The present relates to a measurement device (1) for the detection and/or measurement of particles in a fluid, the measurement device comprising a fluid source (11) for producing a flow of fluid (111) along a fluid flow path, a first laser source (12) positioned for emitting a first laser beam (120) of laser light in a measurement volume of the fluid flow path for light scattering; a scattered light detecting means (13) for detecting a presence of a particle in the fluid flow path through detection and measurement of laser beam light scattered on different angles by said particle, wherein it further comprises a second laser source (14) positioned for emitting a second laser beam (140) of laser light in said measurement volume of the fluid flow path for Raman and fluorescence excitation; a Raman and fluorescence detecting means (15) for detecting a Raman scattering signal emitted by the fluid and a Fluorescence signal emitted by said particle upon excitation by said second laser beam (140).

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for combinatorial assessment of nanoscale droplets, as specifically exemplified by massively parallel assessment of spatially-directed (while agnostic as to precise droplet content) combinations of droplets harboring distinct and independently identifiable microbial types and/or chemical compounds or mixtures. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a platform and methodologies for identifying advantageous (including synergistic, additive, etc.) microbial interactions and/or chemical compound or mixture interactions with microbes in a manner that allows for binary, trinary, etc. combinatorial assessments to be performed across a range of many discrete input types of microbes (e.g., 6-16 or more discrete input microbial types), to an extent capable of approaching comprehensive sampling and measurement of microbial community combinations from a selected panel of microbial inputs, optionally also in the presence of chemical compounds or mixtures (e.g., test compounds or mixtures for antimicrobial effect).

Provided are microfluidic systems and methods for detecting, sorting, and dispensing of low abundance events such as single cells and particles, including a variety of eukaryotic and bacterial cells, for a variety of bioassay applications. The systems and methods described herein, when implemented in whole or in part, will make relevant microfluidic based tools available for a variety of applications in biotechnology including antibody discovery, immuno-therapeutic discovery, high-throughput single cell analysis, target-specific compound screening, and synthetic biology screening.

Flow cytometric droplet dispensing systems and methods for using the same to flow cytometrically dispense droplets into partitions are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the systems include sorting flow cytometers configured to sort both particle-occupied and particle-unoccupied droplets into a partition. Also provided are methods of using the systems. Systems and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a particle sorter with a droplet deflector configured to apply a known offset deflection force to a droplet stream. Particle sorters according to certain embodiments include a flow cell, a light source, e.g., laser, for irradiating an interrogation point of the flow cell, a detector for detecting light from the interrogation point, a droplet generator for producing a droplet stream from fluid exiting the flow cell and a droplet deflector configured to apply a known offset deflection force to the droplet stream. In some cases, the droplet deflector comprises first and second plates configured to be offset from one another. Methods and particle sorting modules for applying a known offset deflection force are also provided.

Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for generating and collecting droplets are provided. The device includes a collection region comprising a side wall canted at an angle. The invention further provides multiplex devices that increase droplet formation.

An apparatus for sorting cells includes a measurement volume that contains a cell to be measured, a light source that provides light to cause an emission by a fluorescent label attached to the cell, and an optic device that directs the light through the measurement volume. The apparatus flows the cells through the measurement volume such that as the cell flows through the measurement volume, it interacts with the light, resulting in a change in light originating from the measurement volume, the change in light is a fluorescence emission. Another optic device directs a portion of the light originating from the measurement volume to a detector, which detects the portion of the light. A processor operably coupled to the detector generates an estimate of DNA quantity in the cell based on the change in light originating from the measurement volume, and determines a characteristic of the cell from the estimate.

Device and method for detecting dispersed extracellular vesicles in a liquid dispersion sample, said method using an electronic data processor for classifying the sample as having, or not having, extracellular vesicles present, the method comprising the use of the electronic data processor for pre-training a machine learning classifier with a plurality of extracellular vesicle liquid dispersion specimens comprising the steps of: emitting a laser modulated by a modulation frequency onto each specimen; capturing a temporal signal from laser light backscattered by each specimen for a plurality of temporal periods of a predetermined duration for each specimen; calculating specimen DCT or Wavelet transform coefficients from the captured signal for each of the temporal periods; using the calculated coefficients to pre-train the machine learning classifier; wherein the method further comprises the steps of: using a laser emitter having a focusing optical system coupled to the emitter to emit a laser modulated by a modulation frequency onto the sample; using a light receiver to capture a signal from laser light backscattered by the sample for a plurality of temporal periods of a predetermined duration; calculating sample DCT or Wavelet transform coefficients from the captured signal for each of the temporal periods; using the pre-trained machine learning classifier to classify the calculated sample coefficients as having, or not having, extracellular vesicles present.

A micro-fluidic device is provided to sort out objects from a liquid stream. The device comprises a first channel comprising a first liquid and a second channel comprising a second liquid and the first liquid, and a third channel. The second channel is connected to the first channel and the channels are positioned such that a jet flow coming from the second channel can deflect objects in the first liquid into the third channel. The first liquid is a liquid which has a higher viscosity than water and the second liquid may be the same as or different from the first liquid. The micro-fluidic device is adapted for generating the jet flow in the second liquid.

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a light excitation and collection device for a micro-fluidic system, comprising: a light source configured to generate excitation light; a plurality of excitation waveguides, each associated with a flow channel of the micro-fluidic system; wherein each excitation waveguide is configured to receive and redirect the excitation light towards the flow channel, such that the excitation light is elastically scattered by a sample in the flow channel forming forward and side scattered light; and wherein the light excitation and collection device further comprises: at least one forward scattered light collection point; and at least one side scattered light collection point; and wherein the forward scattered light collected for all excitation waveguides is detected by a first plurality of light sensitive areas and the side scattered light collected for all excitation waveguides is detected by a second plurality of light sensitive areas, the first and the second pluralities of light sensitive areas form different groups of light sensitive areas.