A single junction sorter for a microfluidic particle sorter, the single-junction sorter comprising: an input channel, configured to receive a fluid containing particles; an output sort channel and an output waste channel, each connected to the input channel for receiving the fluid therefrom; a bubble generator, operable to selectively displace the fluid around a particle to be sorted and thereby to create a transient flow of the fluid in the input channel; and a vortex element, configured to cause a vortex in the transient flow in order to direct the particle to be sorted into the output sort channel.

A microfluidic chip having a micro channel for processing a sample is provided. The micro channel may focus the sample by using focusing fluid and a core stream forming geometry. The core stream forming geometry may include a lateral fluid focusing component and one or more vertical fluid focusing components. A microfluidic chip may include a plurality micro channels operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

A microfluidic chip for focussing a stream of particulate containing fluid comprises a sample microfluidic channel configured to receive the stream of particulate containing fluid, a guidance microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross-sectional area and configured to receive a stream of guidance fluid, and a common microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross sectional area formed by the merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance 10 microfluidic channel at an oblique angle along only part of one or more sides of the guidance microfluidic channel, and a detection zone disposed in the common microfluidic channel having one or more sensors. The merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance microfluidic channel is configured to provide a composite fluid stream containing a focussed beam of particulates that is disposed asymmetrically in the common microfluidic channel 15 adjacent a corner or side of the common microfluidic channel and wherein the one or more sensors are configured for sensing a characteristic of the focussed beam of particulates in the common channel.

A MEMS-based particle manipulation system which uses a particle manipulation stage and a plurality of laser interrogation regions. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the particle manipulation stage. In one exemplary embodiment, the particle manipulation stage is a microfabricated, flap-type fluid valve, which sorts a target particle from non-target particles in a fluid stream. The laser interrogation stages are disposed in the microfabricated fluid channels at the input and output of the flap-type sorting valve. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the sorting, and to control or adjust sort parameters during the sorting process. One or more feedback loops may be used to improve the particle manipulation process, based on data acquired during the first interrogation and/or during a downstream confirmation. Artificial intelligence techniques may be used to good effect.

A method is provided for manipulating objects in a cavity including a liquid, the method including providing in at least one region of the cavity objects capable of absorbing light in a given wavelength range, forming an aggregate of the objects by submitting them to an acoustic field, and disrupting the aggregate by submitting the aggregate to a light beam emitting at the given wavelength range. Also provided is a device for manipulating objects.

Microfluidic devices and methods for focusing components in a fluid sample are described herein. The microfluidic devices feature a microfluidic chip having a micro-channel having a constricting portion that narrows in width, and a flow focusing region downstream of the micro-channel. The flow focusing region includes a positively sloping bottom surface that reduces a height of the flow focusing region and sidewalls that taper to reduce a width of the flow focusing region, thereby geometrically constricting the flow focusing region. The devices and methods can be utilized in sex-sorting of sperm cells to improve performance and increase eligibility.

A sample extraction cassette and method are provided to test for a target in a sample. The sample is obtained on a swab. The swab is inserted into a chamber in a case and into contact with a contact portion of a membrane. The contact portion of the membrane is axially moved into sequential communication with a wash fluid and a reaction fluid. The reaction fluid reacts with the target to provide a visual display corresponding to the presence of the target.

We describe a microfluidic structure for spacing out droplets, the structure comprising: a main channel for guiding droplets in a spacing fluid; a first inlet for introducing droplets into the main channel; and a second inlet for introducing a spacing fluid into the main channel, wherein a cross-sectional area of the main channel decreases downstream from the first inlet. We also describe a method of spacing out droplets using a microfluidic structure.

Certain embodiments are directed to finite step emulsification device and/or methods that combine finite step emulsification with gradients of confinement for the formation of a 2D monolayer array of droplets with low size dispersion.