Sample cartridge, valve assembly and processing methods for providing mechanical lysis, chemical lysis or both for a given fluid sample are provided herein. Such systems can include a sample processing cartridge having a valve assembly configured for transport of the processing of fluid sample within the sample cartridge. The valve assembly can include a valve body and cap that secure a filter therebetween and facilitate inflow of mechanical or chemical lysing agents as needed for a fluid sample. Assay workflows for performing both mechanical and chemical lysis of a fluid sample within the same workflow of a single universal sample cartridge are also provided.

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (1) for small liquid volumes having at least one inlet chamber (2), at least one outlet chamber (3), an open top end (4) and a bottom end (5), wherein the bottom end (5) comprises at least one access region (7); wherein the at least one inlet chamber (2) is capable of accommodating a swab stik (16); wherein the at least one inlet chamber (2) has at least one open top end (11a) and is connectable to at least a first free end (8) of a flowpath (9) via the at least one access region (7); and wherein the at least one outlet chamber (3) has at least one open top end (11b) and is connectable to at least another free end (10) of the flowpath (9) via the at least one access region (7); a kit, an interface for fluid handling, and a method for analyzing a sample liquid (18).

The invention relates to a sealed container (1) comprising a flange (5, 6) that delimits a through-passage having an axial axis in the container, a door (7) movably mounted on the flange (5, 6), and a first annular seal (13) located between the flange (5, 6) and the door (7), the flange, the door and the first seal forming a sealed connection device that can be connected to a complementary connection device on a sterile enclosure by bayonet connection means in order to allow sterile communication between the sealed container and the sterile enclosure, characterized in that the container (1) includes a protective cover (20) on the connection device, said protective cover being forcibly clipped onto the container, and in that the container further includes contact pressure means arranged between the protective cover (20) and the connection device so as to apply contact pressure to the connection device in the axial direction proportional to the clipping force.

There is provided an apparatus for collecting/isolating cells from a sample including the target cells comprising: a membrane adapted to retain the target cells thereon, a first port in fluid communication with the membrane provided towards a first side of the membrane, a second port in fluid communication with the membrane provided towards a second side of the membrane, a sample container having at least one wall defining an interior space suitable to house the sample, provided on the first side of the membrane, a cell collection container provided towards the first side of the membrane, a filtrate container provided towards the second side of the membrane, a backwash fluid container provided towards the second side of the membrane, wherein the first port is movable between a first position wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the sample container, and a second position wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the cell collection container; and
wherein the second port is movable between a first position wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the filtrate container, and a second position wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the backwash fluid container.

The invention relates to a sealed container (1) comprising a flexible film (2) which is arranged to define an internal space (3) and a through-opening, and a sealed connection device (4) which is arranged to allow the flexible film (2) to be connected to a complementary connection device of a sterile enclosure, while ensuring sterile communication between the internal space (3) of the container (1) and that of the enclosure, the connection device (4) comprising a flange to which the flexible film (2) is attached, the flange delimiting the through-opening of the flexible film (2), characterized in that the flange is constituted by two different pieces distinct from each other, respectively forming an external sleeve (5) and an internal sleeve (6) the flexible film (2) being kept gripped between the external sleeve (5) and the internal sleeve (6).

A fluidic device (10) is described. The fluidic device (10) comprises the first part (110) and the second part (120). The first part (110) comprises a first inlet (111) and a first outlet (112), mutually spaced apart. The second part (120) comprises a first chamber (121) arranged to contain a predetermined first amount A1 of a first fluid F1 therein and a first wall portion (122) arranged to contain, at least in part, the first fluid F1 in the first chamber (121). The fluidic device (10) is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the first part (110) is fluidically isolated from the first chamber (121). The fluidic device (10) is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the first inlet (111) and the first outlet (112) are fluidically coupled via the first chamber (121), whereby increasing a first pressure P1 in the first chamber (121) via the first inlet (111) urges at least a part of the predetermined first amount A1 of the first fluid F1 through the first outlet (112).

An article of manufacture for a reusable specimen transport tube rack cap that secures specimen collection swabs inside of transport tubes is disclosed. The reusable specimen transport tube rack cap includes a top surface connecting a plurality of specimen tube caps in a row, a bottom surface having a circular inner wall and a circular outer wall creating a specimen retention ridges defining a cap for each specimen tube, and access hole through each reusable specimen transport tube rack cap between the inner wall and the outer wall for providing access for a pipette into a specimen tube.

There is provided a connector, for introducing or extracting a material to or from at least one receptacle, comprising a housing extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the housing comprising, at least at one end, a pierceable seal; a hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing, a first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first corresponding receptacle, and a second end of the hollow needle facing the pierceable seal at an end of the housing; and an actuating mechanism acting on the housing or the hollow needle to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal thereby forming a communication through the pierceable seal, such that material is able to transfer through the connector.

A system and method for receiving and delivering a fluid, the system comprising: a body configured to interface with an opening of a reservoir and defining: a protrusion defining a set position of the body relative to the reservoir; a wall extending from the protrusion; a receiving surface coupled to the wall and sloping from an apex to a nadir along a first direction, the receiving surface comprising a vent; and an outlet positioned closer to the nadir than the apex of the receiving surface and displaced from the vent, the outlet comprising an extension from the body, the extension configured to contact an interior wall of the reservoir, wherein the body comprises: a bubble-mitigating operation mode in which the receiving surface receives and transmits the fluid along the receiving surface, and a fluid-transmitting operation mode in which the body directs the fluid along the interior wall of the reservoir.

A system and method for receiving and delivering a fluid, the system comprising: a body configured to interface with an opening of a reservoir and defining: a protrusion defining a set position of the body relative to the reservoir; a wall extending from the protrusion; a receiving surface coupled to the wall and sloping from an apex to a nadir along a first direction, the receiving surface comprising a vent; and an outlet positioned closer to the nadir than the apex of the receiving surface and displaced from the vent, the outlet comprising an extension from the body, the extension configured to contact an interior wall of the reservoir, wherein the body comprises: a bubble-mitigating operation mode in which the receiving surface receives and transmits the fluid along the receiving surface, and a fluid-transmitting operation mode in which the body directs the fluid along the interior wall of the reservoir.