A micromachined flow cell includes a substrate and a freestanding tube, delimiting a fluidic conduit therein and being integrally formed from material of the substrate.

A microfluidic chip is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the microfluidic chip includes a body including at least one microfluidic pathway configured to receive a fluid sample, the at least one microfluidic pathway including a coating configured to reduce fluid diffusion and seal a surface of the at least one microfluidic pathway, and a heating device located on the body and forming a heating zone within a portion of the at least one microfluidic pathway.

Disclosed herein are a microchip provided with a titanium oxide film between a glass substrate and a metal thin film; and a method for forming the metal thin film and the titanium oxide film on the glass substrate of the microchip. The microchip has a second microchip substrate that has the metal thin film inside a channel, and the titanium oxide film, which has a low extinction coefficient, is provided as a buffer layer between the substrate and the metal thin film such as a gold film.

Disclosed herein are a microchip provided with a titanium oxide film between a glass substrate and a metal thin film; and a method for forming the metal thin film and the titanium oxide film on the glass substrate of the microchip. The microchip has a second microchip substrate that has the metal thin film inside a channel, and the titanium oxide film, which has a low extinction coefficient, is provided as a buffer layer between the substrate and the metal thin film such as a gold film.

A microfluidic chip for a microfluidic system includes a PDMS substrate having a first thickness, at least one microfluidic pathway in the substrate, a coating along the microfluidic pathway, and a glass layer having a second thickness on the substrate and above the microfluidic pathway, wherein the coating contains an optically transparent material, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The coating includes cyanoacrylates, an UV curable epoxy adhesive, a gel epoxy or epoxy under trade name of EPO-TEK OG175, MasterBond EP30LV-1 or Locite 0151.

A blood glucose meter (component measurement apparatus) includes a measurement chip, and an apparatus main body including an insertion hole. The measurement chip includes a pair of plate pieces, a spacer arranged between the pair of plate pieces, and a cavity that can retain blood. A pair of wall portions of the insertion hole, facing each other at a measurement unit and in the vicinity of the measurement unit, is separated from each other with a width smaller than a thickness of the measurement chip in a lamination direction. The spacer elastically deforms by a state in which the pair of plate pieces is pressed by the pair of wall portions and defines a width of the cavity.

Methods are provided for the automated detection of micro-objects in a microfluidic device. In addition, methods are provided for repositioning micro-objects in a microfluidic device. In addition, methods are provided for separating micro-objects in a spatial region of the microfluidic device.

Methods are provided for the automated detection of micro-objects in a microfluidic device. In addition, methods are provided for repositioning micro-objects in a microfluidic device. In addition, methods are provided for separating micro-objects in a spatial region of the microfluidic device.

An assay device as well as a method of use thereof is described. The assay device includes a planar substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. The assay device further includes one or more flow channels disposed within the planar substrate and extending along a dimension of the planar substrate between the top surface and the bottom surface. The assay device further includes an inlet fluidly coupled to the one or more flow channels and one or more vents fluidly coupled to the one or more channels which are operable to facilitate flow of a liquid sample, such as whole blood through the one or more channels. The one or more flow channels are configured to receive a liquid sample from the inlet and allow flow of the liquid sample.