A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem including an actuation substrate, and a set of pins interacting with the actuation substrate, and a spring plate configured to bias at least one pin in a configurations, the valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; and a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

A microporous substrate for detection of surface bound target analyte molecules includes a microporous substrate material having opposed surfaces and tapered micropores extending through the substrate with the micropores having wider openings on one side of the substrate compared to the other side. The micropores have bound therein analyte specific receptors complementary to the target molecules. When a liquid sample containing the target analyte molecules with optical probes attached to the target molecules is flowed through the substrate, they bind to their complementary analyte specific receptors and emit light. This microporous substrate structure gives an increase in the collection efficiency of light emitted from optical probes when the light is detected by a light detector spaced from the side of the microporous substrate facing the larger micropores openings compared to a light collection efficiency of light emitted from the optical probes when the micropores are straight and not tapered.

The present invention relates to a device (10) for use in fluid sample analysis. It is described to position (310) a top part (20) of the device (10) adjacent to a base part (30) of the device so as to define a fluidic receiving region in between, the top part being provided with a through opening fluidly connected to the fluidic receiving region, and the bottom part being provided with a radiation window adjacent to the fluidic receiving region. A fluidic sample is supplied (320) through the opening (24). The fluidic sample is moved laterally (330) in the fluid receiving region without the use of an intermediary membrane between the top part and the base part. A radiation is emitted (340) to the fluid receiving region. A radiation is detected (350) that is reflected by the device. A presence of the fluidic sample is determined (360) on the basis of a measured reflectance value based on the detected radiation.

A microfabricated device having at least one gas-entrapping feature formed therein in a configuration that entraps air bubbles upon wetting the feature with a solvent or solution is described. The device includes a sacrificial residue in contact with the gas-entrapping feature, the dissolution of which guides the wetting of the gas-entrapping feature.

A method for aliquoting a sample liquid using a sealing liquid in a microfluidic device includes combining the sample liquid and the sealing liquid, which have different wetting behaviors, to form a two-phase system separated by a boundary surface. The microfluidic device includes a chamber with at least one inlet channel for introducing the liquids and a plurality of cavities configured to be filled via the inlet channel. The inlet channel and the cavities have a geometry that is defined in dependence on the respective wetting behaviors of the sample liquid and the sealing liquid. The method first includes introducing the sample liquid to form a first meniscus configured by the defined geometry, e.g. concave, to fill the cavities. The method further includes introducing the sealing liquid to form a second meniscus configured by the existing, greater contact angle and the defined geometry, e.g. convex, to cover the filled cavities.

A point of use analyzer includes pump, valve, port, and storage channel. The storage channel may hold multiple assay packets composed of reagent aliquots separated by bounding slugs. The storage channel may define an elongated lumen having two ends with each of the ends coupled to the valve. A sampling device for use with the analyzer engages the port and may include a recurrent coaxial tube having a separation medium. A method of using the analyzer with the sampling device includes steps of pumping a fluid to displace a sample into the separation medium and out through the opposed connection.

Provided is a microfluidic device capable of removing microbubbles in a channel by using a porous thin film, the microfluidic device comprising: an upper panel comprising a microfluidic channel through which a fluid passes; a porous thin film attached to the bottom surface of the microfluidic channel so as to remove microbubbles included in the fluid that passes through the microfluidic channel; a lower panel contacting the bottom surface of the porous thin film and the upper panel, a path being provided in the lower panel so as to discharge microbubbles, which pass through the porous thin film, to the outside; and a vacuum-suctioning means for vacuum-suctioning the upper panel and the lower panel such that the microfluidic channel, to which the porous thin film is attached, is attached to the lower panel in a vacuum state.

The present inventive concept relates to a microfluidic system for pressure-assisted capillary-driven flowing of a liquid. The system comprises: a first sub-system comprising a capillary flow channel, having a first flow resistance, arranged to receive the liquid and to flow the liquid along the capillary flow channel; a second sub-system comprising a pressure-assisting flow channel, having a second flow resistance, arranged to receive the liquid from the capillary flow channel, and to provide a pressure-assisted flow of the liquid in a direction away from the capillary flow channel; and a capillary valve, having a third flow resistance, comprising a capillary portion, wherein the capillary portion at a first end is connected to an interface between the capillary flow channel and the pressure-assisting flow channel, and at a second end is communicating with gaseous medium. The first flow resistance is larger than the third flow resistance, and the second flow resistance is larger than the third flow resistance, such that the liquid is flowing predominantly by capillary action in the capillary flow channel until a forefront of the liquid has reached the interface with the pressure-assisting flow channel, and by pressure-assisted capillary action after the forefront of the liquid has reached the interface with the pressure-assisted flow channel The present inventive concept further relates to a diagnostic device and a lab-on-a-chip device, comprising the microfluidic system.

A test strip for sampling a bodily fluid may include multiple layers of a substrate material, an adhesive between at least some of the multiple layers, and a microfluidic channel formed between at least some of the multiple layers. The test strip may further include multiple electrodes on one of the multiple layers, positioned and partially exposed within the microfluidic channel, an additional material positioned at or near an entrance to the microfluidic channel, to selectively limit the flow of at least one of bubbles or debris into the microfluidic channel, and at least one exit port in at least one of the multiple layers to allow for release of pressure from the test strip. In some embodiments, the test strip is a saliva analysis test strip. In some embodiments, the test strip includes multiple exit ports to prevent blockage of sample flow.