Provided is a concentration device suitable for dielectrophoresis. The concentration device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate, a flow path formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first pillar electrode line disposed in the flow path and including a left-side first pillar electrode L (301L), a right-side first pillar electrode R (301R), and one second pillar electrode B (302B), and a second pillar electrode line disposed in the flow path and including one second pillar electrode A (302A). The value of L3 is not less than 5 micrometers, where L3 is equal to (A1−A2), A1 represents a distance between a second vertex Q2 of the second pillar electrode A and a center point O; and A2 represents a distance between the first vertex Q1 of the second pillar electrode B and the center point O.

A surgical access port and assembly are disclosed for providing access for a medical instrument into an intracorporeal cavity of a patient undergoing surgery. The access port comprises a cannula and a first passage which extends along the cannula and along which a medical instrument is arranged to pass, the passage comprising a first entrance portion disposed at a proximal region the of the cannula and a first exit portion disposed at a distal region of the cannula. The cannula further comprises a second passage which extends along the cannula and along which an electrode is arranged to pass, the second passage comprising a second entrance portion disposed at a proximal region of the cannula and a second exit portion disposed at a distal region of the cannula. The first exit portion of the first passage and the second exit portion of the second passage diverge along the cannula in a direction which is from the proximal end to the distal end of the cannula, to suitably locate the electrode with respect to a medical instrument.

A microfluidic apparatus can comprise a dielectrophoresis (DEP) configured section for holding a first liquid medium and selectively inducing net DEP forces in the first liquid medium. The microfluidic apparatus can also comprise an electrowetting (EW) configured section for holding a second liquid medium on an electrowetting surface and selectively changing an effective wetting property of the electrowetting surface. The DEP configured section can be utilized to select and move a micro-object in the first liquid medium. The EW configured section can be utilized to pull a droplet of the first liquid medium into the second liquid medium.

Methods and apparatus for detecting, quantifying, enriching, and/or separating bacterial species in fluid sample are provided. The fluid sample is provided as input to a microfluidic passage of a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microfluidic passage. The at least one electrode is activated to capture bacteria in the sample using dielectrophoresis, wherein the capture efficiency of bacteria is at least 99%.

Magnetic cell levitation and cell monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. A method for separating a heterogeneous population of cells is performed by placing a microcapillary channel containing the heterogeneous population of cells in a magnetically-responsive medium in the disclosed levitation system and separating the cells by balancing magnetic and corrected gravitational forces on the individual cells. A levitation system is also disclosed, having a microscope on which the microcapillary channel is placed and a set of two magnets between which the microcapillary channel is placed. Additionally, a method for monitoring cellular processes in real-time using the levitation system is disclosed.

An apparatus for processing magnetic particles comprises a sealed enclosure and a magnetic field source. The sealed enclosure comprises an inlet into the enclosure and an outlet from the enclosure. The configuration of the sealed enclosure and of the inlet and the outlet are such that fluid containing the magnetic particles that is introduced into the enclosure through the inlet exhibits a spiral flow towards the outlet. The magnetic field source is disposed to the enclosure to intermittently apply a magnetic field to the fluid contained therein.

Provided herein are apparatus for independently manipulating the temperature of a plurality of reaction vessels, e.g., for automated processing of nucleic acids present in the vessels. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprising a mount area arranged to have mounted thereon a through-hole thermoelectric device (TED) to facilitate independent temperature control of reaction vessels are also provided, as well as methods relating to the same.

A magnetic assembly for use in a device for conducting assays is disclosed. The magnetic assembly comprises a pole piece having a longitudinal shaft interposed between at least two magnetic elements, each of the at least two magnetic elements having a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole; the at least two magnetic elements being orientated such that each north magnetic pole or each south magnetic pole is aligned inwardly towards the shaft; and wherein the pole piece comprises a cap at one end of the shaft which extends at least partially over a lateral surface of each of the at least two magnetic elements. Also disclosed is a device for conducting assays and a method of operating the device.

Described herein are aspects of a microfluidic separation and assay system that can include a microfluidic contactless dielectrophoretic (cDEP) device, a microfluidic concentrator, and a microfluidic assay chamber. In some aspects, microfluidic separation and assay system can be included on a single microfluidic chip. Also described herein are methods of using the microfluidic separation and assay system described herein.

A macro electrically active mask includes two conductive layers separated by at least one filtering and insulating layer. The conductive layers are connected to each other by a power source. The power source includes an oscillator and a high voltage transformer. The power source generates a periodic voltage with a fundamental frequency and multiple harmonic frequencies. The power source is connected between the two conductive layers and the periodic voltage generates a periodic electric field between the two conductive layers. The fundamental frequency, the duty cycle, and the amplitude of the periodic voltage are configured to inactivate the microorganism that pass through the electric field.