A well plate assembly with an interior channel system in the well plate lid provides a more efficient and uniform distribution of fluid into a receptacle positioned below the well plate lid. The channel system in the lid allows air, or other fluid, to pass through with the use of a pump to each of a plurality of channels in the receptacle. Inlet and outlet valves in the lid prevent a gasket positioned between the lid and the receptacle from releasing contact with the receptacle due to high pressure experienced during the injection of fluid into the assembly. Specifically, pressure under a specified tolerance passes through the inlet valves, and if the pressure within the channel system exceeds the limit of the outlet valve, the outlet valve opens and allows air to escape the lid safely without disturbing the fluid flow into the channels below.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device configured to deliver a controlled amount of a liquid to an analysis tool, wherein the microfluidic device comprises: a buffer tank configured to contain a liquid and/or a gas; at leas one level sensor configured to measure a liquid level in the buffer tank; a pneumatic system configured to create selectively a positive or a negative pressure in the buffer tank; at least one intake port to let in a liquid in the buffer tank; at least one delivery port to inject a controlled amount of liquid from the buffer tank onto the analysis tool; at least one drain port with a controlled drain valve, located on the lower part of the buffer tank to discharge the liquid from the buffer tank; a first check valve located upstream of the intake port and a second check valve between the buffer tank and the analysis tool.

The disclosed embodiments related to an apparatus and methods for biological sample processing enabling isolation and concentration of microbial or pathogenic constituents from the sample. Sample may be obtained directly from a specimen container, such as a vacutainer, and processed directly without risk of user exposure. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide a convenient and inexpensive solution for rapid sample preparation compatible with downstream analysis techniques.

The present invention provides systems, devices, apparatuses and methods for automated bioprocessing. Examples of protocols and bioprocessing procedures suitable for the present invention include but are not limited to immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein isolation, nucleic acid separation and isolation, protein labeling, separation and isolation, cell separation and isolation, food safety analysis and automatic bead based separation. In some embodiments, the invention provides automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods of western blot processing. Other embodiments include automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for separation, preparation and purification of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA or fragments thereof, including plasmid DNA, genomic DNA, bacterial DNA, viral DNA and any other DNA, and for automated systems, automated devices, automated cartridges and automated methods for processing, separation and purification of proteins, peptides and the like.

A system for separating and concentrating a component of a whole material is disclosed. The whole material can include a material that has more than one component, such as whole blood that can include at least red blood cells, monocytes, and plasma. The system can include a substantially single container including a separation section and a concentration section wherein a component can be moved from the separation section, after a separation, to the concentration section to be concentrated. The concentrated component can then be withdrawn from the separation and concentration container for a selected procedure.

A device for performing a microfluidic assay on a chip comprising, a microfluidics chip, one or more fluid receptacles on the chip for receiving a fluid, a plurality of pneumatic pumps arrayed on the chip, each pump having a discharge channel leading to a rectifier on the chip, and a reaction chamber in fluid communication with each of the rectifiers, wherein a pressure on the pressurized fluid source drives fluid from the fluid receptacle into the incoming fluid channel connecting the fluid receptacle to the pump, through the pump and into the discharge channel, through the discharge channel to the rectifier, and through the rectifier into the reaction chamber, wherein the pump is configured to generate droplets of a pre-determined size, wherein the rectifiers prevent backflow of the droplets, and wherein droplets are combined in the reaction chamber, the chamber facilitating an assay being performed on the chip.

A microfluidic chip pump is provided. The microfluidic chip pump may include: a pump housing comprising a pump cavity, a moveable member arranged in the pump cavity, separating the pump cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber; and an actuator assembly configured to drive the moveable member between a first stable position and a second stable position, changing a volume of the first chamber and a volume of the second chamber. When the moveable member is at the first stable position, the first chamber may reach a minimum volume. When the moveable member is at the second stable position, the first chamber may reach a maximum volume. The microfluidic chip pump may be configured to expel a fixed volume of fluid from the second chamber each time the moveable member is driven from the first stable position to the second stable position.

The present invention provides an automated system and method to isolate nucleated blood cells from whole blood or bone marrow. A disc mounted to a centrifuge system with spinning rotor is used to manipulate cells by channeling fluids while subjected to high gravitational field. The disc embodies at least two axisymmetric processing stations connected by a circular channel. Each station contains multiple chambers connected by fluidic channels to controllably transfer fluids. First stage separation allows for the isolation of the buffy coat layer while the second stage separation utilizes gradient density fluids to isolate the targeted nucleated cells from the buffy coat layer in the spinning disc.

Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.

A blood separation device that allows high quality plasma to be generated using a single power source. The device includes a housing with an inlet port adapted to receive the blood sample, a first chamber having a first chamber flow channel in fluid communication with the inlet port, a second chamber having a second chamber flow channel, a separation member disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. In some embodiments, the blood separation device detects or tests for the presence of a substance, such as an antigen or an antibody.