessel for sample containment and extraction is further disclosed for engagement with a transducer capable of efficient sample disruption and lysis. Together these components provide a convenient and inexpensive solution for rapid sample preparation compatible with downstream analysis techniques.

An automated system for preparing a biological sample containing biological species, and including a support plate wherein one or more through-wells are made, each through-well having two opposite accesses, a first access and a second access, the first access being separated from the second access by a filter-forming porous wall against which the biological sample that is to undergo lysis may be placed, and, for each well: a first mobile member, that can be actuated to move translationally along the axis of the well so as to become inserted across the first access thereof, a second mobile member, that can be actuated to move translationally along the axis of the well so as to become inserted across the second access thereof, stimulation means of mechanical and/or thermal type for stimulating each first mobile member and/or each second mobile member and/or the support plate.

A specimen disrupting apparatus includes: a drive unit that rotates the lower portion of a container having a solution that includes a specimen, a great number of small diameter beads, and a large diameter bead stored therein; and a control unit that controls the drive unit. The control unit controls the drive unit such that the lower portion of the container rotates at two or more different rotational speeds which are changed continuously.

A disease screening device (100) comprising a substrate (101) and a sonication chamber (102) formed on the substrate (101). The sonication chamber (102) is provided with an ultrasonic transducer (105) which generates ultrasonic waves to lyse cells in a sample fluid within the sonication chamber (102). The device (100) comprises a reagent chamber (111) formed on the substrate (101) for receiving a liquid PCR reagent. The device (100) comprises a controller (23) which controls the ultrasonic transducer (105) and a heating arrangement (128) which is provided on the substrate (101). The device (100) further comprises a detection apparatus which detects the presence of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19 disease.

Methods and apparatus for improved microbial sampling of foods and sample treatment are provided herein. Such methods may include sampling production lots of produce or other food items such as meat using an aggregating sampler to create one or more samples. Methods and devices that improve concentration of the fluid sample obtained from the aggregate sample include filtering of fluid sample through a filter and/or filter aid materials and lysing target material trapped within the filter and/or filter aid materials to release molecules from targeted microorganisms, which are recovered in a concentrated fluid sample for testing. Sample treatment systems and methods can be automated with various buffer reservoirs and removable cartridges that facilitate controlled flow of fluid sample therethrough to produce a purified, concentrated fluid sample, typically within two hours or less. Such systems can further be configured with removable cartridges and use with sample filter cups and collection cups.

Lysis devices, methods, and systems are disclosed including a lysis device comprising a sample vessel having an outer surface, a microchannel within the confines of the outer surface, a first port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel, and a second port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel; and an acoustic transducer bonded to the outer surface of the sample vessel to form a monolithic structure, the acoustic transducer configured to emit ultrasonic acoustic waves into and/or to induce shear forces into a blood sample within the microchannel, thereby rupturing the blood cells.

A cartridge for providing a target analyte for detection is described. One such exemplar cartridge includes a base portion including: (1) a receiving area disposed at or near a center region of the base portion; (2) multiple reaction wells disposed outside the center region or radially disposed at or near a perimeter of the base portion; and (3) multiple connecting tracks that substantially linearly extend from a region at or proximate to the receiving area to the multiple reaction wells and designed to convey a sample including the target analyte from the receiving area to the multiple reaction wells, each of which are configured to transform the sample to a detectable sample. Systems and methods of reacting and detecting the sample including the target analyte are also described.