In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a cellular analytic system is described. The cellular analytic system includes an analytic device. The analytic device includes a chamber to receive a cell to be analyzed. At least one lysing element agitates the cell and at least one sensor detects a change in the cell based on an agitation of the cell. The cellular analytic system also includes a controller to determine a rupture threshold of the cell based on parameters of the agitation when a cell membrane ruptures.

A microfluidic chip orients and isolates components in a sample fluid mixture by two-step focusing, where sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a sample input channel in one direction, such that the sample fluid mixture becomes a narrower stream bounded by the sheath fluids, and by having the sheath fluids compress the sample fluid mixture in a second direction further downstream, such that the components are compressed and oriented in a selected direction to pass through an interrogation chamber in single file formation for identification and separation by various methods. The isolation mechanism utilizes external, stacked piezoelectric actuator assemblies disposed on a microfluidic chip holder, or piezoelectric actuator assemblies on-chip, so that the actuator assemblies are triggered by an electronic signal to actuate jet chambers on either side of the sample input channel, to jet selected components in the sample input channel into one of the output channels.

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.

The present invention provides a reciprocal-flow-type nucleic acid amplification device comprising: heaters capable of forming a denaturation temperature zone and an extension/annealing temperature zone; a fluorescence detector capable of detecting movement of a sample solution between the two temperature zones; a pair of liquid delivery mechanisms that allow the sample solution to move between the two temperature zones and that are configured to be open to atmospheric pressure when liquid delivery stops; a substrate on which the chip for nucleic acid amplification according to claim 2 can be placed; and a control mechanism that controls driving of each liquid delivery mechanism by receiving an electrical signal from the fluorescence detector relating to movement of the sample solution from the control mechanism; the device being capable of performing real-time PCR by measuring fluorescence intensity for each thermal cycle.

Disclosed is a real-time method for detecting copper and silver in water in parts per billion. Total silver is detected by adding a nitric acid solution to the sample; after the silver is digested, adding a buffer solution comprising water, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and EDTA to the sample; adding an indicator comprising Cadion 2B, EtOH, and Triton X-100 to the sample; then reading the absorbance of the sample after light with an approximate target peak of 515 nm is sent through the sample; and determining the silver concentration by comparing the absorbance of the sample to the absorbances of known silver standards. Total copper is detected by adding a nitric acid solution to the sample; after the copper is digested, adding a buffer/indicator solution to the sample, where the solution comprises water, sodium citrate dihydrate, hydroxal amine hydrochloride and bathocuproine disulfonate; after one minute, reading the absorbance of the sample after light with an approximate target peak of 480 nm is sent through the sample; and determining the copper concentration by comparing the absorbance of the sample to the absorbances of known copper standards. A monitoring device for determining the level of copper or silver in a sample implements the disclosed methods.

A centrifugal microfluidic system. The centrifugal microfluidic system includes a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer may include an inlet chamber, a radial guide channel, a moveable magnet, a first connecting channel, a sealing beam, a target chamber, a second connecting channel, and a first stationary magnet. When the middle layer rotates around the center of the middle layer with a speed less than a threshold rotational speed, the fluid sample is prevented from flowing to the target chamber from the inlet chamber. When the middle layer rotates around the center of the middle layer with a speed greater than the threshold rotational speed, the fluid sample is allowed to flow to the target chamber from the inlet chamber through the first connecting channel and the second connecting channel.

Disclosed is a method for assessing a characteristic of a drug, comprising treating a tissue sample with the drug; extracting from the tissue sample at least one feature of the tissue sample as treated; providing the at least one feature to an engine; obtaining a prediction from the engine; and associating the prediction with the drug.

Methods and apparatuses for mechanically controlling microfluidic movement using a force applicator and an elastically deformable sheet are described herein. These apparatuses may include a mechanical microfluidics actuator devices and a cartridge. A microfluidic droplet may be moved or displaced within an air gap of the cartridge by applying a compressive force locally and selectively reduce the gap width of the air gap near the microfluidic droplet causing the microfluidic droplet to move toward the reduced gap. Compressive forces may also be used to divide, join, mix or perform other operations on the microfluidic droplets.

A fluidic device for culturing cells includes a microplate and plate lid. The microplate includes multiple wells and channels, the channels extending between the wells such that the channels interconnect the wells. The plate lid releasably engages the microplate to thereby enclose the wells and the channels. The wells include a culture surface such that a cell culture medium received therein is deposited over the culture surface. At least one channel that extends between adjacent ones of the wells is spaced from the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells defining a gap between the at least one channel and the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells for collection of the cell culture medium.

A fluid processing cassette includes first and second covers, with an interior wall positioned between the covers. The interior wall includes a first surface facing the first cover and defining a portion of a plurality of macrofluidic channels. A second surface of the interior wall faces the second cover and defines a portion of a plurality of microfluidic channels. At least one opening defined in the interior wall provides fluid communication between at least one of the macrofluidic channels and at least one of the microfluidic channels. An additional interior wall may also be positioned between the covers, with each interior wall secured to a different one of the covers and to the other interior wall. The additional interior wall may be positioned between the first cover and the interior wall, with macrofluidic channels defined on each side of the additional interior wall.