The present technology provides for a microfluidic substrate configured to carry out PCR on a number of polynucleotide-containing samples in parallel. The substrate can be a single-layer substrate in a microfluidic cartridge. Also provided are a method of making a microfluidic cartridge comprising such a substrate. Still further disclosed are a microfluidic valve suitable for use in isolating a PCR chamber in a microfluidic substrate, and a method of making such a valve.

A system for determining the presence of cell-free non-coding RNA (cfNCR) biomarkers in interstitial fluid includes a microfluidic device for non-invasively and passively accessing interstitial fluid from a patient. The microfluidic device is formed of a substrate containing multiple vertical micro channels therethrough, wherein at a first end of each of the multiple vertical micro channels a microheater is formed for controllably ablating a portion of dry dead skin cells to access the interstitial fluid; and wherein at a second end of each of the multiple vertical micro channels is a horizontal micro channel for receiving accessed interstitial fluid from a vertical micro channel and guiding the accessed interstitial fluid to a common collection port.

This disclosure relates to a system for sorting sperm cells in a microfluidic chip. In particular, various features are incorporated into the system for aligning and orienting sperm in flow channels, as well as, for determining sperm orientation and measuring relative DNA content for analysis and/or sorting.

An automated system communicated to a remote server for diagnostically field testing a sample taken from a patient using an automated portable handheld instrument to determine the presence of Covid-19 and/or antibodies thereto includes microfluidic circuits defined in a rotatable disk for performing a bioassay using a microarray to generate an electrical signal indicative of a bioassay measurement; the microarray operationally positioned in the microfluidic circuit; one or more lasers; one or more positionable valves in the microfluidic circuit; and a backbone unit for rotating the disk according to a protocol to perform the bioassay, for controlling the lasers to selectively open the positionable valves in the microfluidic disk, for operating the microarray to generate a digital image as a bioassay measurement; for communicating the bioassay measurement to the remote server, and for associating the performed bioassay and its corresponding bioassay measurement to the patient.

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.

An analysis unit formed by an analysis body housing an analysis chamber and having a sample inlet and a supply channel configured to fluidically connect the sample inlet to the analysis chamber. Dried assay reagents are arranged in the analysis chamber and are contained in an alveolar mass. For instance, the alveolar mass is a lyophilized mass formed by excipients and by assay-specific reagents.

An integrated microfluidic unit with pipette adaptation. The integrated microfluidic unit may be accommodated within a pipette tip rack for storage prior to use and may be received by a translating pipette head during use. The number of components required within the laboratory instrument is reduced compared to processes employing discrete microfluidic chips and pipette tips. Processes involving microfluidic devices integrated into the presently disclosed unit are streamlined at least by the elimination of discrete manipulation steps associated with aspirating sample fluid into a pipette tip, then using a discrete chip feeder or manipulator to bring the chip and pipette tip into fluidic communication for transfer of the sample to the chip. The number of consumables is also reduced by the integration of microfluidics with physical features enabling fluid aspiration and unit conveyance. A variety of microfluidic devices and channel configurations may be accommodated.

A microfluidic cassette has a microfluidic cassette body having at least one fluid flow channel and at least one chamber containing reagent. The chamber has a seal to prevent fluid from entering the chamber. The seal is breakable in situ in the cassette body. The cassette body and the chamber are configured such that when the seal is broken, the reagent is exposed to fluid flow in the channel.

Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source.

A sample treatment and molecule analysis cartridge is configured to be mounted in a treatment machine vertically. The cartridge has a sample inlet opening, a fluidic inlet, and a fluidic outlet. The cartridge houses an extraction chamber extending vertically from the sample inlet opening and connected to the fluidic inlet; a waste chamber extending vertically, alongside the extraction chamber; and a collector extending along the extraction chamber and the waste chamber and having a smaller height than the extraction chamber and the waste chamber. A fluidic circuit connects together the extraction chamber, the waste chamber, the collector, the fluidic inlet, and the fluidic outlet, and is configured to connect the fluidic outlet to vent openings of the extraction chamber, the waste chamber, and the collector, and to connect the bottom end of the extraction chamber to the fluidic inlet, the waste chamber, and the collector.