The invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods based on microscale gradients that are useful in a variety of applications, such as biomolecule stability, interactions, binding properties, etc.

A microfluidic device system includes a channel having an entrance and an exit, a height at the entrance being greater than a height at the exit. The height of the channel may decrease continuously from the height at the entrance to the height at the exit. Cells or particles or beads traveling through the channel become trapped based on their size and/or deformability. A visual sensor captures images of the trapped cells or particles or beads, and image software analyzes the captured images to provide size and/or deformability and/or fluorescence information. A method of fabricating such a microfluidic device includes introducing a glass wafer to an etching solution at a specific rate such that a first end of the glass wafer is etched longer than other portions of the glass wafer.

The bio sensor platform is a rapid point-of-care (POC) device wherein detection of a target analyte from a liquid or solid substrate is performed in a single step using a fully integrated disposable test system that includes a test strip immunoassay. In operation, a user initiates the test by rupturing the bottom of a liquid-filled analyte capsule seated in a capsule sleeve. A small volume of liquid flows by capillary action from the capsule sleeve and through a restrictor port to a test strip chamber where contact with the absorptive sample pad of the test strip (among other things) moves liquid by capillary action upwardly through the test strip. The detection of the target analyte is resolved by the test strip reagents and the test results are obtained at a test result window where a portion of the test strip is exposed to the user.

A microplate comprising: a plurality of wells arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of the wells comprising: a bottom surface, sidewalls extending from the bottom surface to form an open top; and at least two subwells in the bottom surface, the at least two subwells having sidewalls that extend below the bottom surface of the well, wherein each of the at least two subwells comprises a capture binding agent that is configured to bind to a target analyte, if present, in a sample. A sample is added to the well such that the sample fluidically contacts each of the at least two subwells such that a target analyte, if present, binds to the capture binding agent in one or more of the at least two subwells, wherein a labeled conjugate (e.g., an upconverting nanoparticle (UCNP) labeled conjugate) in the sample binds with the target analyte, if present. A label (e.g., UCNP) of the labeled conjugate is detected at one or more of the at least two subwells to thereby determine whether the target analyte is present in the sample.

There is set forth herein, in one example, an apparatus. The apparatus can comprise, for example: a first reaction site and a second reaction site over a single pixel. There is set forth herein, in one example, a method. The method can include, for example: detecting a signal emitted from a first reaction site and a second reaction site; determining the identity of a first analyte of interest in a first reaction site using an amplitude of the detected signal; and determining the identity of a second analyte of interest in a second reaction site using the amplitude of the detected signal.

The present disclosure provides methods of processing or analyzing a sample. A method for processing a sample may comprise hybridizing a probe molecule to a target region of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule), barcoding the probe-nucleic acid molecule complex, and performing extension, denaturation, and amplification processes. A method for processing a sample may comprise hybridizing first and second probes to adjacent or non-adjacent target regions of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an RNA molecule), linking the first and second probes to provide a probe-linked nucleic acid molecule, and barcoding the probe-linked nucleic acid molecule. One or more processes of the methods described herein may be performed within a partition, such as a droplet or well. One or more processes of the methods described herein may be performed on a cell, such as a permeabilized cell.

Motion detector comprising a flexible support (1,5) adapted to hold at least one object (6-9), a sensor (4) for measuring the displacement of said support (1) and processing means for differentiating the fluctuations of said support (1) from those induced by said object (6-9).

The present invention provides assays and assay systems for use in spatially encoded biological assays. The invention provides an assay system comprising an assay capable of high levels of multiplexing where reagents are provided to a biological sample in defined spatial patterns; instrumentation capable of controlled delivery of reagents according to the spatial patterns; and a decoding scheme providing a readout that is digital in nature.

Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.

A method of determining a number of a solution constituent includes introducing a first number of solution constituents to a first test location, establishing a first binding environment for the introduced first number of solution constituents, creating a first residual number of solution constituents by binding a first plurality of solution constituents, establishing a second binding environment for the first residual number of solution constituents, creating a second residual number of solution constituents by binding a second plurality of solution constituents from the first residual number of solution constituents, obtaining a first signal associated with the bound first plurality of solution constituents, obtaining a second signal associated with the bound second plurality of solution constituents, and determining a second number of a constituent of interest based upon the obtained first signal and the obtained second signal.