An extraction system for testing microbial contamination includes a biocompatible outer vessel that has a side wall and a biocompatible suspension system that is positionable within an interior of the biocompatible outer vessel. The biocompatible suspension system includes a horizontal member on which a sample may be supported and a securement mechanism that is engagable with the side wall of the biocompatible outer vessel to maintain the suspension system at a desired position within the biocompatible outer vessel.

A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.

The present invention is directed to a method for the determination of the hyaluronic acid content of a hydrogel, the method comprising the following steps: a) preparing, as reagent A, a solution of sodium tetraborate in sulfuric acid; b) preparing reagent B by dissolving carbazole in ethanol; c) preparing test solutions by dissolving the hydrogel in an aqueous solution; d) treating the test solution with ultrasounds for a period of time sufficient to obtain a macroscopically homogeneous solution; e) preparing a reference stock solution by dissolving glucuronic acid, or a glucuronic acid-containing substance in an aqueous solution; f) preparing at least 3 reference solutions by dilution of the reference stock solution in aqueous solution, preferably at concentration comprised between 0.0005% w/v and 0.0100% w/v, preferably between 0.0010% w/v and 0.0050% w/v; g) preparing the test tubes by admixing reagent A, reagent B and one of the following: reference solution, test solution, aqueous solution (blank), and optionally solution for interference (crosslinker sample or additive sample); placing each test tube on a water bath for at least 5 min, then cool them to room temperature; h) reading the absorbance at a wavelength comprised between 500 and 580 nm, preferably at about 530 nm, against the blank and optionally the sample for interference.

The object of the invention is to perform, rapidly and at a low cost, a pretreatment of an analysis sample containing a turbid substance. Provided is an analysis sample pretreatment apparatus in which a clarified liquid is obtained by removing a turbid substance from an analysis sample. The analysis sample pretreatment apparatus includes a cell configured to store the analysis sample, and a cell holder in which at least a part of a housing is opened to mount the cell. The cell holder includes an ultrasonic wave transducer and an ultrasonic wave reflection plate that are disposed on facing plane pairs while sandwiching the cell mounted inside the cell holder. The cell includes a first opening unit from which the analysis sample flows in, a second opening unit from which the clarified liquid flows out, and a third opening unit from which the turbid substance is discharged. In a state where the cell is mounted in the cell holder, the first opening unit is provided at a position lower than an upper end of the ultrasonic wave transducer in a vertical direction, or at a position higher than a lower end of the ultrasonic wave transducer in the vertical direction.

Articles of manufacture, including an apparatus for acoustic wave based agglomeration, are provided. The apparatus may include a well and an acoustic wave device. The well may be configured to hold a suspension that includes a plurality of particles. The acoustic wave device may be configured to generate a plurality of acoustic waves. The plurality of acoustic waves inducing acoustic streaming within the suspension. The acoustic streaming agitating the suspension to form an agglomerate comprising at least a portion of the plurality of particles. Methods for acoustic wave based agglomeration are also provided.

Analyzers and methods of use are disclosed, including a blood analyzer comprising a light source to transmit an optical signal; a detector to generate data indicative of optical signal intensity; a transparent sample vessel between the light source and the detector; a dispensing device to pass a first portion of the blood sample comprising whole blood or lysed blood into the vessel at a first instance of time, and to pass a plasma portion of the blood sample into the vessel at a second instance of time; a controller to cause a processor to obtain first and second data generated by the detector, the first data indicative of the optical signal passing through the first portion of the blood sample and the second data indicative of the optical signal passing through the plasma, to determine a total absorbance spectrum in which the first data is adjusted by the second data.

The present disclosure provides for acoustofluidic centrifuge systems that can enrich and separate nanoparticles disposed in a fluid, such as liquid droplets, in a fast and efficient manner. Exemplary systems include a sound wave generator, such as a pair of slanted interdigitated transducers, and a containment boundary, such as a PDMS ring. The sound wave generator can produce surface acoustic waves that are capable of driving droplets to spin in a manner that can separate different sized particles into groups. In some embodiments, the acoustofluidic centrifuge system can include a plurality of containment boundaries in fluid communication with each other, allowing particles to separate between the containment boundaries. Methods of operating such systems, including methods of isolating different exosome subpopulations, are also disclosed.

Microparticles and nanoparticles made of various materials that are used in various configurations are disclosed. The particles may be perfluorocarbon droplets with a lipid coating. The particles may be used in an acoustic cell selection process. The droplets are highly acoustically responsive and can be retained against fluid flow by an acoustic field. Such particles can be used in the separation, segregation, differentiation, modification or filtration of a system.

Disclosed embodiments include illustrative piezoelectric element array assemblies, methods of fabricating a piezoelectric element array assembly, and systems and methods for shearing cellular material. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative piezoelectric element array assembly includes at least one piezoelectric element configured to produce ultrasound energy responsive to amplified driving pulses. A lens layer is bonded to the at least one piezoelectric element. The lens layer has a plurality of lenses formed therein that are configured to focus ultrasound energy created by single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element into a plurality of wells of a microplate disposable in ultrasonic communication with the lens layer, wherein more than one of the plurality of lenses overlie single ones of the at least one piezoelectric element.

The invention relates to a device and a system comprising the device for bunching of sample particles. The device comprises a body, a fluid channel extending through the body, an acoustic wave guide embedded in the body, and an acoustic wave condenser embedded in the body. The fluid channel forms a fluid path the body, such that the fluid channel is configured to guide a flow of a sample fluid, in which sample particles are distributed, through the fluid channel along the fluid path. The wave guide is configured to guide an acoustic reference wave to an application region of the fluid channel. The wave condenser is configured to generate a standing acoustic wave in the application region from the reference wave for bunching the particles.