DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STORING AND EMPTYING CONTAINERS FILLED WITH FLUID IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES

A device for receiving and fluidically contacting a container for fluid, in particular a microfluidic device, includes a receiving unit configured to receive the container. The receiving unit includes at least one first hollow needle extending toward the received container, and at least one fixing element configured (i) to fix the received container at a predetermined distance from the needle, and (ii) such that the container is released in response to a force exceeding a predetermined threshold acting either (a) on the container in the direction of the needle, or (b) on the receiving unit in a direction toward the container. Release of the container enables the container and receiving unit to undergo a predetermined movement relative to each other such that the needle penetrates a shell of the container to fluidically contact the container.