25results about "Flat carrier supports" patented technology

Provided is a system (100) for use in testing biological material. The system includes a substrate (102), and at least one support member (104) that has a biocompatible support portion (106) for supporting the biological material. The at least one support member is mountable to, and detachable from, the substrate. The at least one support member is detachable from the substrate at least by manual manipulation by a user, for example by the user pulling the at least one support member from the substrate using tweezers. Additionally provided is the support member per se. Further provided is a method of testing biological material using the system, as well as use of such a system for testing biological material.

The invention provides a device for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising: a cavity for receiving a test element, the test element having a first position and a second position within the cavity, when in the first position the test element does not contact a fluid sample, when in the second position the test element contacts a fluid sample.

A visualizer for use with an immunoassay rapid diagnostic test (RDT) with fluorescent probes includes a housing sized to enclose the RDT, an opening in the housing for insertion of the RDT, a viewing window in the housing positioned to align with a result window in the RDT when inserted in the housing, a UV / visible / infrared light source inside the housing for illuminating fluorescent probes in the result window so they may be viewed through the viewing window, and a switch for activating the light source. An RDT incorporating a UV / visible / infrared light source within its housing is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a recyclable in vitro test system comprising a diagnostic unit which has a diagnostic reagent that can be converted into a diagnostic product by being brought into contact with a sample taken from an organism, or with sample material that can be obtained from such a sample, the diagnostic product itself being optically perceptible and / or being capable of inducing a reaction, the reaction product of which can be optically perceived, and a housing which surrounds at least part of the diagnostic unit. The housing has, as its main constituent, a polymer originating from a renewable raw-material source. The invention also relates to a method for recycling an in vitro test system, the method comprising the steps of: - providing an in vitro test system which is used to detect a property of an organism and which comprises a housing having, as its main constituent, a polymer originating from a renewable raw-material source; - dividing the housing into at least two housing fragments in order to thereby make a diagnostic unit at least in part accessible; - separating the diagnostic unit from the housing fragments; and - separately disposing of the diagnostic unit and the housing fragments.

A cap for dispensing lytic agents into a sample well of a fluidic cartridge includes a deformable wall defining a chamber. A lower sleeve situated beneath the deformable wall defines a recess that is open to the chamber. A frangible membrane affixed to an end of the lower sleeve encloses the recess and the chamber. Lytic agents comprising non-magnetic beads and a magnetic element are contained within the chamber and the recess. A method for lysing cells contained in a sample includes providing sample to the sample well, inserting the cap into the well, applying a force to the deformable wall so the lytic agents rupture the frangible membrane and are released into the well, and subjecting the sample and the lytic agents to a magnetic field causing the magnetic element to agitate the non-magnetic beads to lyse cells contained within the sample.

Disclosed in the present invention is a biochip moving device. The biochip moving device includes a rack, on which at least one operating unit for pushing a biochip to move is arranged, a driving mechanism, a chip pushing mechanism and a biochip are respectively provided on each of the operating units, the driving mechanism is provided on the lower part of the rack, the biochip moving device and the biochip are respectively provided on the upper part of the rack, the chip pushing mechanism is driven by and connected to the driving mechanism, the chip pushing mechanism pushes the biochip to a target position. Compared with traditional manual vitrification freezing operations, the present invention greatly improves work efficiency and is easy for users to operate through adopting connecting rod pushing biochip, and the connecting rod is driven by motor. The present invention prevents jolts during the biochip moving process through providing pressing plate assembly, the encapsulation of the rolling bars of the pressing plate assembly makes the chip moving more smoothly. The present invention also has the characteristics of simple device structure and low cost.

An incubation holder (1), an incubation apparatus, an incubator (200e), a staining device, and a staining method, relating to the technical field of biological detection. The incubation holder (1) comprises a holder assembly (100), and bottom plates (200) and cover plates (300) obliquely arranged on the holder assembly (100); each bottom plate (200) is used for loading a slide (600), and the slide (600) is located between the bottom plate (200) and the corresponding cover plate (300); each cover plate (300) is attached to the corresponding slide (600) for sliding, or the cover plate (300) opens and closes relative to the slide (600) so as to uniformly mix a reagent between the cover plate (300) and the slide (600), such that the detection is faster and more uniform, and the processing efficiency and accuracy of a specimen on the slide (600) are improved.

An acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) system is operated such that a container plate with multiple wells is secured relative to an acoustic transducer on a container plate seat. Locations of a subset of the wells identified as reference wells are ascertained via a flyby survey, allowing a skew and a center displacement of the container plate to be determined relative to the container plate seat. The acoustic transducer is then translated to a defined transfer location corresponding to one of the wells, based on the known center displacement and skew of the container plate, and a toneburst is generated to eject a fluid droplet.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a system for forming a sealed chamber for preparing samples therein. In particular, various embodiments present an assembly that includes a sample device and a lid for forming a sealed chamber that can be used for, among other things, incubating samples therein. When the lid engages with the sample device, a plurality of snap joint elements of the lid engage with a respective plurality of snap joint elements to form a seal between the lid and the sample device.

Disclosed in the present invention is a biochip moving device. The biochip moving device includes a rack, on which at least one operating unit for pushing a biochip to move is arranged, a driving mechanism, a chip pushing mechanism and a biochip are respectively provided on each of the operating units, the driving mechanism is provided on the lower part of the rack, the biochip moving device and the biochip are respectively provided on the upper part of the rack, the chip pushing mechanism is driven by and connected to the driving mechanism, the chip pushing mechanism pushes the biochip to a target position. Compared with traditional manual vitrification freezing operations, the present invention greatly improves work efficiency and is easy for users to operate through adopting connecting rod pushing biochip, and the connecting rod is driven by motor. The present invention prevents jolts during the biochip moving process through providing pressing plate assembly, the encapsulation of the rolling bars of the pressing plate assembly makes the chip moving more smoothly. The present invention also has the characteristics of simple device structure and low cost.

An instrument includes a first chassis and a second chassis that includes a cartridge support cradle configured to hold a cartridge with a sample chamber between the first and second chassis. An actuator coupled to one or both of the first and second chassis is configured to effect automated relative movement between the first and second chassis to vary a distance therebetween. A detector mounted within the upper chassis includes a plunger rod movable between first and second positions and a sensor for detecting when the plunger rod is in the second position. As the first and second chassis are moved relatively toward each other by the actuator, if the fluidic cartridge is situated on the cartridge support cradle, and a cap closes the sample chamber, the plunger rod will contact the cap and move from the first position to the second position.

Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. In some embodiments, the system can include, for example, a slide ejector assembly having a slide staging device configured to receive a slide and an over-travel inhibitor that includes a first vacuum port positioned to draw a first vacuum between the slide and a standby platform as the slide is moved across at least a portion of the standby platform. The over-travel inhibitor includes a first sensor for detecting a presence of the slide on the standby platform. The system can also include a transfer assembly to transport slides away from the slide ejector assembly. The transfer assembly can include a floating transfer head having a vacuum port for drawing a partial vacuum for holding the slide.

A method for manufacturing a histologic tissue sample support device includes molding a tissue cassette, molding a frame, and coupling the tissue cassette to the frame by assembling a frame-cassette connector. The tissue cassette has a recess including at least one side wall and a bottom wall. The tissue cassette is formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue. The frame includes a bottom edge and is formed of a second material different from the first material and more rigid than the first material. The frame-cassette connector includes a first retaining structure formed integrally with the frame extending through a second retaining structure formed integrally with the cassette. The frame is capable of being decoupled from the cassette by separating the frame-cassette connector.

A slide tray slot is provided. The slide tray slot includes a slot body; a light source generator provided on one inner surface of the slot body; a light source detection sensor capable of detecting a light source emitted from the light source generator; and a plurality of slide tray compartment parts arranged in a vertical stack between the light source generator and the light source detection sensor. The light source generator emits the light source in the direction of the vertical stack in which the plurality of slide tray compartment parts are arranged.

A method for processing a fluid sample in a fluidic cartridge with a chamber expander secured with respect to one of two or more wells of uniform height to expand a volumetric capacity of the one well by the volumetric capacity of the chamber expander, the two or more wells being fluidly connected or connectable. The method includes dispensing fluid sample into an opening defined by a mouth of the chamber expander, the amount of fluid sample completely filling the well and at least partially filling the chamber expander, and coupling a cap to the mouth of the chamber expander to close the opening.

An instrument for applying thermal energy to a reaction chamber of a test platform includes first and second heaters disposed in a spaced-apart configuration to receive the reaction chamber in a position so that the first and second heaters contact different parts of the reaction chamber. Each heater is configured to apply thermal energy to the reaction chamber by conductive heat transfer through a part of the reaction chamber contacted by the respective heater. A first controller is configured to control thermal energy generated by the first heater, and a second controller is configured to control thermal energy generated by the second heater. The first and second controllers control thermal energy generated by the first and second heaters, respectively, independently of each other to achieve a common temperature profile for the first heater and the second heater.

