An apparatus for sensing biomolecules includes: a storage in which a solution containing a target material is received; a sensor configured to sense the target material; and a flow controller connected between the storage and the sensor to supply the solution to the sensor, wherein the flow controller controls a solution flow to supply the solution containing the target material and the solution containing no target material in an alternating manner. According to the apparatus for sensing biomolecules, the sensing device always achieves a sensing offset, and consequently, long-term continuous measurement is enabled, leading to the maximized usage efficiency of the sensor, and the value of quantitative measurement can be obtained with high precision.

Methods and apparatus for detection and/or identification of analytes including bacteria using dielectrophoresis and electroosmotic traps. Switching between different frequencies of an applied electric field results in movement of the analyte between dielectrophoresis and electroosmotic trapping states. The use of edge-based sensing techniques enables the use of electrodes with a larger form factor than nanowire sensors. Signal modulation based on analyte contact with the electrode edge is also described.

A microfluidic device for detecting rare cells in a fluid sample comprises the rare cell and other cells. The microfluidic device comprises an inlet for receiving the fluid sample, a labyrinth channel structure in fluid communication with the inlet, and an outlet in fluid communication with the labyrinth channel structure for collecting the rare cells separated from the other cells in the fluid sample. The labyrinth channel structure comprises at least one channel through which the fluid sample flows. The at least one channel has a plurality of segments and a plurality of corners with each corner defined between adjacent segments. The presence of the plurality of corners induces separation of the rare cells from the other cells in the fluid sample as the rare cells move to a first equilibrium position within the at least one channel when a ratio of inertial lift forces (F.sub.Z) and Dean flow (F.sub.D) of the fluid sample is from 2 to 10.

A microfluidic device that reads a colloidal mixture and separates the colloids based upon size and shape. and in the case of polymer colloids such as DNA, it reads patterns of markers attached to DNA. The combination of different separated fractions and DNA markers (it mapping) constitutes the physical code.

The invention provides a system (1) for performing sperm analysis and selection based on sperm cell morphology of sperm cells (6) in a fluid (5), the system (1) comprising: (i) a fluid flow channel (2) for transport of said fluid (5), the fluid flow channel (2) comprising an inlet (10) an analyzing zone (40) configured downstream from said inlet (10) and comprising a first pair of electrodes (41) comprising a first intra-electrode distance (dl), a sorting zone (50) configured downstream from said analyzing zone (40) and comprising a sorting device (51), and outlets (80, 90, . . . ) configured downstream from said sorting zone (50); (ii) an electric source (140) configured to provide an electric signal to the first pair of electrodes (41); (iii) a measuring device (150) functionally coupled to the first pair of electrodes (41) and configured to measure a first impedance as a function of time of the fluid (5) between the first pair of electrodes, and to provide time-dependent impedance data; wherein the sorting device (51) is configured to sort sperm cells (6) by directing the sperm cell (6) in the sorting zone (50) to one of the outlets (80, 90, . . . ) based on a comparison in a comparison stage of the time dependent impedance data with predefined reference data.

Microfluidic devices and systems are provided. Methods for conducting immune assays with the devices and systems are also provided.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising magnetic particles, the methods of using these compositions in processing animal sperm, the resulting sperm and embryo products, and the methods of use of these compositions to increase the efficiency, efficacy and/or speed of cell processing and artificial insemination techniques.

Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines.

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides an inflatable bladder lid that configures with a cartridge configured for assay testing. The inflatable bladder provides substantially uniform pressure to the cartridge. The pressure is substantially distributed across the one or more regions of the cartridge to extend pressure over a wide cartridge surface. At least a portion of the bladder lid may comprise a flexible membrane material that inflates and stretches over at least a portion of the cartridge to conformally contact its first/top surface.