An integrated system for processing and preparing samples for analysis may include a microfluidic device including a plurality of parallel channel networks for partitioning the samples including various fluids, and connected to a plurality of inlet and outlet reservoirs, at least a portion of the fluids comprising reagents, a holder including a closeable lid hingedly coupled thereto, in which in a closed configuration, the lid secures the microfluidic device in the holder, and in an open configuration, the lid is a stand orienting the microfluidic device at a desired angle to facilitate recovery of partitions or droplets from the partitioned samples generated within the microfluidic device, and an instrument configured to receive the holder and apply a pressure differential between the plurality of inlet and outlet reservoirs to drive fluid movement within the channel networks.

The invention relates to a cartridge of a fluidic device. The fluidic device includes a fluidic chip, a body having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a fluidic chip registration means formed on the first surface for aligning the fluidic chip with a support structure; and an actuator configured to engage with the one or more channels at the second surface of the body for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flowrates.

Disclosed is a fluid system comprising a first member and a membrane sheet. The first member having a first surface, a first fluid inlet and a first flow channel. The membrane sheet having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side and a first slit, wherein the first side of the membrane sheet is abutting the first surface of the first member, the first flow channel forming a fluid passage from the first fluid inlet towards the first slit. The fluid system is configured to allow said membrane sheet to deform and thereby open said first slit and enable a fluid in the first flow channel to flow through the first slit when the pressure at the first slit is higher on the first side of the membrane sheet than on the second side of the membrane sheet.

The present invention relates to microfluidic check valves, as well as fluidic cartridges including such check valves. In particular examples, the check valve includes a pre-stressed spring formed from a planar substrate. Various characteristics of the valves, such as size, profile, opening pressure, etc., can be tuned to provide desired performance when employed within a fluidic cartridge.

A thin gas transportation device includes an inlet plate, a resonance sheet, an actuating element, a first insulation frame attached to the actuating element, a conductive frame, and a second insulation frame attached to the conductive frame. The conductive frame has a conductive outer frame attached to the first insulation frame, an elastic conductive pin, and a conductive piece connected to an outer edge portion of the conductive outer frame. One end of the elastic conductive pin is connected to an inner edge portion of the conductive outer frame, and the other end of the elastic conductive pin extends obliquely toward the actuating element and forms a bent portion. The bent portion presses against the actuating element and is electrically connected to the actuating element, and the bent portion is strip-shaped.

In one aspect of the invention, the fluidic device includes a fluidic chip includes a body having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a fluidic chip registration means formed on the first surface for aligning the fluidic chip with a support structure; and an actuator configured to engage with the one or more channels at the second surface of the body for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flowrates.

A fluid control device (111) includes a valve section (12) and a blower section (13). The valve section (12) allows fluid to flow in one direction. The valve section (12) has the shape of a cylindrical container with a valve chamber (40) provided therein. The valve section (12) includes a top plate (21), a side-wall plate (22), a bottom plate (23), and a film (24). A plurality of ejection holes (41) and a plurality of auxiliary holes (49) arranged in a predetermined pattern are formed in a central region of the top plate (21). A plurality of communication holes (43) arranged in a predetermined pattern are formed in a central region of the bottom plate (23). A plurality of film holes (42) arranged in a predetermined pattern are formed in a central region of the film (24).

The invention relates to a cartridge of a fluidic device. The fluidic device includes a fluidic chip, a body having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a fluidic chip registration means formed on the first surface for aligning the fluidic chip with a support structure; and an actuator configured to engage with the one or more channels at the second surface of the body for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flowrates.

A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises a channel and a gate. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from the source to the drain. The gate controls a rate of fluid flow in the channel in accordance with the fluid pressure within the gate. Specifically, the gate is configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a low pressure state of the gate, and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a high pressure state of the gate. In certain embodiments, the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. In alternative embodiments, the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

A fluidic device comprises a first channel conduit, a valve apparatus, and an additional element adjacent to the first channel conduit. The first channel conduit transports fluid from a first fluid entrance to a fluid exit. In one embodiment, the additional element is a pump chamber that receives fluid from a second fluid entrance and pumps fluid into the first channel conduit in accordance with fluid pressure. Alternatively, the additional elements include a second channel conduit and a neck of the first channel conduit. The first channel conduit and the second channel conduit share a common wall. Fluid pressure in the first channel conduit controls a valve apparatus. The value apparatus controls a rate of fluid flow in the first channel conduit by deforming the common wall to change a cross-sectional area of the neck, which changes a rate of fluid flow in the second channel conduit.