Abstract:
A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.
Abstract:
In a method of deducing the number of repeat units in a selected short tandem repeat (STR) in a genomic sample, at least a single stranded target DNA generated from a genomic sample comprising a selected STR, an STR probe (P1,P1′), a reference probe (P2), and two blockers (B1,B2) are provided, and at least three differential hybridization experiments are carried out, based on which the number of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1′) bound per target DNA strand in each differential hybridization experiment is determined. The method further comprises the step of comparing these numbers of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1′) bound per target DNA strand in the differential hybridization experiments for deducing the number of repeat units in the selected STR on the single stranded target DNA strand. Also disclosed are kits for carrying out STR genotyping by differential hybridization.
Abstract:
A cartridge manipulates samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array when a working film is placed on the array. The cartridge has a body with lower surface and wells to hold samples, each with a bottom opening to release liquid. A piercable bottom structure seals the bottom openings. A working film below the body has a hydrophobic upper surface. A peripheral spacer connects the working film to the body and forms a gap is between the body and surface. A top piercing system located in at least one of the wells has a piston and a piercing element, the piston being movable in the well and the piercing element piercing the piercable bottom structure for releasing a sample from a well into the gap.
Abstract:
Pipetting apparatus has a block for holding pipette tips and connecting to pipette cones of a multiple-pipette head of a liquid handling apparatus. The block has cavities in an array and pipette tips inserted therein as well as conical plug-in openings for pipette cones of a multiple-pipette head. The block additionally has devices for connecting the block and the head. The block has receptacles with a shoulder and inserts for inserting into the receptacles, insert having a cavity, a cylindrical insertion opening with inserted pipette tip and a conical plug-in opening for sealing introduction of a pipette cone. Each insert has a support with which it rests on the shoulder of a corresponding receptacle when inserted into the block. Preferably each insert lies in the corresponding receptacle of the block with horizontal play on all sides.
Abstract:
A device for mixing liquids in a container having an inner chamber with an enclosing wall and a bottom, an external encasement, an interspace and a transfer opening on top of the inner chamber. A mixing body located in the inner chamber comprises magnetizable material or a permanent magnet spaced from the wall. A coupling body movable in the interspace along a longitudinal axis and wall has magnetic working connection with the mixing body. The wall and the external encasement are transparent to magnetic fields. An acting permanent magnet or magnetizable material outside the external encasement, is in magnetic working connection with the coupling body. Moving the acting magnet or magnetizable material parallel to the longitudinal axis induces movement of the coupling body inside the interspace and moving the mixing body in the inner chamber, mixes liquids present in the inner chamber.
Abstract:
A microplate reader and method has at least one measuring device and a holding device for accommodating at least one microplate and for positioning samples-containing wells of microplates in relation to the measuring device. The at least one measuring device is used for detecting light emitted by samples in wells of a microplate and/or which is influenced by samples transilluminated by light in the wells. The microplate reader has a control unit for controlling the composition of a gas atmosphere surrounding the wells containing the samples. A respective use is characterized particularly in that living cells are measured in a controlled gas atmosphere, wherein the living cells are chosen from microaerophilic, optionally anaerobic and obligatorily anaerobic microorganisms as well as fungi and eukaryotic cells.
Abstract:
A monochromator has at least one optical grating which is rotatable in relation to incident light of a source of light, a drive unit to rotate the optical grating by a connected drive rod around a longitudinal axis, and a control unit to control the drive unit and thereby the rotation of the optical grating. The drive unit further has a first damping element with at least one electrical conductive surface, and a second damping element which provides at least one magnetic field having a magnetic axis which penetrates the electrical conductive surface. One of the first and second damping elements is fixed to the drive rod and is rotatable along with the drive rod around the longitudinal axis thereof in relation to the other one of the second or first damping element.
Abstract:
A spectrometer (1) comprises a light source (2), a monochromator (3) with at least one diffraction grating (4), a monochromator housing (5), an order sorting filter (7), a microplate receptacle (12) and a controller (6). The order sorting filter (7) of the spectrometer (1) comprises a substrate (23), a first optical thin film (24) and a second optical thin film (25), wherein, in a spatially partly overlapping and interference-free manner, the first optical thin film (24) is arranged on a first surface (26) and the second optical thin film (25) is arranged on a second surface (27) of the substrate (23). A spectrometer (1) equipped with a respective order sorting filter is used in a scanning method for detecting the absorption spectrum of samples examined in wells (14) of microplates (13).
Abstract:
Microplate reader has measuring space, action source, measuring device for biological structure signals of microplate wells, transport support for positioning wells in relation to an optical axis of the device and controller for the action source, the measuring device and the transport support. An incubation apparatus with a frame accommodates a microplate with wells having bottoms for reducing liquid evaporation. The frame has a first opening surrounded by an inner wall for the microplate and an outer wall parallel to the inner wall and connected thereto by an intermediate bottom so that a channel is formed and the intermediate bottom for accommodating a liquid adjusted to the content of the microplate wells. The incubation apparatus has a support surface with a second opening for a microplate and, as a result, at least a portion of the well bottoms is freely accessible by the second opening.
Abstract:
A sorptive extraction layer for immobilized liquid extraction of target molecules preferably from biological samples is disclosed. The sorptive extraction layer is mainly composed of ethylene-acrylate-copolymer. Preferably, microplate wells are at least partially coated with such a sorptive extraction layer. There is also disclosed a method of extracting target molecules preferably from biological samples. According to this method, immobilized liquid extraction is carried out with a sorptive extraction layer which is mainly composed of ethylene-acrylate-copolymer.