A microfluidic chip assembly for rapidly performing digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and use thereof are provided. The microfluidic chip assembly includes at least one microfluidic chip, a heat sink arranged below the microfluidic chip, a heater arranged above the microfluidic chip, a semiconductor cooler arranged between the heat sink and the microfluidic chip, and a heat-conducting plate arranged above the semiconductor cooler. A thin film layer is bonded at the bottom of the microfluidic chip, and the thin film layer abuts against the heat-conducting plate.

Disclosed are an improved guide device capable of being easily replaced for damage, and a detector having the same.

The guide device includes a first plate configured to have a plurality of grooves disposed in one surface thereof; and a second plate configured to be in contact with the first plate, wherein the second plate is in contact with the first plate to separate a plurality of channels, wherein the first plate is configured so that the plurality of microdroplets pass through any one of the plurality of channels, the fluid passes through channels facing each other among the plurality of flow channels, and the microdroplets are regularly spaced apart by the fluid that is discharged from the channels facing each other.

The present technology provides for a fluorescent detector that is configured to detect light emitted for a probe characteristic of a polynucleotide. The polynucleotide is undergoing amplification in a microfluidic channel with which the detector is in optical communication. The detector is configured to detect minute quantities of polynucleotide, such as would be contained in a microfluidic volume. The detector can also be multiplexed to permit multiple concurrent measurements on multiple polynucleotides concurrently.

A device for performing biological sample reactions may include a plurality of flow cells configured to be mounted to a common microscope translation stage, wherein each flow cell is configured to receive at least one sample holder containing biological sample. Each flow cell also may be configured to be selectively placed in an open position for positioning the at least one sample holder into the flow cell and a closed position for reacting biological sample contained in the at least one sample holder. The plurality of flow cells may be configured to be selectively placed in the open position and the closed position independently of each other.

A cartridge insertion system includes a chassis supporting a fluid circuit, the chassis having a forward end with key pins projecting from the forward end and a rear end. The system also includes a medical treatment device with a slot opening closed by doors having a major dimension and having key openings spaced apart a same distance as the key pins on the chassis, such that when the chassis is pushed toward the slot opening, the key pins enter the key openings before the forward end meets the doors. The key pins push against latches that hold the door locked shut, so that the doors will not open if a cartridge without key pins is pressed against the door. When a cartridge with key pins is used, the doors unlock and allow the cartridge to be inserted.

A wafer for carrying a biological sample includes a pair of circular discs, at least one of the discs being transparent. The wafer also includes a gap between the discs adapted to receive a biological sample. The compact circular shape of the wafer makes it particularly suited for use in a portable device in which the wafer is rotated to enable a camera to image different areas of the sample between the discs. The gap may be sized to pull a biological sample into the gap by capillary action.

A computer-implemented method, computer program product and prototyping platform creates a design blueprint for a substrate-based microfluidic device. A design and prototyping platform receives at least one blueprint parameter and at least one constraint associated with a proposed substrate-based microfluidic device including a hydrophilic material and arrangement of a pattern of a hydrophobic material. The platform determines an arrangement of a plurality of microfluidic device elements as candidates for implementation of the proposed substrate-based microfluidic device and outputs a design blueprint of the proposed substrate-based microfluidic device.

Disclosed herein include systems, devices, and methods for droplet deposition for mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a microfluidic device comprising wells is reversibly sealed to a mass spectrometry surface and used to deposit contents of droplets (e.g., enzymes and substrates), or products thereof, onto the mass spectrometry surface. The contents of droplets can be analyzed by laser desorption/ionization to, for example, identify a substrate of an enzyme or an enzyme capable of catalyzing a substrate to a product.

The present invention relates, in part, to systems configured to obtain samples from an organism in an autonomous manner. Such systems can employ a cartridge configured to provide bait to attract an organism, as well as channels to store and/or test samples obtained from the organism.

Embodiments may include a rapid test device that provide rapid detection of substances, including those involved in pathogen infection, for example, using Microscale Affinity Chromatography (MAC), indirect ELISA, and optical molecular sensing technology. For example, in an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a loading bay disposed on the apparatus to receive a cartridge, a door disposed on the apparatus to cover the loading bay, a plurality of prongs disposed on an interior of the door to provide actuation force to dispense blister reservoirs disposed on the cartridge when the door is closed, and a device disposed relative to the cartridge to move at least a portion of contents of the cartridge among chambers of the cartridge.