A microchannel-membrane device comprises a microchannel extending through at least one electrode, the microchannel having a predetermined depth; an ionic permselective medium, such as a membrane, across the microchannel between the electrodes; and a heater, or array of heaters, embedded below the microchannel on at least one side of the permselective membrane. The heaters can be either prefabricated or dynamically patterned using laser illumination with/without photoconductive coating. The heaters are on the depletion side of the membrane and induce a vortex which limits the growth of the diffusion area. Operation of the heaters allows for controlled positioning of the end of the diffusion area and with it also the position of the preconcentrated molecule plug.

Filtration apparatus for the assay of biological and biochemical reactants, for example, is provided and includes a substrate such as a plate having one or more wells open at each end, and a porous membrane positioned in each well forming a discrete filtering area. The filtration apparatus includes a seal that is in a compressible relationship with the face of the porous membrane, the surface of the compression element, and the well wall. Each well includes a compression element, such as an internal well insert or sleeve, which compresses the seal so that the seal contacts the membrane face, the surface of the compression element, and the well wall in a liquid-tight manner. The compression element may be configured so that it is fixed in the well such as by an interference fit with the well wall or by bonding to a surface of the substrate.

Provided is a field-flow-fractionation apparatus that is configured to supply a carrier fluid to a waste fluid chamber through a fluid supply flow path at a flow rate higher than a set flow rate of a flow rate adjusting part at a timing between an end of analysis of a sample and a start of analysis of a subsequent sample, thereby forming a flow of the carrier fluid from the waste fluid chamber to the separation channel. Accordingly, the sample adhering to a separation membrane is separated from the separation membrane and is discharged from the outlet port.

A method for automated processing of a blood product, the method comprising providing a reusable separation apparatus controlled by a microprocessing unit, said apparatus configurable with settings and configured to associate with a disposable circuit comprising a separator and in communication with a source blood product having a first concentration and first volume. The apparatus and disposable circuit are configured to flow the source blood product into an inlet of the separator and separate supernatant of the source blood product from a first outlet of the separator into a filtrate container. The apparatus and disposable circuit are also configured to separate platelets and remaining supernatant from a second outlet of the separator into a retentate container, wherein the platelets and remaining supernatant in the retentate container have a second concentration greater than the first concentration and second volume less than the first volume.

A micro fluid filtration system (100) preferably for increasing the concentration of components contained in a fluid sample has a fluid circuitry (1). The fluid circuitry (1) comprises the following elements: A tangential flow filtration element (7) capable for separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid, an element for pumping (3) for creating and driving a fluid flow through the fluid circuitry (1) and at least one element for obtaining information about the properties of the fluid sample within the circuitry. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of conduits (24) connecting the elements of the fluid circuitry (1) through which a fluid stream of the fluid sample is conducted. The circuitry (1) has a minimal working volume of at most 5 ml, which is the minimal fluid volume retained in the elements and the conduits (24) of the circuitry (1) such that the fluid can be recirculated in the circuitry (1) without pumping air through the circuitry (1). An integrated microfluidic element (20) of the circuitry (1) contains the functionality of at least two elements of the group of elements of the circuitry (1).

Disclosed herein are rolled-membrane microfluidic diffusion devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Also disclosed herein are three-dimensionally printed microfluidic devices and corresponding methods of manufacture. Optionally, the disclosed microfluidic devices can function as artificial lung devices.

A blood filtering device has a filtration section with filter medium separating raw side and clean side. A first communication path connects raw side and a first variable blood reservoir volume; a second communication path connects raw side and a second variable blood reservoir volume coupled to a receptacle. When varying the first variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through first communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through second communication path into the second variable blood reservoir volume. When varying the second variable blood reservoir volume, blood contained therein flows through second communication path to raw side, plasma/serum passes through the filter medium from raw side to clean side, and residual blood flows from raw side through first communication path into first variable blood reservoir volume.

A microfluidic device (1) comprises a substrate (10) having a flow input channel (30) in fluid connection with a first fluid port (31) and a flow output channel (40) in fluid connection with a third fluid port (41) and cell channels (20) disposed between the flow input channel (30) and the flow output channel (40). The cell channels (20) comprise a respective obstruction (25) designed to prevent the target cells from passing the respective obstruction (25) and into the flow output channel (40). The microfluidic device (1) also comprises a pre-filter (50) with a filter channel (60) in fluid connection with a first filter port (61) and pre-filter channels (70) adapted to accommodate the target cells. A respective first end (72) of the pre-filter channels (70) is in fluid connection with the filter channel (60) and a respective second end (74) of the pre-filter channels (70) is in fluid connection with the flow input channel (30).

Device for concentration of bioparticles for identification comprises one or more capillary flow paths from at least one inlet for advection along the path of bioparticles in a buffer solution, two or more membranes along the flow path, the membranes being individually selectable for electrical powering, thereby to controllably set up a powered membrane region at a location along said path, said powered membrane region causing localized concentration of the bioparticles, digital-like manipulation of the preconcentrated bioparticles plugs, and detection surface immobilized molecular probes located along said flow path to detect the bioparticles following localized concentration.

A filtration system, having a filtration unit comprising a housing with a sample inlet, a sample outlet, one or more valves, a first actuator, and a second actuator and a third actuator; and a cassette adapted to fit the filtration unit, the cassette having a filter; a first reservoir in fluid communication with the filter, the first reservoir being arranged to couple to the first actuator for imparting flow to a cell-containing solution in a first direction through the filter; a second reservoir in fluid communication with the filter, the second reservoir being arranged to couple to the second actuator for imparting flow to a cell-containing solution in a second direction through said filter, wherein the second direction opposes the first direction; and a third reservoir.