Described herein are various inventions and embodiments thereof, directed to systems, devices, and methods for separating a sample. Embodiments of sample collection devices disclosed herein may maintain separation of different volumes of sample during collecting, handling, and accessing of the sample. A sample collection device, in some embodiments, may comprise an enclosure defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a partition therebetween configured to separate the first chamber and the second chamber. An assembly coupled to the partition may be configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration based on fluid and gas flow through the assembly.

A microfluidic device for detection of an analyte in a fluid is described. The microfluidic device comprises a substrate having a first surface defining entrances to one or more chambers defined in the substrate, surfaces of the chambers defining a second surface of the substrate, the first surface being modified for selective targeting and capture of at least one analyte to operably effect a blocking of the entrance to at least one of the chambers, and wherein a response characteristic of the microfluidic device is operably varied by the blocking of the entrance to the at least one of the chambers, thereby providing an indication of the presence of the analyte within the fluid.

Devices and methods for measuring analytes and target particles in a sample are disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a cartridge device. In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a method of using a cartridge device as disclosed herein for analyzing analytes and target particles in a sample. In further embodiments, the disclosure provides an analyzer including a cartridge device and a control unit device. The control unit device is configured to receive, operate, and/or actuate the cartridge device. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a method of using an analyzer as disclosed herein for analyzing analytes and target particles in a sample.

The present disclosure provides better aspiration and dispensing by a common innovative mechanism by (i) offsetting the diameter of a bottom piston (tube) with a slightly narrower top piston (rod) when the two are swept together by O-rings to give extremely fine resolution, thereby eliminating the need for any filamentous piston and sealing means, (ii) letting the bottom tube be swept alone without offset to give high flow (iii) using a tapered top rod with thick-walled compliant O-ring seals to increase the resolution multiplier another order or magnitude, (iv) an at-the-ready interpiston space for contact-free blowoff, including viscous samples, (v) dead space filler mandrels and an integrated small valve to reduce or eliminate interpiston and disposable tip space prior to aspiration, and (vi) a mechanism for storing energy during disposable tip pickup to shoot dispensed samples contact-free down into long tubes.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor. The assembly, pneumatic system, and control unit operate together to prepare the sample and provide the prepared sample to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also process measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic system (10, 20) comprising: a sample reservoir (110, 210); a first sample channel (120, 220) connected to the sample reservoir (110, 210), branching off into a second sample channel (122, 222) ending in a first valve (130, 230), and into a third sample channel (124, 224) which branches off into a fourth sample channel (126, 226) ending in a second valve (132, 232), and into a fifth sample channel (128, 228) ending in a third valve (134, 234); a buffer reservoir (140, 240); a first trigger channel (150, 250) arranged to connect the buffer reservoir (140, 240) to the second valve (132, 232); a second trigger channel (152, 252) connecting the second valve (132, 232) and the first valve (130, 230); and an exit channel (154, 254) connected to the first valve (130, 230).

An in vitro diagnostic analyzer and a reagent card. The reagent card includes a reagent card body and a mounting body. The mounting body includes a mounting hole configured to be sleeved on receive a sample tube, a hollow needle disposed in the mounting hole, a sealing portion disposed in the mounting hole, and a gas inlet channel. An end of the hollow needle is capable of being inserted into the sample tube. The sealing portion is capable of being in sealing fit with an outer wall of the sample tube. The gas inlet channel includes a gas outlet hole, a gas inlet hole, and a first flow-stopping structure. The gas inlet hole is disposed in a surface of the reagent card body. The first flow-stopping structure is disposed between the gas outlet hole and the gas inlet hole. The gas outlet hole is configured to be in fluid communication with the sample tube mounted on the mounting hole. The reagent card body includes a sample feeding channel, a test chamber, and a venting end. The sample feeding channel is in fluid communication with a liquid outlet end of the hollow needle. The sample feeding channel and the venting end are both in fluid communication with the test chamber

A method is provided that includes introducing a fluid sample (19) into a fluid container (2, 502, 702) of a filtration assembly (20, 500, 720) and passing the fluid sample (19) through a porous filter (5, 705) by distally advancing a plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), thereby capturing, on or within the porous filter (5, 705) at least a portion of any particulate present in the fluid sample (19). Thereafter, a cavity (28, 628, 728) is created within the fluid container (2, 502, 702) between a distal end of the plunger and a distal end (49, 549, 749) of the fluid container (2, 502, 702) by proximally partially withdrawing the plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), while one or more vacuum-prevention openings (11, 711) are open. An extraction liquid (30) is prepared by introducing one or more extraction reagents (29) into the cavity (28, 628, 728) and bathing the porous filter (5, 705). The extraction liquid (30) is tested for the presence of a biological target. Other embodiments are also described.

A second device includes a first surface, a second surface in contact with a first device, and a first hole extending through and between the first surface and the second surface and being continuous with a groove on the first device. A third device includes a third surface in contact with the first surface, a second hole open in the third surface and continuous with the first hole, and a flow path continuous with the second hole and open in the third surface. As viewed in a first direction from the first surface to the second surface, the first hole includes at least one vertex surrounded by the second hole, and a pair of sides joined to the at least one vertex and widening toward the flow path to define a minor angle.