Disclosed herein is a low cost and rapid microfluidic based method and test device for quantifying male fertility potential. The device can simultaneously measure three critical semen parameters rapidly, namely live sperm concentration, motile sperm concentration, and sperm motility. The device includes a transparent substrate and a top sheet with two holes therethrough and an intermediate sheet sandwiched between the substrate and the top sheet. The wells formed by holes form a concentration measuring well (C) and a motility well (M) formed by the top sheet with these two holes bonded to the intermediate sheet. A colorimetric agent is located on the top surface of the intermediate sheet at the bottom of each well which changes color when in contact with sperm. In the motility well a porous membrane is located on top of the colorimetric agent and a liquid buffer may be placed on the top surface of the porous membrane. Applying part of a sperm sample to the C well results in direct contact of any live sperm with the colorimetric agent causing a color change, applying part of the sperm sample to the M well results in live sperm with sufficient motility to swim vertically down through the liquid buffer and through the porous membrane to the colorimetric agent. Evaluating the intensities of the color change of the colorimetric agents before and after contact with the sample gives a measure of total concentration of live sperm and motile sperm from which sperm motility is calculated.

A method for monitoring and detecting leaks in a pipeline is disclosed. The method is particularly useful in pipelines that are transporting hydrocarbons. Gas enabled photo sensitive particles are fed into the pipeline and when they encounter a leak, change their condition. This change is captured by a detector which transmits the data to an operator that a leak condition exists as well as its location and intensity.

A system, a microfluidic chip and a method are provided for counting desired cells in a body fluid that allows for a reasonable range of error in exchange for fast and cheap diagnosis. The fluid containing the cells to be measured is immobilized on a microfluidic chip and stained and the cell count is determined from optical signals that measure the amount of stain acquired by the immobilized cells.

An automated method of evaluating a collected fluid sample includes: filling a sample cavity with the collected fluid sample; adding a buffer solution; separating the collected fluid sample into a first portion and a second portion; mixing the second portion with tagged antibodies; removing leftover tagged antibodies; and measuring a difference between the first portion and the second portion. A sample collection and testing device includes: a reference cavity comprising a reference fluid sample; a test cavity comprising a test fluid sample; a reference measurement element associated with the reference cavity; and a test measurement element associated with the test cavity. A method of evaluating a collected fluid sample including: separating the sample; pumping a first portion to a first measurement cavity; adding a solution to a second portion and pumping the mixture to a second measurement cavity; and measuring a charge difference between the first and second measurement cavities.

A method for separating particles in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing an additive, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the microfluidic separation channel. A system for microfluidic separation, capable of separating target particles from non-target particles in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of additive, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel. A kit for microfluidic particle separation includes a microfluidic separation channel connected to an acoustic transducer, a source of an additive, and instructions for use.

Arrangements for per-well electronic sensors for microplate, microtiter, and microarray technologies are presented. In example implementations, each individual well within in a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangement. Cap arrangements can include or provide one or more sensors of various types, including but not limited to selective gas sensors, chemical sensors, temperature sensors, pH sensors, biosensors, immunosensors, molecular-imprint sensors, optical sensors, fluorescence sensors, bioFET sensor, etc. Incubator interfacing and imaging are also described. The caps can also include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. The invention can be used for living cell culture or other applications.

Cap arrangements for per-well fluidics and gas exchange for microplate, microtiter, and microarray technologies are presented for use with cell cultures or other applications. In example implementations, each individual well within in a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangements which can include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. Cap arrangements within the lid can include or provide one or more sensors of various types, including but not limited to selective gas sensors, chemical sensors, temperature sensors, pH sensors, biosensors, immunosensors, molecular-imprint sensors, optical sensors, fluorescence sensors, bioFETS, etc. Incubator interfacing and imaging are described.

Arrangements for per-well illumination and optical stimulation arrangements for microplate, microtiter, and microarray technologies are presented. In example implementations, each individual well within in a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangements which can include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. Cap arrangements can include or provide one or more sensors of various types, including but not limited to selective gas sensors, chemical sensors, temperature sensors, pH sensors, biosensors, immunosensors, molecular-imprint sensors, optical sensors, fluorescence sensors, bioFETS, etc. Incubator interfacing and imaging are also described. The invention can be used for living cell culture or other applications.

Expanded cell culture incubator arrangements for interfacing and supporting advanced microplate, microarray, and microtiter technologies comprising per-well fluidics, gas exchange, electronic sensors, and imaging features are presented. In example implementations, each individual well of a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangements. Specialized microplate and/or capping arrangements can include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. Specialized microplate and/or capping arrangements can include gas, chemical, temperature, pH, molecular-imprint, optical, and fluorescence sensors as well as biosensors, immunosensors, bioFETS, etc. Various per-well imaging implementation can be provided. The invention can be used for living cell culture or other applications.

Per-well imaging arrangements for microplate, microtiter, and microarray technologies are presented. In example implementations, each individual well within in a conventional or specialized microplate can be fully or partially isolated with capping or other arrangements which can include conduits for controlled introduction, removal, and/or exchange of fluids and/or gases. Conduit networks can include small controllable valves that operate under software control, and micro-scale pumps can also be included. Conduit interconnections can include one or more of controllable-valve distribution buses, next-neighbor interconnections, and other active or passive interconnection topologies. Cap arrangements can include or provide one or more sensors of various types, including but not limited to selective gas sensors, chemical sensors, temperature sensors, pH sensors, biosensors, immunosensors, molecular-imprint sensors, optical sensors, fluorescence sensors, bioFETS, etc. Incubator interfacing and imaging are also described. The invention can be used for living cell culture or other applications.