A system, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, the system comprising a process fluid container and a cartridge comprising: a top layer, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.

Described herein are systems relating to a continuous-flow instrument that includes all necessary components for digital droplet quantification without the need to introduce key reagents or collect and transfer droplets between stages of instrument operation. Digital quantification can proceed without any additional fluid or consumable handling and without exposing fluids to risk of external contamination.

The present invention discloses an electrophoretic chip comprising: (a) a non-conductive substrate designed to support elements of said electrophoretic chip; (b) an electrode structure for conducting current through said electrophoretic chip, printed on said non-conductive substrate and comprising a counter electrode and at least one working electrode, each electrode comprising a conductive low-resistance ink layer printed on the non-conductive substrate, and a carbon ink layer printed on top of and fully or partially covering said conductive low-resistance ink layer; (c) a dielectric ink insulator layer placed on top of, and covering, said electrode structure, said dielectric ink insulator layer having at least one opening above the counter electrode and at least one opening above said at least one working electrode, thereby forming at least one addressable location; and (d) a molecule capturing matrix spotted on and covering said at least one addressable location, thereby creating at least one microgel region.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the arrangement of droplets in pre-determined locations. Many applications require the collection of time-resolved data. Examples include the screening of cells based on their growth characteristics or the observation of enzymatic reactions. The present invention provides a tool and related techniques which addresses this need, and which can be used in many other situations. The invention provides, in one aspect, a tool that allows for stable storage and indexing of individual droplets. The invention can interface not only with microfluidic/microscale equipment, but with macroscopic equipment to allow for the easy injection of liquids and extraction of sample droplets, etc.

A sample processing tubule is provided including, from a proximate to a distal end, an opening through which a sample is introducible, at least three segments, and an reagent introduction port operatively connected to a distal segment of the at least three segments. The reagent introduction port enables the addition of a reagent in the distal segment of the tubule, enabling the user to create a customizable assay tubule.

Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.

Intermittent warming of a biologic sample including a nucleic acid includes receiving at a first end of a channel of a microfluidic device, a biologic sample including a nucleic acid, and warming a subset of a plurality of heating elements disposed adjacent to the channel. The method includes warming the heating elements to a particular temperature of a particular warming and cooling protocol. The method includes moving the biologic sample from the first end of the channel to a second end of the channel opposite the first end at a particular flow rate associated with the warming and cooling protocol, and intermittently warming the biologic sample using the subset of heating elements while the biologic sample moves from the first end of the channel to the second end of the channel.

Described herein are digital microfluidic (DMF) devices and corresponding methods for managing reagent solution evaporation during a reaction. Reactions on the DMF devices described here are performed in an air or gas matrix. The DMF devices include a means for performing reactions at different temperatures. To address the issue of evaporation of the reaction droplet especially when the reaction is performed at higher temperatures, a means for introducing a replenishing droplet has been incorporated into the DMF device. A replenishing droplet is introduced every time when it has been determined that the reaction droplet has fallen below a threshold volume. Detection and monitoring of the reaction droplet may be through visual, optical, fluorescence, colorimetric, and/or electrical means.

An apparatus comprising a flexible heater in thermal contact with a flexible spring, wherein the flexible spring is configured to provide thermal energy from the heater to a cartridge when the cartridge is in contact with the flexible spring. Methods of making and using the same are also disclosed.

System for performing a flow-based assay. The system may comprise a droplet generator to produce an emulsion including droplets in a carrier fluid. The system also may comprise a thermocycler including two or more temperature-controlled zones and also including a channel connected to the droplet generator for receiving the emulsion. The channel may form a single-pass continuous fluid route traversing the temperature-controlled zones multiple times, such that droplets passing through the channel are thermally cycled. The system further may comprise a detection station downstream from the thermocycler and configured to detect a signal from the droplets after such droplets have been thermally cycled by passing through the channel.