Stabilized indicator compositions, and systems and methods using the same are described. In embodiments the stabilized indicator compositions include a solvent, an indicator, a stabilizer for the indicator, and optionally a buffer. In embodiments the indicator is or includes N, N-diethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPD). Systems and methods utilizing the stabilized indicator composition to determine an amount of at least one constituent in a test sample (e.g., water) are also described. In embodiments, the systems and methods remove the stabilizer from the stabilized indicator composition to produce a fluid flow containing un stabilized indicator, which is then combined with a fluid from a sample source to form a test sample for analysis.

In an example implementation, a reagent storage system for a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chamber formed in a microfluidic device. A blister pack to store a reagent includes an electrically conductive membrane barrier adjacent to the chamber. A thinned region is formed in the membrane barrier, and a conductive trace is to supply electric current to heat and melt the thinned region. Melting the thinned region is to cause the membrane barrier to open and release the reagent into the chamber.

The present invention discloses a nanoparticle control and detection system and operating method thereof. The present invention controls and detects the nanoparticles in the same device. The device comprises a first transparent electrode, a photoconductive layer, a spacer which is deposed on the edge of the photoconductive layer and a second transparent electrode. The aforementioned device controls and detects the nanoparticles by applying AC/DC bias and AC/DC light source to the transparent electrode.

A module for processing fluids includes one or more collapsible fluid chambers supported on a substrate, a compression element supported on the substrate and configured to be movable with respect to the one or more chambers, and an actuating element coupled to the compression element and configured to effect movement of the compression element relative to the one or more fluid chambers to collapse each fluid chamber by compressing the fluid chamber between the compression element and the substrate as the compression element moves over the fluid chamber. A method for motivating a fluid out of a fluid chamber comprises the steps of providing a module that includes one or more collapsible fluid chambers supported on a substrate, a compression element supported on the substrate and configured to be movable with respect to the one or more chambers, and an actuating element coupled to the compression element and configured to effect movement of the compression element relative to the one or more fluid chambers and moving the actuator element to move the compression element across at least a portion of t substrate and compress the fluid chamber, thereby motivating the fluid out of the fluid chamber.

A multi-layered band and a method for manufacturing a multi-layered band are disclosed. The multi-layered band comprises a support (1) to hold at least one battery structure (10) formed by overlapped layers including a porous material (11) and two electroactive electrodes (12, 13), one oxidizing (12) and one reducing (13), separated at a certain distance between them and in touch with said porous material (11). The battery structure (10) is configured to be activated upon the addition of a fluid into a given region of the porous material (11) and to provide electrical energy while said fluid impregnates by capillarity the porous material (11). The overlapped layers are constituted by parallel strips extending longitudinally along the length of the support (1), such that said multi-layered band can be cut transversally providing individual batteries of a same or different width each including the porous material (11) and the electroactive electrodes (12, 13).

An apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a laminate fluidic circuit positioned above the fluid reservoir. The laminate fluidic circuit includes two or more layers laminated together to define a substantially planar substrate and one or more channels defined within the substrate. The laminate fluidic circuit includes a flexible conduit defined by a portion of the substrate encompassing an extent of at least one of the channels that is partially separated or separable from the remainder of the substrate. The flexible conduit is deflectable with respect to the planar substrate toward the fluid reservoir such that the flexible conduit fluidly connects the at least one channel to the fluid reservoir.

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.

A method for performing a magnetic separation procedure that includes transporting a receptacle containing a fluid medium to a first location of a system, where the fluid medium contains both a sample material and a suspension of magnetically-responsive solid supports. At the first location, the fluid medium is exposed to a first magnetic field for a first dwell period, thereby isolating the solid supports within the receptacle, where no portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle at the first location. The receptacle is then transported from the first location to a second location of the system, where the fluid medium is exposed to a second magnetic field for a second dwell period. Following the second dwell period, at least a portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle. A suspension fluid is then dispensed into the receptacle, and the contents of the receptacle are agitated to suspend the solid supports within the suspension fluid.