Molecular Devices Corp. of Sunnyvale has purchased the laser capture microdissection business of Arturus Bioscience Inc. of Mountain View, both in California, for $10 million. The acquisition includes the company name, product names and all assets related to the sample preparation technology, which is used for genomic and protein analysis. The process allows researchers to visualize and excise individual cells or collections of cells from heterogeneous tissue. Researchers can use the smallest, purest cellular samples for further RNA, DNA or protein analysis. The platform comprises reagents for preparing samples for microdissection, instruments and consumables for visualization and excision, and additional reagents for postcapture processing. The company formerly known as Arcturus has changed its name to Aviara DX. It retains its molecular diagnostic intellectual property rights.