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.

A disposable fluid transfer and mixing device is disclosed and includes an injector support surface for receiving an injection device thereon. A lyophilized drug vial, a diluent vial and a syringe are also attached to the device. The device features fluid passageways and a manual valve that may be manipulated so that the syringe may be used to transfer diluent from the diluent vial to the lyophilized drug vial, for reconstitution of the drug. The valve may also be configured so that the reconstituted drug is transferred from the lyophilized drug vial to the injection device. An automated transfer and mixing device receives an injection device, a lyophilized drug vial and a diluent vial and transfers diluent from the diluent vial to the lyophilized drug vial and shakes or vibrates the lyophilized drug vial to reconstitute the drug. The device then transfers the reconstituted drug from the lyophilized drug vial to the injection device.

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.

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.

There is described a system for growing a microorganism in liquid culture, the system comprising: a driving apparatus configured to house and oscillate a microfluidic cartridge; and a microfluidic cartridge comprising at least one incubation chamber, such that when the system is in use, the incubation chamber may be oscillated back and forth along an oscillation path using a preferred oscillation protocol. There is also described a method of growing a microorganism in liquid culture, the method comprising disposing a microorganism and suitable growth medium into an incubation chamber; and mixing the microorganism and growth medium by oscillating the incubation chamber back and forth along an oscillation path using a preferred oscillation protocol. There is also described a microfluidic cartridge that may be used to grow microorganisms using the system and methods described above.

A method of generating bubbles of a first fluid in a second fluid, the method comprising: flowing a stream of the second fluid through a microfluidic channel; injecting a stream of the first fluid into the microfluidic channel through an aperture such that bubbles of the first fluid form in the second fluid; and sonicating the microfluidic channel with ultrasound so as to cause the bubbles formed at the aperture to divide.

A stirring system includes a vibration device configured to generate vertical vibration and a holder configured to hold liquid having a free surface and receive the vertical vibration from the vibration device. The stirring system further includes processing circuitry configured to generate a Faraday surface wave on the free surface of the liquid to stir the liquid by controlling at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the vertical vibration.

The present disclosure relates to a method of creating a propellant mixture. The method includes forming an explosive composition mixture, placing the explosive composition mixture into a mixing vessel assembly, and operating an acoustic mixing system at an operating frequency such that the acoustic mixing system causes a vertical displacement of the mixing vessel. The explosive composition mixture has an explosive material, and one or more additives. The mixing vessel assembly has a closed mixing zone having a maximum vertical height. The acoustic mixing system is operated in a manner such that the operating frequency is substantially similar to the resonant frequency and a ratio of the maximum vertical height of the closed mixing zone to the vertical displacement of the mixing vessel assembly is 2.0 or less.

Disclosed is a process photometer arrangement (10) with a photometric cuvette unit (20) comprising a cuvette body (24) defining a cuvette cavity (25) and a combined sample inlet/outlet opening (34), a photometer light inlet window (60) and a photometer light outlet window (62). The cuvette body (24) is movably supported by a cuvette body support element (88) and the cuvette unit (20) is provided with a cuvette vibration device (80) for vibrating the cuvette body (24) to thereby quickly and homogenously mix a liquid sample volume (31) within the cuvette cavity (25) without any separate mixing element within the cuvette cavity. This allows a short mixing action within a microfluidic cuvette.

There is described a system for growing a microorganism in liquid culture, the system comprising: a driving apparatus configured to house and oscillate a microfluidic cartridge; and a microfluidic cartridge comprising at least one incubation chamber, such that when the system is in use, the incubation chamber may be oscillated back and forth along an oscillation path using a preferred oscillation protocol. There is also described a method of growing a microorganism in liquid culture, the method comprising disposing a microorganism and suitable growth medium into an incubation chamber; and mixing the microorganism and growth medium by oscillating the incubation chamber back and forth along an oscillation path using a preferred oscillation protocol. There is also described a microfluidic cartridge that may be used to grow microorganisms using the system and methods described above.