A method for preparing and processing a sample is provided. The method includes obtaining a sample including biofluid. The method further includes purifying at least part of the sample via an acoustic separator to separate target cells from the sample. The sample may accordingly be at least partially purified. The method further includes causing a portion of an output collected from the acoustic separator to flow through a filter. At least one reagent, such as a lysis reagent or assay reagent, is caused to flow over the cells.

A lateral flow assay (LFA) device includes a capillary pad and a sample port that holds the sample fluid before a hole is made in a cavity surface of the sample port. The LFA device includes a breaker with a tip to make a hole in the cavity wall of the sample port causing the sample fluid held inside the compartment to be applied to the capillary pad after the start of a test.

A method for stretching a plurality of sample isolates, including: trapping the plurality of sample isolates away from a wall of at least one microfluidic channel of a microfluidic flow system; generating a microfluidic flow to stretch the plurality of trapped sample isolates; determining deformation characteristics of the plurality of stretched samples isolates based on one or more frames from an image processing system; and outputting information corresponding to the deformation characteristics.

An nucleic acid integrated detection reagent tube is provided, it includes a main tube and one or more branch tubes, wherein a lysing zone, a cleaning zone and a plurality of separation plugs comprising at least a least a separation plug and a second separation plug which are sequentially disposed, the first separation plug is used for separating the lysing zone and the cleaning zone, a reaction zone is provided in the branch tubes and the second separation plug is positioned at a connection between the branch tubes and the main tube or inside the branch tubes; hydrophobic layers in a liquid or a solid phase disposed at each of the plurality of separation plugs; and a magnetic bead channel for magnetically carrying the nucleic acid to sequentially pass through each hydrophobic layer penetrating to the branch tubes defined in an inner wall of the detection reagent tube.

The present invention discloses a piezoelectric ultrasonic microinjection device based on a flexible hinge mechanism. The device includes: a cover, a flexible hinge mechanism, a base, a screw cap and an end cap fixedly assembled together, the base being provided with a pump interface; and a micropipette fixedly mounted in the base, the screw cap and the end cap and extending outward, the micropipette being in communication with the pump interface; wherein the flexible hinge mechanism comprises a housing, a piezoelectric ceramic package module encapsulated in the housing, a central shaft fixedly mounted with the piezoelectric ceramic package module and the base, and a vibration output shaft extending from the piezoelectric ceramic package module into the central shaft, a plurality of flexible hinge beams being disposed between the central shaft and the housing.

A microfluidic device and a method for flow control of cells or particles in a microfluidic channel are disclosed. The microfluidic device may include a substrate with a microfluidic channel having at least one outlet; a first array of piezoelectric actuators located adjacent to the outlet for ejecting a portion of a fluid in the microfluidic channel; and one or more pairs of electrodes for charging particles (in the fluid) flowing through the microfluidic channel so that the particles can be manipulated with an electrical field.

The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.

Microfluidic channels networks and systems are provided. One network includes a first fluid channel having a first depth dimension; at least a second channel intersecting the first channel at a first intersection; at least a third channel in fluid communication with the first intersection, at least one of the first intersection and the third channel having a depth dimension that is greater than the first depth dimension. Also provided is a flow control system for directing fluids in the network. Systems are additionally provided for flowing disrupted particles into a droplet formation junction, whereby a portion of the disrupted particles or the contents thereof are encapsulated into one or more droplets. Further provided is a method for controlling filling of a microfluidic network by controlling passive valving microfluidic channel network features.

A system for evaluating an ability of a blood sample to coagulate, clot, and/or occlude includes a microfluidic device including a body and a tortuous microchannel formed in the body, wherein the tortuous microchannel includes a plurality of alternating curves and has a tortuosity index (TI) of at least 2.0, and a pump fluidically configured to fluidically connect to the tortuous microchannel of the microfluidic device and to induce a blood flow through the tortuous microchannel at at least one of a constant pressure and a constant flowrate.

A test microfluidic strip or cartridge comprising a blood sample collection zone, red blood cell isolation zone, lysis zone, reagents mixing zone, and sensing zone for measuring the enzymatic activity thiopurine methyltransferase is disclosed. The test strip or cartridge is disclosed to be operably connected to a metering device comprising a processor, a display and a memory card.