An apparatus includes a transfer adapter, a puncture member, a disinfection member, and a fluid reservoir. The transfer adapter has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and defines an inner volume configured to receive the puncture member. The transfer adapter is coupled to the disinfection member. The distal end portion of the transfer adapter includes a port fluidically coupled to the puncture member and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a bodily-fluid of a patient. The proximal end portion is configured to receive a portion of the fluid reservoir to allow the fluid reservoir to be moved within the inner volume between a first position, in which a surface of the fluid reservoir is placed in contact with the disinfection member, and a second position, in which the puncture member punctures the surface to place the puncture member in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.

An assembly for forming a microchamber for an inverted substrate is disclosed. The assembly can include a body having a chamber formed therein. A dispensing cavity can be provided to supply a reagent to the chamber. A slide support structure can be configured to support the slide such that the tissue sample faces the chamber when the slide is mounted to the slide support structure. The chamber and the slide support structure can be dimensioned such that, when the reagent is supplied to the dispensing cavity, the reagent is drawn to the chamber by way of capillary forces acting on the reagent.

A method may include maintaining a sample comprising an ionic species and an optical indicator at an elevated temperature above 25° C. on a semi-conductive microfluidic die during an incubation period, intermittently interrogating the sample with an interrogating light during the incubation period and sensing a response of the sample to the interrogating light, wherein the sample is interrogated with the interrogating light only during those times at which the sample is being sensed.

A blood collection apparatus comprising: (i) a test tube for storing blood extracted from a patient, the test tube comprising a vacuum facilitating an extraction of blood; (ii) a heat transfer element encapsulating the test tube and storing at least two reagents capable of initiating a heat transfer process contemporaneously with the extraction of the blood, the heat transfer element further comprising a fracturable element that when fractured enables the at least two reagents to initiate the heat transfer process; and (iii) an insulation element encapsulating the heat transfer element, the insulation element inhibiting a loss of a temperature change of the blood, wherein test tube is removable, contemporaneously with an initiation of a blood test, from the insulation element encapsulating the heat transfer element, and wherein the apparatus comprises a circumference suitable to be mated with a general purpose test tube needle holder.

A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.

The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a preconcentrator system for preconcentrating air samples. This preconcentrator system includes a plurality of preconcentrators that preconcentrate the air samples prior to chemical analysis, and a delivery structure comprising a manifold that selectively routes a sample airflow to the plurality of concentrators so that the plurality of preconcentrators receive a sample airflow concurrently or individually.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tube opening and closing device capable of opening and closing a lid of a tube and comprising a container, a lid coupled to the container so as to enable the container to be blocked, and a joint part for connecting the container and a first side of the lid comprises: a tube supporting rack having a plurality of openings formed on one surface thereof, wherein the containers of the tubes can be inserted into each of the plurality of openings; an opening and closing part positioned at an upper part of the tube supporting rack, rotating around a first rotary shaft and having a coupling groove in which a second side of the lid, which faces the first side of the tube, can be accommodated; and a driving part for rotating the opening and closing part, wherein the lid can be opened and closed with respect to the container through the rotation of the opening and closing part.

Modular active surface devices for microfluidic systems and methods of making same is disclosed. In one example, the modular active surface device includes an active surface layer mounted atop an active surface substrate, a mask mounted atop the active surface layer wherein the mask defines the area, height, and volume of the reaction chamber, and a substrate mounted atop the mask wherein the substrate provides the facing surface to the active surface layer. In other examples, both facing surfaces of the reaction chamber include active surface layers. Further, the modular active surface device can include other layers, such as, but not limited to, adhesive layers, stiffening layers for facilitating handling, and peel-off sealing layers. Further, a large-scale manufacturing method is provided of mass-producing the modular active surface devices. Further, a method is provided of using a plasma bonding process to bond the active surface layer to the active surface substrate.

The current invention generally relates to apparatus and method to analyze and separate biological entities, including cells, bacteria and molecules from human blood, body tissue, body fluid and other human related biological samples. The claimed apparatus and method analyze, or detect, biological entities based on optical signals received from said entities by using optical detectors. The claimed apparatus and method further separate biological entities with using micro-actuator activated sorting devices.

Devices that may couple two or more apparatuses, such as an organ-on-a-chip device and a microfluidic device. Devices that include an organ-on-a-chip device, a microfluidic device, and a cap that couples the organ-on-a-chip device and the microfluidic device. Systems that include the devices and a detection unit. Methods for quantitation of insulin.