During droplet operations in a droplet actuator, bubbles often form in the filler fluid in the droplet operations gap and interrupt droplet operations. The present invention provides methods and systems for performing droplet operations on a droplet in a droplet actuator comprising maintaining substantially consistent contact between the droplet and an electrical ground while conducting multiple droplet operations on the droplet in the droplet operations gap and/or reducing the accumulation of electrical charges in the droplet operations gap during multiple droplet operations. The methods and systems reduce or eliminate bubble formation in the filler fluid of the droplet operations gap, thereby permitting completion of multiple droplet operations without interruption by bubble formation in the filler fluid in the droplet operations gap.

Single-sided optoelectrowetting (SSOEW)-configured substrates are provided, as well as microfluidic devices that include such substrates. The substrates can include a planar electrode, a photoconductive (or photosensitive) layer, a dielectric layer (single-layer or composite), a mesh electrode, and a hydrophobic coating. Fluid droplets can be moved across the hydrophobic coating of such substrates in a light-actuated manner, upon the application of a suitable AC voltage potential across the substrate and the focusing of light into the photoconductive layer of the substrate in a location proximal to the droplets. Walls can be disposed upon the substrates to form the microfluidic devices. Together the walls and substrate can form a microfluidic circuit, through which droplets can be moved.

A device for performing a microfluidic assay on a chip comprising, a microfluidics chip, one or more fluid receptacles on the chip for receiving a fluid, a plurality of pneumatic pumps arrayed on the chip, each pump having a discharge channel leading to a rectifier on the chip, and a reaction chamber in fluid communication with each of the rectifiers, wherein a pressure on the pressurized fluid source drives fluid from the fluid receptacle into the incoming fluid channel connecting the fluid receptacle to the pump, through the pump and into the discharge channel, through the discharge channel to the rectifier, and through the rectifier into the reaction chamber, wherein the pump is configured to generate droplets of a pre-determined size, wherein the rectifiers prevent backflow of the droplets, and wherein droplets are combined in the reaction chamber, the chamber facilitating an assay being performed on the chip.

An analyzing device has a main body and is configured to draw a sample liquid from a spot application section of the main body and transfer the sample liquid to a measurement chamber via a microchannel structure formed inside the main body by a centrifugal force. The spot application section has an inlet. The analyzing device includes a supplying capillary channel formed within the spot application section. The supplying capillary channel has an end connected to the inlet of the spot application section. The analyzing device also includes a holding chamber connected to another end of the supplying capillary channel and having a thickness sized to generate a capillary force to move the sample liquid. The holding chamber is formed between a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall define the holding chamber.

In an example, a method for preparing a nucleotide solution includes flowing an aqueous solution from an initial solution storage of a sequencing instrument continuously through a container fluidically coupled to the sequencing instrument, the container comprising a nucleotide concentrate; and collecting the aqueous solution with nucleotide in a storage container.

A pipette-fillable fluid reservoir body. The fluid reservoir body includes two or more discrete fluid chambers therein. At least one of the fluid chambers contains a pressure compensation device and at least another one of the fluid chambers is devoid of a pressure compensation device. Each of the fluid chambers is in fluid flow communication with a fluid supply via, and each of the fluid chambers have sidewalls and a bottom wall attached to the side walls, wherein the bottom wall slopes toward the fluid supply via. The fluid reservoir body also includes an ejection head support face in fluid flow communication with the fluid chambers for attachment of a fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid from the fluid chambers.

Processing and use of fluids from the reproductive tract (biofluids) to improve the in vitro production of mammalian embryos comprising the following steps: a) fractionation and processing of biofluids through a sorting, purification, lyophilization and subsequent storage; b) a method of sperm capacitation in a culture medium supplemented with biofluids; c) in vitro fertilization in a medium enriched with biofluids and d) subsequent in vitro culture with development of the obtained embryos to any stage of preimplantational development in culture media supplemented with biofluids.

There is provided a cartridge for nucleic acid extraction comprising: a first body having a plurality of chambers in which ports are formed at the bottom; a second body coupled to a lower region of the first body; and a piston disposed rotatably in the centers of the first body and the second body and having a port formed at the bottom thereof; and characterized in that the cartridge comprises a plurality of flow paths formed on the upper region of the second body, one end overlapping the port of the piston and the other end overlapping the port of the first body.

A method of generating droplets from a liquid sample is described and is characterised by the steps of a) locating the sample at a first electrowetting location and applying an electrowetting force to cause a region of the sample to become elongated in a direction in which the electrowetting force is applied; b) temporarily altering the electrowetting force on the sample and accumulating electrostatic surface charge on the sample to counter surface tension forces between the bulk of the sample and the elongated sample region; c) restoring the electrowetting force; d) further elongating the charged elongated sample region using the electrowetting force and e) severing a droplet from the charged elongated sample region. A corresponding droplet generator is also described.

A storage rack for receiving articles for storage is disclosed. The rack is typically for use in storing and transporting samples used in a pathology laboratory. The rack includes a plurality of weight-bearing surfaces, defined by the junction of a plurality of concentric tubes, for supporting and retaining an article at a predetermined distance from a datum surface. One or more of the weight-bearing portions defines an opening, allowing an article to extend therethrough when not supported on said weight-bearing portion. The maximum size of article that can be received on any weight-bearing portion differs with respect to the distance of weight-bearing portion from the datum surface.