Microfluidic devices for capturing particles, such as cells, are disclosed. An example device includes a main fluid channel, a first interaction chamber in fluid communication with the main fluid channel, a first particle trap extending from a first wall of the main fluid channel and positioned between the main fluid channel and the first interaction chamber, and a second particle trap extending from a second wall of the main fluid channel and positioned between the main fluid channel and the first interaction chamber. The first particle trap and the second particle trap are in fluid communication both via the first interaction chamber and via the main fluid channel. Methods of using the devices are also disclosed.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

The system and method for determining physical stability of dispersed particles in flowing liquid suspensions is performed by passing a fluid with suspended particulates in a column of filter elements having progressively smaller porosities. The fluid is received by a fluid supply receptacle and then passed through the column of filter elements. The filter elements are arranged so that successive filters are downstream of each other, with successive filters having successively smaller porosities. The porosity of an initial filter element has a sufficiently large porosity to filter a largest particle size intended for detection, and a final filter element has at least a sufficiently small porosity to filter a smallest particle size intended for detection. This results in the successive filters separating successively smaller particles from the fluid. Average particle size and particle count are obtained by removing a mesh filter element and performing SEM analysis on the filtered particles.

The particle size distribution measurement device irradiates light onto a sample of particles, then detects secondary light generated by this irradiation, and then calculates a particle size distribution of the particles based on the detection data, and includes a separate measurement data receiving unit that receives separate measurement data obtained by separately measuring particles having a specific particle size in a separate sample, and light intensity data showing a light intensity of the secondary light generated by the particles in the separate sample, and a distribution conversion unit that, based on the separate measurement data and on the light intensity data, converts the particle size distribution from a distribution in which the numbers of particles of each particle size contained in the sample being measured are shown in relative terms to a distribution in which the numbers of these particles are shown in absolute terms.

Provided is an effluent treatment method based on a membrane separation activated sludge method, the effluent treatment method being characterized in that activated sludge collected from a membrane separation activated sludge tank is observed by an optical means, image processing is performed, and effluent treatment conditions are controlled in accordance with the results thereof.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

An apparatus and a method for isolating and/or preparing particles are provided.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.