A fluid control device includes a vibrating plate unit, a driver, and a flexible plate. The first and second rods include rod portions with differing characteristics, and a coupling mechanism allows the spinal rod system to be assembled with rod portions having the desired characteristics while minimizing the footprint of the coupling arrangement between the first and second rods. When the cushion frame is located in the lowering limit position, the stopper restricts rotation of the sector gear in the direction of lowering the cushion frame with respect to the base frame. Ideally, the drum can be inserted in an aperture on either of two opposing lateral walls so that the device may be easily used by both right-handed and left-handed people. Certain embodiments relate to methods and systems that use fluorescently encoded superparamagnetic microspheres for the immobilization of amplification products during the PCR process, and an imaging chamber of a measurement device that is also capable of controllable thermal cycling for assisting the PCR process.