An apparatus having a spectrometer and techniques for use thereof for efficient and effective point-of-care diagnostics are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided. The device includes: an intake port; fluidic channels connecting the intake port to a detecting chamber(s), wherein the detecting chamber(s) is configured to permit optical measurements of a fluid sample; a vent leading away from the detecting chamber(s); and a liquid blocker between the detecting chamber(s) and an opening of the vent, wherein the liquid blocker permits air to pass therethrough while at the same time restricting liquid flow. A method for analyzing a fluid sample is also provided. The method includes: introducing the fluid sample to the device; contacting the fluid sample with a reagent(s) prior to the fluid sample entering the detecting chamber(s); and making optical measurements of the fluid sample in the detecting chamber(s).

A droplet generating system includes a reservoir configured to receive an organic fluid and an aqueous fluid, a barrier separating the reservoir into a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, a tube, and an indexer. The barrier is capable of preventing the aqueous fluid from entering the second reservoir portion from the first reservoir portion. The tube is disposed near the barrier, and the tube has a microfluidic channel. The indexer guides the aqueous fluid and the organic fluid into the microfluidic channel so as to form droplets of the aqueous fluid.

The present disclosure provides fluidic devices and fluidic device assemblies, including microfluidic devices and cartridges comprising the same, that in illustrative embodiments, can be used to make particles or protein precipitates, or to monitor precipitate formation. The fluidic devices typically include channels that connect a reaction well to an inlet port and an outlet port, and a fluidic constriction channel that is configured to help retain fluids in the reaction well and/or promote mixing within the reaction well. In some aspect, fluidic devices are interconnected into fluidic assemblies that can be used in continuous process methods.

A diagnostic system for determining the presence of a target in a sample liquid that includes a diagnostic reader and a microfluidic strip having a microfluidic channel network therein. An actuator within the reader modifies the pressure of a gas in gaseous communication with a liquid-gas interface of a sample liquid within the microfluidic channel network to move and/or mix the sample liquid. The pressure modifications may be continuous and/or oscillatory.

A microfluidic chip is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the microfluidic chip includes an inlet part in which a first inlet is provided into which a first fluid is injected, and a middle part in which a first flow path is provided in which the first fluid can flow, wherein on the first flow path, a mixed raw material is pre-stored, and an absorption member is provided in which the first fluid can pass through.

A microfluidic chip is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a microfluidic chip including an inlet part in which a first inlet is provided into which a first fluid is injected; a middle part in which a first flow path is provided in which the first fluid can flow, wherein on the first flow path, a raw material storage part may be provided for storing a mixed raw material which can be mixed with the first fluid.

In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

A method for mixing liquids using an automated liquid handling system includes: aspirating liquid volumes of a first liquid and a second liquid from alternating ones of a first liquid supply and a second liquid supply into a mixing volume such that the aspirated liquid volumes form a liquid stack including a series of alternating, interfacing layers of the first and second liquids in the mixing volume; permitting the interfacing layers of the first and second liquids to mix with one another by diffusion in the mixing volume to form a mixture liquid; and dispensing the mixture liquid from the mixing volume.

An apparatus, system, and method comprise receiving, by a computer system, a series of mixing parameters; transmitting, by the computer system, a series of commands corresponding to a series of mixing parameters to a microfluidic mixing system to mix a series of at least two solutions, wherein one of the solutions includes lipids in an organic solvent and the other solution includes ribonucleic acid (RNA) in an aqueous solvent; and generating in response a plurality of formulations of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating the RNA according to the series of mixing parameters.