Apparatus and methods for automated transfer of slides into and / or out of a slide basket. One of the slides is raised above other slides in the slide basket, and a suction member on a slide gripper contacts the raised slide. A vacuum is drawn in the suction member sufficient for the suction member to grip the raised slide, and the slide gripper moves to withdraw the raised slide from the slot of the slide basket. The slide gripper moves the gripped slide to a slide processing module or other desired location.

Devices, systems, and methods for storing and / or transporting bodily fluid samples are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a device for storing and / or transporting a sample of bodily fluid is configured to receive a collection cartridge including a housing and a sample tray removably coupled to the housing. The device can include a base and a cover pivotally coupled to the base. The cover is movable relative to the base between.an open position in which the jig portion is accessible and a closed position in which the jig portion is inaccessible. The base can include a jig portion configured to (a) receive the collection cartridge and (b) decouple the sample tray from a housing of the collection cartridge.

A histologic tissue sample support device includes a tissue cassette, a frame, and a lid. The tissue cassette has a recess including at least one side wall and a bottom wall and is formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue. The lid is coupled to the frame and includes a platen configured to be received within the recess of the tissue cassette. The tissue cassette is movably coupled to the frame by a frame-cassette connector. The lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in a microtome.

An automated device and method for the separate and simultaneous processing of a large number of slides carrying a variety of samples with a variety of reagent liquids, in a controlled environment with user-defined operating parameters to achieve consistent results regardless of the device's internal and external operating conditions. A controllable, flexible, efficient, accurate, precise, and reliable device and method for processing slides carrying samples with reagent liquids, with the components kept stationary during operation.

The present invention relates to a recyclable in vitro test system comprising a diagnostic unit that includes a diagnostic reagent which, by contacting a sample taken from an organism or a sample material obtainable from such a sample, can be converted into a diagnostic product which is itself optically perceptible and / or by which a reaction can be induced, the reaction product of which is optically perceptible, and a housing which at least partially surrounds the diagnostic unit. The housing has as its main component a polymer derived from a renewable raw material source. The invention further relates to a method for recycling an in vitro test system comprising the steps of: - Provision of an in vitro test system used to detect a property of an organism, comprising a housing with a polymer derived from a renewable raw material source as its main component; - Dividing the housing into at least two housing fragments in order to make a diagnostic unit accessible, at least in sections, - Separating the diagnostic unit from the housing fragments, and - separate disposal of the diagnostic unit and the housing fragments.

The immunochromatographic test device of the present application includes: a loading section that detachably loads a kit including a carrier having a droplet application area to which a test object is applied and a detection area whose color development state changes depending on whether the test object is positive or negative; a photographing section that photographs the detection area; and a processor that performs determination of whether the test object is positive or negative, i.e., main determination, based on a detection area image of the detection area photographed by the photographing section. When a diffusion direction of the test object on the carrier is set as a row direction and a direction intersecting the row direction is set as a column direction, the detection area is a linear area extending in the column direction, the detection area image is an image in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix shape, and the processor performs the main determination using remaining pixels obtained by excluding one or more high-concentration pixels having relatively high concentration within each column from the detection area image.

A slide output module for an automated treatment apparatus for treating tissue samples disposed on slides, the slide output module comprising: a slide output tray assembly comprising a slide output tray adjacent to a slide output cover forming one or more voids between the slide output tray and the slide output tray cover for receiving slides therein, wherein the slide output tray cover comprises a first side with a fluid inlet in communication one of the voids, and a second side configured to form a hydration chamber with a slide in said one of the voids to maintain hydration of the slide with fluid received from the fluid inlet for a designated time following treatment of the slide by the automated staining apparatus.

A cartridge for detecting an analyte by exposing a reaction mixture to an excitation optical signal and detecting an emission optical signal from the reaction mixture includes a cartridge body, a film affixed to a first portion of a surface of the cartridge body; and a thermally-conductive laminate seal affixed to a second portion of the surface. The cartridge body includes one or more reaction chambers, each having a wall that permits an optical signal to pass through the wall. The laminate seal covers an open end of the reaction chamber and includes a plastic layer affixed to the second portion of the surface of the cartridge body and a conductive layer affixed to the plastic layer opposite a surface of the plastic affixed to the second portion of the surface.