A system and method for automated single cell capture and processing is described, where the system includes a deck supporting and positioning a set of sample processing elements; a gantry for actuating tools for interactions with the set of sample processing elements supported by the deck; and a base supporting various processing subsystems and a control subsystems in communication with the processing subsystems. The system can automatically execute workflows associated with single cell processing, including mRNA capture, cDNA synthesis, protein-associated assays, and library preparation, for next generation sequencing.

A pipette-fillable fluid reservoir body. The fluid reservoir body includes two or more discrete fluid chambers therein. At least one of the fluid chambers contains a pressure compensation device and at least another one of the fluid chambers is devoid of a pressure compensation device. Each of the fluid chambers is in fluid flow communication with a fluid supply via, and each of the fluid chambers have sidewalls and a bottom wall attached to the side walls, wherein the bottom wall slopes toward the fluid supply via. The fluid reservoir body also includes an ejection head support face in fluid flow communication with the fluid chambers for attachment of a fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid from the fluid chambers.

A liquid storage and controlled-release device and a biological detection chip. The liquid storage and controlled-release device comprises a liquid storage capsule with a liquid storage body which is deformable under a pressure, and a sealing layer for sealing the liquid storage body. A support platform is provided right below the liquid storage capsule and tightly connected with the liquid storage capsule, wherein, a directional release chamber is provided at the middle of the support platform, and the directional release chamber is provided with a guiding chamber for collecting the liquid and a sharp edge for inducing break. Compared with the conventional technology, the opening for liquid release is at the end far away from the rotation center, so that the liquid can be released completely by the centrifugal force, ensuring the quantitative release of stored liquid and reducing the influence on the accuracy of the subsequent detection.

Flow cell assemblies and related reagent selector valves. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus includes a system including a reagent cartridge receptacle. The apparatus includes a flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a reagent cartridge receivable within the reagent cartridge receptacle. The reagent cartridge including a plurality of reagent reservoirs. The apparatus includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly including a reagent selector valve adapted to be fluidically coupled to the reagent reservoirs and to selectively flow reagent from a corresponding reagent reservoir to the flow cell assembly. At least a surface of the manifold assembly associated with the reagent selector valve is coupled to a portion of the flow cell assembly.

Chemical delivery systems, device and methods are provided. A chemical delivery system may include a vessel and a chip. The vessel may include a groove configured to hold a solution. The groove includes an open surface, the open surface having a first surface area. The solution includes a target material. The chip includes a first side, a second side opposing the first side, and a bottom side. The chip includes one or more chambers configured to hold one or more chemicals, the one or more chambers including a bottom surface having a second surface area. The second surface area is greater than the first surface area. When one of the one or more chambers is positioned over the groove, the respective chemical in the chamber moves into the solution in the groove. The system increases the ease, stability, and reliability of a chemical delivery process.

An automatic chemical solution formulating device combines and mixes stored solids and liquids into user specified formulations and dispenses those formulations into containers. Chemical solids are stored in cartridges of material separated into predetermined dosages (for example in reeled blister packs), avoiding the need for weighing during formulation. Elements include user interface, computer-controlled automated loading and unloading port for reagent-containing cartridges, cartridge conveyor system, reader for identifying cartridges, blister-pack strip drive system, punching mechanism to release reagents, portioning chamber to mix solvent with solids or liquids with optional portioning, accommodating formulation delivery port, position sensors, liquid flow measuring devices, liquid and gas pumps and valves, and label printer. The combination of these elements allows high-speed formulation and dispensing of user-specified formulations.

An embodiment provides an apparatus, including: a cartridge including a base and a lid; at least one fluid line located between the base and the lid of the cartridge; at least one heating element located either on the base or the lid and aligned in intimate contact with the at least one fluid line; at least one heat sensing element in intimate contact with the at least one fluid line, where the at least one heat sensing element is spaced downstream from the at least one heating element; a supply of power to the cartridge; and a processor in electrical communication with the cartridge that executes a program of instructions to: operate the at least one heating element to produce heating of the at least one fluid line at a first position; and operate the at least one heat sensing element to detect the heat of a fluid within the at least one fluid line at a position downstream of the first position. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Methods and containers are provided for identifying a species, illustratively a bacterial species. Illustrative methods comprise amplifying various genes in the nucleic acid from the bacterial species in a single reaction mixture using pairs of outer first-stage primers designed to hybridize to generally conserved regions of the respective genes to generate a plurality of first-stage amplicons, dividing the reaction mixture into a plurality of second-stage reactions, each using a unique pair of second-stage primers, each pair of second-stage primers specific for a target bacterial species or subset of bacterial species, detecting which of the second-stage reactions amplified, and identifying the bacterial species based on second-stage amplification. Methods for determining antibiotic resistance are also provided, such methods also using first-stage primers for amplifying genes known to affect antibiotic resistance a plurality of the second-stage reactions wherein each pair of second-stage primers specific for a specific gene for conferring antibiotic resistance.

A system for dispensing a liquid in a closed chamber includes at least one rapid transfer port in at least one wall of the closed chamber. In addition, a liquid is dispensed in a closed chamber that includes at least one rapid transfer port in at least one wall of the closed chamber.

A detection apparatus having a read head including a plurality of microfluorometers positioned to simultaneously acquire a plurality of the wide-field images in a common plane; and (b) a translation stage configured to move the read head along a substrate that is in the common plane. The substrate can be a flow cell that is included in a cartridge, the cartridge also including a housing for (i) a sample reservoir; (ii) a fluidic line between the sample reservoir and the flow cell; (iii) several reagent reservoirs in fluid communication with the flow cell, (iv) at least one valve configured to mediate fluid communication between the reservoirs and the flow cell; and (v) at least one pressure source configured to move liquids from the reservoirs to the flow cell. The detection apparatus and cartridge can be used together or independent of each other.