An apparatus for preparing a reagent solution includes an enclosure and a container disposed within the enclosure. The container defines an internal cavity having a compressible volume and defines a passage providing fluidic communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the container. Optionally, a compressible member is disposed within the internal cavity. A reagent is disposed within the internal cavity.

A system comprising a calorimeter for measuring a heat flux of a sample comprising a recipient space for a sample container containing a sample, a heat sink, a first heat transducer whereby the first heat transducer comprises a heat receiving surface in contact with the sample container when the sample container is positioned in the recipient space and a heat absorbing surface in contact with the heat sink. A second heat sink is provided, whereby the second heat sink has a second heat receiving surface in contact with the heat sink and a second heat absorbing surface in contact with the sample container, when the sample container is positioned in the recipient space.

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

A 3D microfluidic device for use as an in vitro lymph node is described. The microfluidic device has a body with a semi-circular inner wall and a first channel located adjacent along the semi-circular inner wall, the first channel corresponding to a subcapsular sinus region of a lymph node, a second channel located adjacent the first channel, the second channel corresponding to a reticular network, and a bottom cavity and top cavity, centrally located, corresponding to a paracortex and follicle of a lymph node, respectively. The various compartments of the device are separated by circumferentially and horizontally located rows of micro-pillars. A lab-on-a-chip device incorporating the microfluidic device is also described.

A microfluidic chip includes a flow passage plate, a flat plate, and an annular seal. In the flow passage plate, a recess forming a flow passage for liquid and a communication hole communicating with the recess are formed. The flat plate is stacked on or under the flow passage plate to close the recess for defining the flow passage. In the flat plate, a communication through-hole communicating with the recess is formed. The annular seal is located on, or formed on, an outer surface of at least one of the flow passage plate and the flat plate, the annular seal surrounding at least one of the communication hole and the communication through-hole. The annular seal is made of an elastomer.

Apparatus and methods for separating blood components are disclosed in which an apparatus for separating blood generally includes a tube defining a channel and configured for receiving a quantity of blood and a float contained within the tube and having a density which is predefined so that the float is maintained at equilibrium between a first layer formed from a first fractional component of the blood and a second layer formed from a second fractional component of the blood. Upon completion of the centrifugation, the first layer may be removed from the tube while the float isolates the second layer from the first layer.

A sample processing tubule is provided including, from a proximate to a distal end, an opening through which a sample is introducible, at least three segments, and an reagent introduction port operatively connected to a distal segment of the at least three segments. The reagent introduction port enables the addition of a reagent in the distal segment of the tubule, enabling the user to create a customizable assay tubule.

A device and a method of using the device for improving sensitivity, speed, and easy-to-use of a colorimetric assay of a liquid sample are provided. The device includes a first plate and a second plate, spacers, and a textured surface. The two plates each have a sample contact surface and are movable relative to each other into an open configuration or a closed configuration. The sample is deposited on one or both plates in the open configuration. Thereafter, the closed configuration is formed where the plates compress at least part of the deposited sample into a continuous layer. The textured surface is disposed on the sample contact surface of the second plate and has a textured structure that scatters light, from which an optical signal such as a colorimetric or fluorescent signal can be obtained for analyzing the sample.

The present invention is directed to a recirculation system for use in microfluidic centrifugal disc platforms for reusing and mixing an entire sample. The present invention features a system comprising a reservoir, an input channel, a detection array, a pressure chamber, and a recirculation channel connecting the pressure chamber to the reservoir. The recirculation channel may have a resistance lower than the channel upstream resistance. When the CD platform spins at a high RPM, the liquid may be directed from the reservoir into the pressure chamber. When the RPM of the CD platform decreases rapidly, the liquid may be from the pressure chamber through the channel and through the recirculation channel to the reservoir, such that the liquid travels through the recirculation channel faster than the liquid travels through the channel.

One aspect of this invention relates to a vertical-via rotary valve including a valve body having a housing; one or more fluidic channels, each fluidic channel having a vertical channel portion defined in the valve body and being adjacent to the housing, wherein a fluid flow through the vertical channel portion is controllable by deforming a sidewall of the vertical channel portion; and an actuator received in the housing and rotatably engaged with the one or more fluidic channels to operably control the fluid flow through the vertical channel portion of each fluid channel.