A microfluidic device, including a controllable shape-changing micropillar where a shape of the shape-changing micropillar is changed by a fluid.

Described herein are phospholipid nanogels that can contain a low concentration (less than about 250 Units/L) of an exoglycosidase enzyme. Also described herein are systems and devices that can contain a phospholipid nanogel that can contain a low concentration (less than about 250 Units/L) of an exoglycosidase enzyme. Also described herein are methods of using the phospholipid nanogels described herein and devices and systems that can contain a phospholipid nanogel described herein.

The present disclosure is drawn to inertial pumps. An inertial pump can include a microfluidic channel, a fluid actuator located in the microfluidic channel, and a check valve located in the microfluidic channel. The check valve can include a moveable valve element, a narrowed channel segment located upstream of the moveable valve element, and a blocking element formed in the microfluidic channel downstream of the moveable valve element. The narrowed channel segment can have a width less than a width of the moveable valve element so that the moveable valve element can block fluid flow through the check valve when the moveable valve element is positioned in the narrowed channel segment. The blocking element can be configured such that the blocking element constrains the moveable valve element within the check valve while also allowing fluid flow when the moveable valve element is positioned against the blocking element.

Methods for mass production of new microfluidic devices are described. The microfluidic devices may include an array of micro-needles with open channels in fluid communication with multiple reservoirs located within a substrate that supports the micro-needles. The micro-needles are configured so as to sufficiently penetrate the skin in order to collect or sample bodily fluids and transfer the fluids to the reservoirs. The micro-needles may also deliver medicaments into or below the skin.

Thermally cross-linkable photo-hydrolyzable inkjet printable polymers are used to print microfluidic channels layer-by-layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, for each layer, an inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of hydrophobic polymer and cross-linking agent in a pattern lying outside a two-dimensional layout of the channels, and another inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate) PTHPMA (or another hydrophobic polymer which hydrolyzes to form a hydrophilic material), cross-linking agent, and a photoacid generator (PAG) in a pattern lying inside the two-dimensional layout of the channels. After all layers are printed, flood exposure of the entire substrate to UV radiation releases acid from the PAG which hydrolyzes PTHPMA to form hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) PMAA, thereby rendering the PTHPMA regions hydrophilic. The layers of these now-hydrophilic patterned regions together define the microfluidic channels. The cross-linking agent (e.g., triallyl isocyanurate TAIC) forms covalent cross-links between the two polymer phases.

A microfluidic chip includes a chip main body having a rotation center, a sample reservoir, a liquid groove, multiple reaction chambers, a first inlet channel and multiple second inlet channels, and a sealing membrane connected to the chip main body. The liquid groove has a feeding groove portion extending around the rotation center and the sample reservoir, and multiple metering groove portions extending away from the rotation center. The first inlet channel communicates the sample reservoir and the feeding groove portion. Each second inlet channel communicates a respective metering groove portion and a respective reaction chamber. The depth of the first inlet channel is smaller than those of the sample reservoir and the feeding groove portion. The depth of each second inlet channel is smaller than those of the respective metering groove portion, the respective reaction chamber and the first inlet channel.

An integrated semiconductor heating assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, a chamber formed therein, and an exit port in fluid communication with the chamber, allowing fluid to exit the chamber in response to heating the chamber. The integrated heating assembly includes a first heating element adjacent the chamber, which can generate heat above a selected threshold and bias fluid in the chamber toward the exit port. A second heating element is positioned adjacent the exit port to generate heat above a selected threshold, facilitating movement of the fluid through the exit port away from the chamber. Addition of the second heating element reduces the amount of heat emitted per heating element and minimizes thickness of a heat absorption material toward an open end of the exit port. Since such material is expensive, this reduces the manufacturing cost and retail price of the assembly while improving efficiency and longevity thereof.

A microstructured surface with microfeatures formed thereon and defining spaces between the microfeatures includes least one electrode of an electrode pair in the spaces, wherein electrodes of the pair are electrically connected to one another. The at least one electrode located in the space is configured to generate a gas in between the microfeatures when an electrolyte solution penetrates into the microfeatures. Importantly, the electrodes are not connected to any external power source. Because the microstructured surface is self-powered in replenishing the gas lost in a submerged condition, no additional provision to supply energy or regulate the replenishment is necessary for implementation and use.

A microfluidic device, a method of using a microfluidic device and a micro total analysis system are provided. The microfluidic device includes a first substrate, and the first substrate includes a base substrate and a pixel array. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels and is on the base substrate, and each of the plurality of pixels includes a driving electrode. Driving electrodes of two adjacent pixels are in different layers.

A sensor system includes an emitter configured to emit a signal having a variable emission rate. The sensor also includes an actuator configured to periodically modify a direction of the signal. The actuator has a scan rate which varies within a period. The sensor additionally includes a detector configured to receive a return signal. The sensor further includes a controller in communication with the emitter, the actuator, and the detector. The controller is configured to control the emitter to emit an output signal, and to vary an emission rate of the output signal in response to variations in the scan rate.