A microfluidic device for analysing a specimen comprises a loading area for loading the specimen of interest and an analytical column. The loading area is connected on two sides to a first duct and a second duct respectively, both integrated in the microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a first integrated input connected to the first duct to take the specimen into the loading area, a first integrated output connected to the second duct to discharge the rest of the specimen, once it has flown through the loading area, and a second integrated output downstream the analytical column. The first integrated output is arranged for during a first loading period of time being in circuit connected to the first integrated input so as to load the sample into the loading zone of the device while preventing loss of specimen during loading of the sample into the analytical column.

A fluid ejection device may include a first channel having a first end and a second end, a first drop ejector along the first channel, a second channel having a first end and a second end, a second drop ejector along the second channel, a third channel extending between and connecting the first end of the first channel and the first end of the second channel, a fourth channel extending between and connecting the second end of the first channel and the second end of the second channel and a fifth channel extending between and connecting the third channel and the fourth channel.

The object of the present invention is to provide

(1) a cell sorter, (2) a flow cytometer capable of detecting sideward scattered light, (3) a method for accurately measuring cell concentration, (4) a method for multicolor staining analysis without a fluorescence correction, and the like, which satisfy requirements that carry-over and cross contamination of samples do not occur.

The object can be solved by an apparatus for separating particles comprising: a flow cell wherein a flow path is formed in a flat substrate, an illumination unit configured to illuminate the particles in a sample liquid flowing through the flow path, a detection unit configured to detect particles of interest by detecting scattered light or fluorescence from the particle when the particle is illuminated, and identifying the particle based on its signal intensity, a constant-pressure pump which applies a pressure pulse to the particles in the sample liquid flowing through the flow path in the flow cell, and an electromagnetic valve connected thereto, and
a control unit configured to control the movement of the electromagnetic valve based on the signal from the detection unit.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for dynamic fractionation of a dispersed phase in a fluid. The device comprises a fractionation channel and from a first to a third injection ports. A first and a second confining fluids are injectable through the first and second injection ports, respectively. An elution fluid for transporting the dispersed phase is injectable into the channel through a third injection port which is arranged between the first and second injection ports. An end portion of the channel comprises from a first to a third terminal portion respectively arranged in correspondence to the first to the third injection ports and having a geometry such that the first and second confining fluids respectively have a first and second predefined flow rate and the elution fluid have a third predefined flow rate which is larger than the first and second predefined flow rates.

An apparatus for procuring bodily fluid samples with reduced contamination includes a housing having a sequestration chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. A flow controller defines a portion of the sequestration chamber and can transitionin response to a suction force exerted by a fluid collection device fluidically coupled to the outletfrom a first state in which the sequestration chamber has a first volume to a second state in which the sequestration chamber has a second volume greater than the first volume, to draw an initial volume of bodily fluid into the sequestration chamber. An actuator is coupled to the housing and is in fluid communication with the inlet and the sequestration chamber in a first configuration, and is transitioned to a second configuration to sequester the sequestration chamber from the inlet, and allow a subsequent volume of bodily fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet.

Provided is a multi-flux micro-fluidic chip including a chip body. The chip body includes a fluid inflow cavity communicated with an external air path, reaction-quantification cavities, waste liquid cavities, and a fluid path distribution cavity disposed at a middle position of the chip body. The two or more reaction-quantification cavities are distributed on two sides of the fluid path distribution cavity in rows to form the first and second row of reaction-quantification cavities respectively; and they are communicated with a fluid outlet of the fluid path distribution cavity through fluid path branches, and a fluid inlet of the fluid path distribution cavity through fluid path branches, and a fluid inlet of the fluid path distribution cavity is communicated with a fluid outlet of the fluid inflow cavity and an external fluid path, which making it possible to detect multiple items simultaneously and greatly improving the flux of the micro-fluidic chip.

The present invention relates to a platelet testing device using blockage phenomenon, comprising: a sample chamber containing blood sample; a microfluidic tube which is in fluid communication with the sample chamber and through which the blood sample flows; and a microbead packing arranged on a flow path of the blood sample of the microfluidic tube; wherein the microbead packing comprises: a packing pipe which constitutes a part of the flow path of the blood sample; and a plurality of microbeads contained in the packing pipe and arranged to be in close contact with each other so as to form voids between the microbeads, whereby function of the platelet is tested by blockage phenomenon of the voids due to the platelet in the blood sample which flows through the microfluidic tube from the sample chamber according to the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide a microfluidic chip having microfluidic structures formed on a surface. The structures form an input channel, an output channel, auxiliary channels, and a hydraulic resistor structure connecting the input channel to the output channel via the auxiliary channels. The resistor structure includes N flow resistor portions (N2), which are connected to the auxiliary channels. The chip further includes at least N1 actuatable valves, which are arranged in respective ones of the auxiliary channels. The actuation state of the valves can determine the effective hydraulic resistance of the resistor structure. The valves can be electrogates, each including a liquid-pinning trench arranged in a respective one of the auxiliary channels that define a flow path for a liquid introduced therein, so as to form an opening that extends across said flow path. Each electrogate can further include an electrode extending across the flow path.

An apparatus for a vacuum-driven microfluidic probe includes a body with an apex and a processing surface, at an end of the body. The apparatus also includes a partially open cavity formed as a recess on the processing surface and a set of apertures in the cavity, where the set of apertures include a sample outlet aperture intersected by a vertical axis of the cavity. The apparatus also includes aspiration apertures radially distributed around said vertical axis, wherein the apex is further configured to generate a pressure in the cavity upon aspirating an external liquid through the aspiration apertures that causes to aspirate a liquid sample from the sample outlet aperture, so as to eject the aspirated liquid sample from the probe.

A disposable flow cell formed on a substrate for separating particles from a sample solution includes a sample flow path and a sample reservoir formed on the substrate, wherein the sample flow path is connected to the sample reservoir for introducing the sample solution from the sample reservoir, the sample flow path comprises an illuminating region configured for illumination by an external illumination unit, wherein the sample reservoir is adapted to be airtightly connected to an external constant air pump such that a constant air pressure can be applied to the sample solution by the external constant air pump; and a first branched flow path and a second branched flow path perpendicularly connected, respectively, to both sides of the sample flow path at a location downstream of the illumination region, wherein the first branched flow path comprises a connection port configured for air-tight connection to an external pulse air pump.