The invention provides a method and apparatus subjecting an analyte in an ion concentrating chamber to an electric and velocity field to concentrate analyte ions into a smaller space.

A microfluidic device and a method for flow control of cells or particles in a microfluidic channel are disclosed. The microfluidic device may include a substrate with a microfluidic channel having at least one outlet; a first array of piezoelectric actuators located adjacent to the outlet for ejecting a portion of a fluid in the microfluidic channel; and one or more pairs of electrodes for charging particles (in the fluid) flowing through the microfluidic channel so that the particles can be manipulated with an electrical field.

The invention relates to a process and a device for analyzing single molecules, particularly to the parallel analysis of a plurality of single molecules. It is suitable for detecting interactions, e.g. binding between single molecules and/or reactions, e.g. elongation or degradation of single molecules. Particularly, the process of the invention relates to the sequencing of single nucleic acid molecules. The single molecule to be analyzed is present in free form, i.e. dissolved or suspended in a liquid medium, within a reaction space formed around the sample spot. According to the present invention, an electrical field is applied across the reaction space, whereby a concentration of single molecules, at the sample spots is effected.

A display method for displaying a plurality of pieces of data respectively obtained by electrophoretic separation for a plurality of samples. The first data includes a first peak corresponding to a separated component of the known sample. The second data includes a second peak corresponding to a separated component of the unknown sample. The display method includes: acquiring the plurality of pieces of data; detecting the first peak and the second peak respectively from the first data and the second data; setting a range included within a predetermined threshold from the first peak as a specified range; determining, for the second data, whether or not the second peak is included in the specified range; and displaying specifically the second peak, when the second peak is in the specified range.

A target substance detection method includes forming a complex by causing a target substance and a dielectric particle to bind to each other, the dielectric particle being modified with a substance (for example, an antibody) having a property of specifically binding to the target substance; subjecting a bound particle and an unbound particle to dielectrophoresis in a liquid, the bound particle being the dielectric particle constituting the complex, the unbound particle being a dielectric particle not constituting the complex; and detecting the target substance in the complex, based on a difference in motion between the bound particle and the unbound particle caused by the dielectrophoresis.

Sub-micrometer bioparticles are separated by size in a microfluidic channel utilizing a ratchet migration mechanism. A structure within the microfluidic channel includes an array of micro-posts arranged in laterally shifted rows. Reservoirs are disposed at each end of the microfluidic channel. A biased AC potential is applied across the channel via electrodes immersed into fluid in each of the reservoirs to induce a non-uniform electric field through the microfluidic channel. The applied potential comprises a first waveform with a first frequency that induces electro-kinetic flow of sub-micrometer bioparticles in the microfluidic channel, and an intermittent superimposed second waveform with a higher frequency. The second waveform selectively induces a dielectrophoretic trapping force to selectively impart ratchet migration based on particle size for separating the sub-micrometer bioparticles by size in the microfluidic channel.

The invention is directed to a scalable concentration device and method of use thereof based on electrokinetics.

An automatic pathogen-from-expiration detection system and method is disclosed. The system comprises a gas pathogen recovery unit, a pathogen concentration unit and a sample detection unit. The method comprises: making the sample recovered by the gas pathogen recovery unit enter the pathogen concentration unit; in the pathogen concentration unit, gradually biasing the pathogen particles in the sample to the positive electrode side into the concentration channel under the action of the electrode; applying a fluctuating voltage greater than zero to a single sub-positive electrode, and alternating the voltage of the sub-positive electrode adjacent thereto with the fluctuating voltage, so that a varying potential difference is formed between the adjacent sub-positive electrodes, wherein the pathogen particles are gradually enriched in the middle region of the two adjacent sub-positive electrodes, and the concentrated sample is driven to move to the sample detection unit; and immediately detecting the concentrated sample in the sample detection unit. The detection of the present invention is highly sensitive, low cost and enables the continuous and rapid integrated sampling and detection of pathogens for multiple individuals.

The following is an apparatus and a method that enables the automated collection and identification of airborne particulate matter comprising dust, pollen grains, mold spores, bacterial cells, and soot from a gaseous medium comprising the ambient air. Once ambient air is inducted into the apparatus, aerosol particulates are acquired and imaged under a novel lighting environment that is used to highlight diagnostic features of the acquired airborne particulate matter. Identity determinations of acquired airborne particulate matter are made based on captured images. Abundance quantifications can be made using identity classifications. Raw and summary information are communicated across a data network for review or further analysis by a user. Other than routine maintenance or subsequent analyses, the basic operations of the apparatus may use, but do not require the active participation of a human operator.

The disclosure provides methods for separating and/or purifying one or more molecules released from one or more fluid compartments or partitions, such as one or more droplets. Molecules can be released from a fluid compartment(s) and bound to supports that can be isolated via any suitable method, including example methods described herein. The disclosure also provides devices that can aid in isolating supports bound to molecules.