Systems and methods for analysis of samples, and in certain embodiments, microfluidic sample analyzers configured to receive a cassette containing a sample therein to perform an analysis of the sample are described. The microfluidic sample analyzers may be used to control fluid flow, mixing, and sample analysis in a variety of microfluidic systems such as microfluidic point-of-care diagnostic platforms. Advantageously, the microfluidic sample analyzers may be, in some embodiments, inexpensive, reduced in size compared to conventional bench top systems, and simple to use. Cassettes that can operate with the sample analyzers are also described.

The present invention relates to a method for the sensitive identification of high-affinity complexes made of two ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and one receptor (1). A large number of different ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of a chemical library are hereby contacted with at least one receptor (1) in a solution. The ligands of the library have a single-strand DNA (8, 9) or RNA with a base length of 2 to 10 bases or alternatively more than 10 bases. In addition, the solution is incubated for a specific period of time and complexes made of two ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and one receptor (1) are identified.

The present invention discloses an ultra-rapid PCR detection system, which comprises a temperature control device, a transmission device and a reaction tube fixing device; the temperature control device at least comprises two temperature control modules, wherein at least one of the temperature control modules is a high-temperature module and at least one of the temperature control modules is a low-temperature module; a heating temperature of the high-temperature module is a first preset temperature, and a heating temperature of the low-temperature module is a second preset temperature; the transmission device is in cooperation with the temperature control device and the reaction tube fixing device, so that a reaction tube on the reaction tube fixing device is switched between the high-temperature module and the low-temperature module; the device has a compact structure and the temperature setting of the high-temperature module and the low-temperature module can promote the rising and falling rate of the temperature of the reaction mixture in the reaction tube, in addition, the rapid fluorescence PCR detection system of the present invention has good repeatability of detection results and accurate results.

The present invention relates to a diagnostic cartridge for microfluidics and an on-site molecular diagnosis system including same, wherein an infuser, an extraction chamber, and an amplification chamber are arrayed vertically to minimize the flow path of a fluid, and thus the extraction, amplification and analysis results of a nucleic acid can be detected in real time.

Digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatuses and methods for optically-induced heating and manipulating droplets are described herein. DMF apparatuses employing photonic heating as described herein provide radical simplification of routing droplets/reagents in complex, multistep protocols and/or highly plexed workflows.

An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a microfluidic cooling device including a microfluidic pathway and a thermoelectric cooling element. The microfluidic pathway can include an inlet to receive a sample at a first temperature and an outlet to output a first phase and second phase of the sample at a second temperature. The sample can include a first liquid, a second liquid, and a plurality of soluble particles. The first phase can include the first liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that is more soluble in the first liquid than second liquid. The second phase can include the second liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that more soluble in the second liquid than first liquid. The thermoelectric cooling element can be in thermal communication with the microfluidic pathway and can transition the sample from the first temperature to the second temperature.

A flow cytometry or cell sorting system includes a fluidics system and a flow cell. Under pressure, the fluidics system causes sheath and sample biological fluids to flow. The fluidics system can include a gas bubble to remove and eliminate gas bubbles in the sheath fluid; The flow cell communicates with the fluidics system to receive the sheath fluid, wherein a sample biological fluid flows with cells or particles through the flow cell to be surrounded by the sheath fluid; a deflection chamber under the flow cell to receive the drops of sample biological fluid and sheath fluid out of the flow cell, the deflection chamber to selectively deflect one or more of the drops along one or more deflection paths; and a droplet deposition unit (DDU) system in communication with the deflection chamber to receive selectively deflected drops in the stream of the sample biological fluid with the one or more biological cells or particles into one or more containers.

A flow cytometer or cell sorter system includes a fluidics system and a flow cell. The fluidics system is under pressure to cause a sheath fluid and a sample fluid to flow, the fluidics system including a gas bubble remover eliminating gas bubbles in the sheath fluid; a flow cell coupled in communication with the fluidics system to receive the sheath fluid, wherein a sample fluid flows with cells or particles through the flow cell to be surrounded by the sheath fluid. The flow cell includes a drop drive assembly, a flow cell body, and a cuvette coupled together. The drop drive assembly includes a sample injection tube (SIT) in communication with the fluidics system to receive sample fluid. The flow cell body receives the sample fluid from the sample injection tube and sheath fluid. The flow cell body has a charging port to charge the droplets, the flow cell body having a funnel portion to form a fluid stream of the sample fluid surrounded by the sheath fluid out of an opening; and a cuvette coupled to a base of the flow cell body, the cuvette having a channel to receive the fluid stream of the sample fluid surrounded by the sheath fluid out of the opening, the cuvette being transparent to light and allowing the sample fluid to undergo interrogation in the channel by a plurality of different lasers to determine a plurality of different types of cells or particles therein.

A flow cell body for a flow cytometer or a cell sorter is provided. The flow cell body comprises the following: a three-dimensional opaque (e.g., black) polymer body having top, bottom, left, right, front, and back sides. The opaque polymer body includes the following: a top side opening into a chamber to receive a drop drive assemb

The technology described herein generally relates to microfluidic cartridges configured to amplify and detect polynucleotides extracted from multiple biological samples in parallel. The technology includes a microfluidic substrate, comprising: a plurality of sample lanes, wherein each of the plurality of sample lanes comprises a microfluidic network having, in fluid communication with one another: an inlet; a first valve and a second valve; a first channel leading from the inlet, via the first valve, to a reaction chamber; and a second channel leading from the reaction chamber, via the second valve, to a vent.

An apparatus for thermal cycling can transfer heat uniformly and efficiently. The apparatus can be used in a method that reduces condensation on sample wells. The apparatus can also be manufactured to provide uniform configurations. For example, a sample illustratively for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in each sample well and the components of the embodiment of the thermal cycler apparatus shown at including a well block, a base plate, a layer of adhesive, a peltier device, another layer of adhesive and a heat sink.

Systems, methods, and devices for discretizing and analyzing fluidic samples are provided. In one aspect, a microfluidic array for discretizing a fluidic sample comprises one or more flow channels and a plurality of fluidic compartments in fluidic communication with the one or more flow channels. In another aspect, a system for discretizing and analyzing fluidic samples comprises a rotor assembly shaped to receive a microfluidic device.