Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

A fluidic device (10) is described. The fluidic device (10) comprises the first part (110) and the second part (120). The first part (110) comprises a first inlet (111) and a first outlet (112), mutually spaced apart. The second part (120) comprises a first chamber (121) arranged to contain a predetermined first amount A1 of a first fluid F1 therein and a first wall portion (122) arranged to contain, at least in part, the first fluid F1 in the first chamber (121). The fluidic device (10) is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the first part (110) is fluidically isolated from the first chamber (121). The fluidic device (10) is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the first inlet (111) and the first outlet (112) are fluidically coupled via the first chamber (121), whereby increasing a first pressure P1 in the first chamber (121) via the first inlet (111) urges at least a part of the predetermined first amount A1 of the first fluid F1 through the first outlet (112).

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.

A method for separating cells in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing a predetermined amount of a cocktail of antibodies, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the pretreated biofluid within the microfluidic separation channel. A system for microfluidic cell separation, capable of separating target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of an additive including the cocktail of antibodies, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel. A kit for microfluidic cell separation is also disclosed. A method of facilitating separation of cells is also disclosed.

A method for separating and enriching sperm from a tissue sample comprises: obtaining a microfluidic separating system having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a membrane filter (e.g., hollow fiber membrane filter) fluidly connected to the outlet end; separating the tissue sample via the microfluidic separating system into a debris fluid volume and a sperm fluid volume; and enriching the sperm fluid volume by removing excess media via the membrane filter. A two-stage tissue sample separation system comprising: a microchannel structure defining a separation fluid channel to form a separation stage; an inlet end of the microchannel structure; an outlet end of the microchannel structure; and a membrane filter fluidly connected to the outlet end for removal of at least a portion of excess media in the tissue sample.

Systems and methods for flow cells are provided. Flow cells may encompass a range of fluidic devices for various applications ranging from microfluidic systems to bulk phase flow systems. Flow cells may comprise one or more components for passive or active fluid transfer. Descriptions are provided for advantageous methods of fabricating flow cells for particular applications such as biological assays. Provided is a composition, comprising a first substrate comprising a first covalently-bound ligand; and a second substrate comprising a second covalently-bound ligand; wherein the first covalently-bound ligand and the second covalently-bound ligand are covalently bonded to form a heterocyclic compound. Also provided is a flow cell device, comprising: a first substrate comprising a microfabricated surface; and a second substrate comprising a non-patterned surface; wherein the first substrate is joined to the second substrate to form an enclosure; and wherein the microfabricated surface comprises at least one chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a microarray of active sites with specific functionalization separated by an optically resolvable distance and a functionalized surface comprising a passivating group or a blocking group; and wherein each active site of the microarray of active sites comprises a capture agent.

In one example, a method of preparing a fluidic channel includes covalently coupling a first region of a substrate to a first region of a cover using first moieties covalently coupled to the first region of the substrate and second moieties covalently coupled to the first region of the cover. The covalent coupling between the first region of the substrate and the first region of the cover suspends a second region of the cover over a second region of the substrate to form a fluidic channel.

Provided are a microfluidic apparatus, a method and system for introducing a substance into a cell. The microfluidic apparatus includes a cavity channel, a bulk wave generating device and a surface acoustic wave generating device; a microstructure is arranged on an inner wall of the cavity channel, and the microstructure is constructed for forming a bubble by a solution at the microstructure when the solution is injected into the cavity channel; the bulk wave generating device is configured to generate a bulk wave, the bulk wave enables the bubble to resonate for generating a flow field; and the surface acoustic wave generating device is configured to generate a surface acoustic wave and control a position of at least one particle in the solution.

The present invention provides a cartridge, a detection method, and a detection device capable of stabilizing the liquid level of a sample accommodated in a chamber in a predetermined state. A cartridge 20, that is rotated around a rotating shaft 42 for detecting a target substance, is provided with a chamber 100 in which a sample containing a target substance is stored. The chamber 100 includes a first region 110 in which a sample is stored, a second region 120 disposed at a position closer to the rotating shaft 42 than the first region 110, and a protrusion 130 protruding from a position between the first region 110 and the second region 120 to the inner side of the chamber 100.

Provided are methods for biological sample processing and analysis. A method can comprise providing a substrate configured to rotate. The substrate can comprise an array having immobilized thereto a biological analyte. A solution comprising a plurality of probes may be directed, via centrifugal force, across the substrate during rotation of the substrate, to couple at least one of the plurality of probes with the biological analyte. A detector can be configured to detect a signal from the at least one probe coupled to the biological analyte, thereby analyzing the biological analyte.