The invention is directed to a microfluidic device. The device includes an input microchannel, a set of m distribution microchannels, a set of m microfluidic modules and a set of m nodes. The m microfluidic modules (m2) are in fluidic communication with the m distribution microchannels, respectively. The one or more nodes of the set of m nodes branch from the input microchannel, and further branch to a respective one of the set of m distribution microchannels. In addition, a subset, but not all, of the nodes are altered. The nodes of the set of m nodes have different liquid pinning strengths. As a result, the extent in which a liquid passes through one or more of the m microfluidic modules varies based on the different liquid pinning strengths, in operation. Additional sets of nodes may be provided to allow liquid to pass through ordered pairs of modules.

Provided is a microfluidic device to more easily and mechanically operate a valve for controlling a fluid flow, which comprises: a platform having a plurality of chambers; at least one flow channel which connects between the chambers; and a valve which opens or closes the flow channel, wherein the valve includes a blocking member which selectively blocks the flow channel and a pressing member installed in the blocking member to move the blocking member, and the pressing member has a structure which presses and moves the blocking member by the linear reciprocating motion in the same direction as the direction of an external force, and the valve further includes a driving unit which reversibly controls the opening and closing of the flow channel caused by the blocking member by fixing the pressing member to the position of the moved pressing member or returning to the original position.

Plastic microfluidic structures having a substantially rigid diaphragm that actuates between a relaxed state wherein the diaphragm sits against the surface of a substrate and an actuated state wherein the diaphragm is moved away from the substrate. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic structures formed with this diaphragm provide easy to manufacture and robust systems, as well readily made components such as valves and pumps.

An optical waveguide comprises multiple layers of solid-state material disposed on a substrate. One of the layers is a lifting-gate valve made of a high refractive index material. The device provides for better optical confinement in microfluidic channels, and has the capability to integrate both optical signals and fluid sample processing. The optical paths on the chip are reconfigurable because of the use of a movable microvalve that guides light in one of its positions.

A micro-fluidic system comprising a micro-fluidic channel, which has a wall provided with a hole; a closing element, which is partially housed within the hole and has a membrane portion adapted to deform and a side portion sealingly connected with the above mentioned wall; and a partition arranged within the micro-fluidic channel between a first and a second segment; the closing element is deformable between a locked configuration in contact with the partition and an open configuration spaced from the partition; the closing element may be deformed by suction or by a rod or a piston.

A mechanical input to a fluidic filter network can be actuated. The fluidic filter network can include respective branches fluidically coupling the mechanical input to respective deformable mechanical outputs. A mechanical displacement can be selectively coupled a selected deformable mechanical output of the fluidic filter network to a deformable mechanical input of a microfluidic device. A fluid flow in a portion of the microfluidic device can be controlled using the displacement, the selected deformable mechanical output can be selected at least in part by actuating the mechanical input to produce a displacement having energy in a specified range of frequencies, and the fluidic filter network is generally fluidically isolated from the microfluidic device.

A cartridge, an analysis system and a method for analysing an in particular biological sample is proposed, wherein a first group having one or more valves and a second group having one or more valves can be or are actuated from different sides of the cartridge.

High throughput screening of crystallization of a target material is accomplished by simultaneously introducing a solution of the target material into a plurality of chambers of a microfabricated fluidic device. The microfabricated fluidic device is then manipulated to vary the solution condition in the chambers, thereby simultaneously providing a large number of crystallization environments. Control over changed solution conditions may result from a variety of techniques, including but not limited to metering volumes of crystallizing agent into the chamber by volume exclusion, by entrapment of volumes of crystallizing agent determined by the dimensions of the microfabricated structure, or by cross-channel injection of sample and crystallizing agent into an array of junctions defined by intersecting orthogonal flow channels.

Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient's eyeball.

A microvalve device and fluid flow control method, the microvalve device comprising: a microvalve body, the microvalve body being composed of multiple layers and comprising a first layer (1) and a second layer (2) bonded with the first layer (1), the second layer (2) having a plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9); a cavity (6) disposed between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) respectively disposed corresponding to each fluid port, the plurality of actuators (3, 4, 5) controlling the opening and closing of the plurality of fluid ports (7, 8, 9). The fluid flow control method comprising: respectively employing a plurality of actuators to independently control the opening and closing of a plurality of fluid ports.