An apparatus (10) is provided for dispensing a flowable product from a collapsible container (12) comprising an air-tight cavity (14) and an opening (16). The apparatus (10) includes a reservoir (18) comprising a chamber (20) for storing flowable product, the chamber (20) comprising a product inlet (22) for receiving flowable product delivered from the air-tight cavity (14) of a connected collapsible container (12) through the opening (16) thereof, and a product outlet (24) for the flowable product. A piston (46) is positioned inside the chamber (30) and is movable to vary the volume of the chamber (30), for example between a first position defining a maximum chamber volume and a second position defining a minimum chamber volume.

A sensor used to control a peristaltic pump includes a housing, a tubing channel extending through the housing, a pressure sensor adjacent the tubing channel to measure an internal pressure of a tubing set inserted into the tubing channel, and a temperature sensor adjacent the tubing channel to measure a temperature of a wall of the tubing set. The sensor can also include a bubble sensor adjacent the tubing channel to detect bubbles within a fluid flowing through the tubing set. The sensor can be used to control a peristaltic pump. For instance, the peristaltic pump can include a microprocessor that can determine the internal pressure of the tubing set from an output of the pressure sensor and compute therefrom a pump factor required to maintain a given flow rate of the fluid flowing through the tubing set. It can then adjust a pump factor of the pump head to the computed pump factor.

A dispensing device for dispensing material. The dispensing device comprises a dispensing head; a capsule magazine including at least one void; at least one material capsule, wherein the at least one material capsule is disposed within the at least one void in the material capsule magazine; a motor, operable to provide mechanical power for material dispensing operations, wherein the motor is disposed within the dispensing head; and a gear mechanically connected to the motor, wherein the gear is further disposed in connection with the at least one material capsule, such that operation of the motor causes rotation of the gear and, in turn rotation of the at least one material capsule.

A sampler including an inlet, an outlet and a flushing device. The sampler adapted such that a sample fluid flows from the inlet, out the outlet and into sample containers. The flushing device is adapted to flush a pressurised pressurized flushing fluid past all surfaces of the sampler which are adapted to contact the sample fluid.

A peristaltic dosing device for providing dosages of a fluid at a volume of less than one milliliter comprises: a flexible tube, a counter pressure element, a plurality of actors and a drive. The flexible tube is essentially straightly arranged along the counter pressure element thereby forming a longitudinal axis. The actors arranged parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis. They are moveable by the drive in relation to the flexible tube. The flexible tube is compressible between the actors and the counter pressure element by moving the actors. Each of the actors is independently and linearly moveable by the drive along an actuation axis essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube from a home position in which the flexible tube is least compressed to an end position in which the flexible tube is compressed and sealed between the respective actor and the counter pressure element. The peristaltic dosing device according to the invention allows for exactly and repeatably providing dosages at comparably small volumes in a sterile environment.

Systems and methods for analysing a fluid are disclosed, including a fluid sample delivery apparatus. The system includes a sensing element configured to respond to at least one analyte in a sample of fluid. A detector is provided, configured to sense the response to the analyte by the sensing element. The fluid sample delivery apparatus includes a dosage needle configured to deliver the sample of fluid to the sensing element, at least one pump configured to control flow of fluid through the dosage needle, and at least one actuator configured to move the dosage needle relative to the sensing element. At least one controller is provided, configured to control the at least one pump and the at least one actuator.