869 results about "Sample handling" patented technology

The invention provides an integrated sample-processing system and components thereof for preparing and/or analyzing samples. The components may include a transport module, a fluidics module, and an analysis module, among others.

A mobile, thermally insulated storage and retrieval unit for housing tube racks on shelves and having an elevator and conveyor for moving racks between shelves and an exterior loading tray.

A microfluidics device and method for sample loading, concentrating, mixing, and/or reacting is disclosed. The device has a microchannel network that includes a channel segment communicating with first and second reservoirs. A projection formed on a wall portion of the channel segment terminates therein at a point or edge. When a voltage potential is applied across the two reservoirs, the projection functions to create an electric field gradient within the channel segment that causes charged components in the channel segment to concentrate in the region of the projection. The device is useful, for example, in loading a sample of dilute charged components for electrophoretic separation in the device.

Molecular adsorption to the microfluidic device surfaces can be passively and actively mitigated by mixing certain hydrophilic polymers (organic polymers with repeating hydrophilic groups—the preferred polymers being amphipathic surfactants—with the sample liquid during or prior to relevant microfluidic operations. Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether are especially effective. High molecular weight polyethylene polymers are also effective. The hydrophilic polymers appear to prevent binding of the fouling molecules to the microfluidic by occupying the surface sites in place of the fouling molecules or by interacting with the fouling molecules to prevent binding of the fouling molecules the surface. When surface adsorption is thus mitigated, microfluidic devices can readily handle samples containing biomolecules to enable active sample concentration, filtering, washing, transport, mixing and other sample handling operations.

Portable systems for processing and analyzing biological or environmental samples as well as different configurations of chip-based flow cytometers are provided. The portable systems include an automated assay preparation module configured to process a sample into a fluid assay with fluorescently tagged particles and a microfluidic analysis module coupled to the fluid assay module, wherein the microfluidic analysis module includes a chip-based flow cytometer.

A series of optical spectral sensors is based on a combination of solid-state sources (illumination) and detectors housed within an integrated package that includes the interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The focus is on low cost and the fabrication of the sensor is based on techniques that favor mass production. Materials and components are selected to support low-cost, high volume manufacturing of the sensors. Spectral selectivity is provided by the solid-state source(s) thereby eliminating the need for expensive spectral selection components. The spectral response covers the range from the visible (400 nm) to the mid-infrared (25,000 nm/25.0 μm), as defined by the availability of suitable low-cost solid-state source devices. A refractive optical system is employed, primarily in an internal reflection mode, allowing a selection of sample handling tools, including, but not restricted to internal reflectance and transmittance. A secondary channel allowing for light scattering or fluorescence methods is an option. The targeted applications of the sensing devices are for lubricants and functional fluids in the heavy equipment, automotive and transportation industries. A source reference channel is included to provide measurement stability and temperature compensation.

Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. The PC sensors are further integrated into a sample handling device such as a microwell plate. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing.

The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel. In one embodiment, an electrophoresis gel may be integrated on the top substrate of the droplet actuator.

An analytical system and method that enables more efficient transport of movable devices (22) among stations (24, 25, 26). According to one aspect of the invention, the system and method permit operational timesharing of a transport mechanism (34) for the movable devices. According to another aspect of the invention, control of the transport mechanism is effected on an event-driven basis. The invention has particular application to an adaptive, motion and fluids system for automating the sample handling/management process associated with analytical processes and especially bioanalytical processes such as introducing samples into LC and HPLC systems.

The present invention pertains inter alia to a method for analysing a sample comprising biomolecules, which comprises the following steps:

• A
  • a) lysing the sample to provide a lysed sample and optionally clearing the lysed sample;
  • b) contacting at least a portion of the lysed sample with a dry composition comprising reagents for performing the analytical method, thereby providing a reconstituted composition;
  • c) performing an analytical method using the reconstituted composition;
  • or
• B
  • a) contacting the sample with a lysis solution thereby providing a lysis mixture;
  • b) using the lysis mixture to reconstitute a dry composition comprising reagents for performing the analytical method, thereby providing a reconstituted composition;
  • c) performing an analytical method using the reconstituted composition,
  • wherein the reconstituted composition is optionally cleared and wherein subsequent to step b) at least one step is performed which supports the lysis of the sample.

Furthermore, specifically adapted processing cartridges and systems are provided.

A robotically manipulable sample handling tool, such as a colony picking head or robotic pipetting tool, includes needles arranged on the tool. Actuators are associated with each needle to control flow for the needle. A plurality of plungers are each associated with a needle, and movement of the plungers can actuate a corresponding needle. Each of the plungers has a passageway that may be opened or closed, e.g., to move the corresponding needle and/or draw fluid into/expel fluid from the needle when the plunger is moved in the tool body. The actuators are arranged so that plunger passageways may be individually controlled by a controller.

An apparatus for detection of an analyte of interest in a solid, semi-solid, or liquid biological sample, using a lateral flow assay test strip, is described. The apparatus minimizes sample handling and manipulation upon introduction of the sample into a sample-receiving chamber and transfer of the sample to a test chamber containing the assay strip.

This invention relates to an apparatus for an apparatus for processing a fluid sample comprising: (i) a sample processing chamber comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; (ii) a waste chamber downstream from the sample processing chamber and in fluid communication with the sample processing chamber fluid outlet and wherein the fluid communication between the sample processing chamber outlet and the waste chamber comprises a divergent analyte flow path; (iii) at least two further chambers up stream from the sample processing chamber both of which are in fluid communication with the sample processing chamber fluid inlet; (iv) a means for moving fluid from each of the at least two further chambers through the sample processing chamber and into the waste chamber or into the divergent analyte flow path as desired by applying positive or negative pressure to the desired flow path; and (v) a passive means for restricting the flow of fluid. This invention also relates to a method and use of the same.

A method and a device for removing high priority samples from a primary conveyor and transferring such samples directly to an analyzer's sampling location even if other samples have been previously removed from the conveyor and are in a queue to be analyzed.