A biological substance extraction device includes an adsorption container that includes a first flow channel, and seal-tightly holds an adsorbent and a fluid within the first flow channel, and a washing container that includes a second flow channel, and seal-tightly holds a washing liquid and a fluid within the second flow channel, the adsorption container and the washing container being joined to form a flow channel through which a biological substance is moved. The first flow channel and the second flow channel communicate with each other in a state in which an insertion section is inserted into a reception section. The insertion section includes a guide member that extends from the first flow channel to the second flow channel. The guide member forms part of the flow channel between a first inner wall of the first flow channel and a second inner wall of the second flow channel.

A sample loading cartridge (1) for a microfluidic device comprises a cartridge body (10) with a sample reservoir (20) configured to house a volume of a liquid sample (3) and a sample port (30) in connection with the sample reservoir (20). The cartridge (1) also comprises an output channel (40) extending from the sample reservoir (20) and a feedback channel (50) connected to the sample reservoir (20) and to the sample port (30). The cartridge body (10) comprises a detection portion (60) aligned with the feedback channel (50) to enable detection of any sample (3) in the feedback channel (50). The flow resistance of the feedback channel (50) is lower than the flow resistance of the output channel (40) to cause liquid sample (3) received in the sample port (30) to enter the feedback channel (50) with substantially no liquid sample (3) entering the output channel (40).

A blood processing apparatus (1) comprises a measurement device (8) having at least one chamber element (80, 81) for receiving a blood fluid, wherein the at least one chamber element (80, 81) extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a circumferential wall (804, 814) extending about the longitudinal axis (L), a bottom wall (803, 813) and a top wall (805, 815) together defining a flow chamber (802, 812), the at last one chamber element (80, 81) further comprising an inlet port (800, 810) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid into the flow chamber (802, 812) and an outlet port (801, 811) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid out of the flow chamber (802, 812). The blood processing apparatus (1) further comprises a holder device (9) for holding the measurement device (8), the holder device (9) comprising a base (90) having a reception opening (900) for receiving the measurement device (8) and a closure element (91) movably arranged on the base (90) for locking the measurement device (8) in an inserted position in the reception opening (900). An ultrasonic sensor element (92, 93) of the holder device (9) is arranged on the base (90) and adapted to produce an ultrasonic sensor signal (P) for measuring a haematocrit value of a blood fluid in the flow chamber (802, 812). Herein, the ultrasonic sensor element (92, 93), in the inserted position of the measurement device (8), faces the bottom wall (803, 813) of the at least one chamber element (80, 81) for transmitting the ultrasonic signal (P) into the flow chamber (802, 812) through the bottom wall (803, 813). In this way a blood processing apparatus comprising a holder device for a measurement device is provided which allows to easily insert the measurement device into the holder device and allows for a reliable measurement of, in particular, a haematocrit value of a blood flow through the measurement device.

A device for separating a sample of cells suspended in a bio-compatible ferrofluid is described, The device includes a microfluidic channel having a sample inlet, at least one outlet and a length between the same inlet and the at least one outlet, wherein a sample can be added to the sample inlet and flow along the microfluidic channel length to the at least one outlet. The device includes a plurality of electrodes and a power source for applying a current to the plurality of electrodes to create a magnetic field pattern along the microfluidic channel length. The present invention also includes a method of using said device for separating at least one cell type.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

A tube segment sampler system (10) for withdrawing a fluid sample from a tube segment (100), the sampler (10) having a first tube piercing member (28) for piercing the tube segment at a first location and a second tube piercing member (28) for piercing the tube segment at a second location so as to allow air to be drawn into the tube segment (100) through one of the openings made by one of the piercing members (28) whilst fluid is withdrawn through the other of the openings.

Methods and systems are provided for isolating fetal cells from a maternal blood supply in order to perform non-invasive prenatal testing. In one example, a system for non-invasive prenatal testing includes a substrate coated with a cell-capturing surface, the cell-capturing surface including an array of pillar-like structures, each pillar-like structure including a plurality of intersecting arms.

An array including a solid support having a plurality of contours along its exterior surface. A first subset of contours is positioned along the exterior surface of the solid support to form a first pattern of features and a second subset of contours is positioned along the exterior surface to form a second pattern of features. The contours of the first subset are juxtaposed with the second subset along the exterior surface, whereby the first and second patterns form an interleaved pattern. The features of the first pattern occur at a first elevation z.sub.1 and the features of the second pattern occur at a second elevation z.sub.2. The features of the first pattern are configured to attach analytes at a different elevation relative to analytes attached to the features of the second pattern.

Systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone access and dilatation and/or cavity creation or enlargement using a narrow gauge, preferably 11-gauge or smaller, cannula wherein a catheter/expandable element assembly meeting medical protocols is designed, adapted and fabricated to fit through the interior of the associated 11-gauge or smaller cannula.

The present invention is notably directed to a microfluidic chip. The chip comprises a main microfluidic channel, on one side of the chip, and a bead integration system. The bead integration system is arranged on said one side of the chip. It comprises an auxiliary microfluidic channel transverse to and in fluidic communication with the main microfluidic channel, so as to form an intersection therewith. The intersection is delimited by structural elements arranged in the main microfluidic channel. The structural elements are configured to retain, at said intersection, beads flowed in a bead suspension liquid advancing in said auxiliary microfluidic channel and passing the intersection. In addition, such structural elements are configured to let liquid advancing in the main microfluidic channel pass the intersection through the structural elements. The invention is further directed to related devices and methods.