The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.

The present invention relates to methods for detecting targets by employing a temperature control system with a microfluidic device. The system allows for non-contact heating by employing an infrared emitter. In some instances, the system can be used in conjunction with a centrifugal microfluidic device. Optionally, a mask can be implemented to provide selective heating of desired assay areas of the device.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.

The present technology provides for a fluorescent detector that is configured to detect light emitted for a probe characteristic of a polynucleotide. The polynucleotide is undergoing amplification in a microfluidic channel with which the detector is in optical communication. The detector is configured to detect minute quantities of polynucleotide, such as would be contained in a microfluidic volume. The detector can also be multiplexed to permit multiple concurrent measurements on multiple polynucleotides concurrently.

This patent application describes an integrated apparatus for processing polynucleotide-containing samples, and for providing a diagnostic result thereon. The apparatus is configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge that contains reagents and a network for processing a sample. Also described are methods of using the apparatus.

An apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is provided. The apparatus comprises a microprocessor configured to communicatively couple with a user input device and receive instructions from the user input device and implement the received instructions; an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) generator configured to generated EMR at frequencies ranging from 300 THz to 400 THz and communicatively coupled with the microprocessor; a reaction vessel, communicatively coupled with the microprocessor, to house the nucleic acid sequence, necessary reagents to the PCR, and particles comprising a transition metal material, and to receive the EMR generated by the EMR generator; and a temperature sensor communicatively coupled with the reaction vessel and the microprocessor.

Instruments, methods, and kits are disclosed for performing fast thermocycling.

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for rapid and easy-to-use in sample thermal cycling or temperature changes for the facilitation of reactions such as but not limited to PCR.

A method to process a laboratory carrier in a laboratory system based on a feature of a test liquid in the laboratory carrier is presented. The laboratory system comprises the laboratory carrier comprising the test liquid, a terahertz wave source, a terahertz detector, a laboratory carrier processing device, and a control unit. Using terahertz technology and data analysis, the feature of the test liquid in the laboratory carrier can be determined. In addition, the control unit controls the laboratory carrier processing device based on the determined feature of the test liquid.

The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.