The present invention is related to the field of bio/chemical sampling, sensing, assays and applications. Particularly, the present invention is related to how to make the sampling/sensing/assay become simple to use, fast to results, highly sensitive, easy to use, using tiny sample volume (e.g. 0.5 uL or less), operated by a person without any professionals, reading by mobile-phone, or low cost, or a combination of them.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system for detecting a target analyte which includes a microfluidic device having least one microfluidic channel with a binding surface positioned in the microfluidic channel with further include a first electrode and a second electrode. The system may further include a detector and a voltage supply. Also included is a method to detect a target analyte using a described microfluidics device, introducing solution with a target analyte to a binding surface, and binding the target analyte to the binding surface by applying an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes during at least a portion of the binding step, which enhances the rate of binding of the target analyte molecules to the binding molecules. The method then includes the steps of detecting a reporter molecule which corresponds to the amount of the bound target analyte molecules, which correlates with the amount of target analyte in the original sample. The method may also include multiple applications of sample to the binding surface prior to the detection step.

Disclosed are sensors and methods using electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of metal nanoclusters. The ECL sensors containing metal nanoclusters disclosed herein have high signal output and high signal/noise ratio. Highly effective sensing methods using these ECL sensors that is rapid, simple, and allows for sensitive and specific detection of analytes of interest at a low cost are also disclosed.

Systems and methods are described for introducing one or more fluid streams from a nozzle having one or more shaped channels to one or more material surfaces and removing the fluid streams for scanning for chemical species of interest. A nozzle embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a nozzle body configured to couple to a positionable nozzle arm support for positioning the nozzle with respect to a material surface, the nozzle body defining at least one fluid port to receive a fluid; and a nozzle hood coupled to the nozzle body, the nozzle hood defining an elongated shaped channel having a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel extending from the at least one fluid port, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel configured to direct fluid along the material surface within at least a portion of each of the fluid channels.

A liquid electrode tip has a housing with a top, a bottom and at least one peripheral side wall. The housing has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The liquid outlet is located at the top of the housing. A solution reservoir is positioned within the housing. The solution reservoir has a solution inlet in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and a solution outlet in fluid communication with the liquid outlet. A conductor is positioned within the housing with at least a portion of the conductor being submerged by a liquid in the solution reservoir. A staging area at the top of the housing is provided into which the liquid from the solution reservoir flows from the liquid outlet.

A liquid electrode tip has a housing with a top, a bottom and at least one peripheral side wall. The housing has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The liquid outlet is located at the top of the housing. A solution reservoir is positioned within the housing. The solution reservoir has a solution inlet in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and a solution outlet in fluid communication with the liquid outlet. A conductor is positioned within the housing with at least a portion of the conductor being submerged by a liquid in the solution reservoir. A staging area at the top of the housing is provided into which the liquid from the solution reservoir flows from the liquid outlet.

A plasma spectroscopy analysis method includes a preliminary addition process in which a bonding agent that is an agent other than DMSA is added to the specimen collected from a living body to which meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is administered, a concentration process in which the analyte heavy metal ions in the specimen at a vicinity of one of a pair of electrodes by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and a detection process in which plasma is generated by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and luminescence of the analyte metal ions caused by the plasma is detected.

A plasma spectroscopy analysis method includes a preliminary addition process in which a bonding agent that is an agent other than DMSA is added to the specimen collected from a living body to which meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is administered, a concentration process in which the analyte heavy metal ions in the specimen at a vicinity of one of a pair of electrodes by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and a detection process in which plasma is generated by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and luminescence of the analyte metal ions caused by the plasma is detected.

Systems and methods are described, and one method includes passing an optical beam through a volume of the gas to a reception surface, applying spectroanalysis to the optical beam received at the reception surface, and determining from the spectroanalysis whether a liquid is carried by the volume of the gas.

An apparatus comprises: a chamber (100) configured to be filled with electrically conductive liquid (102); a first electrode (104) and a second electrode (106) located within the chamber (100); an optical radiation receiver (126); and an electrically conductive contact area (108) of the first electrode (104) and an electrically conductive contact area (110) of the second electrode (106) are configured to be in contact with the liquid (102) of the chamber (100) wherein the electrically conductive contact area (108) of the first electrode (104) is configured to be smaller than the electrically conductive contact area (110) of the second electrode (106). The first electrode (104) and the second electrode (106) are configured to receive electric energy and output the electric energy to the liquid (102) in order to cause substance of the liquid (102) to emit optical radiation at the electrically conductive contact area (108) of the first electrode (104) on the basis of densification of the electric energy due to the smaller electrically conductive contact area (108) of the first electrode (104). The optical radiation receiver (126) is configured to receive the optical radiation for analysis of the liquid (102).