Disclosed are devices and methods useful for confined-channel digital microfluidics that combine high-throughput droplet generators with digital microfluidic for droplet manipulation. The present disclosure also provides an off-chip sensing system for droplet tracking.

A substrate structured to define thereon a fluid flow channel and/or a fluid control feature is described. The substrate may additionally comprise a capture zone and/or a test zone, for use as a test strip for determining presence or absence of an analyte of interest, such as an infectious agent or a biomarker. Reagents are deposited in the capture zone and/or test zone as an array of drops.

A microfluidic device includes a substrate; a plurality of electrode channels, including a first electrode channel, a second electrode channel, a third electrode channel and a fourth electrode channel, each containing an electrode material to form an electrode; and a plurality of fluidic channels, including a first fluidic channel and a second fluidic channel, each being configured to form a fluid pathway for allowing a fluid sample to flow through and at least one of the first and second fluidic channels including a cell manipulation portion, the cell manipulation portion including a plurality of constriction portions. The first and second electrode channels are each coupled to the first fluidic channel and the electrodes of the first and second electrode channels and the third and fourth electrode channels are each coupled to the second fluidic channel and the electrodes of the third and fourth electrode channels.

A microfluidic chip and controlling method are provided. The microfluidic chip includes a microfluidic substrate, comprising a first substrate, a droplet driving assembly over the first substrate, and a temperature detection assembly. The droplet driving assembly includes a first electrode layer having a plurality of control electrodes, and each of the plurality of control electrodes is configured as part of a driving unit to drive a droplet to move along a predetermined path over the microfluidic substrate. The temperature detection assembly comprises at least one temperature sensor. The at least one temperature sensor positionally corresponds to the plurality of control electrodes such that each of the at least one temperature sensor detects a temperature at a position associated with one of the plurality of control electrodes corresponding to the each of the at least one temperature sensor.

The invention relates to a microfluidic system based on active control of flow resistance and balancing pressures in microfluidic channels and an improved method for disposable microfluidic devices and cartridges for use in, but not limited to, in-vitro diagnostics. The microfluidic system and device of the invention does not utilize mechanical moving parts to control the fluid flow and has no external fluidic connection to the instrument or fluidics controller.

A fluidic concentrator device that includes an inlet channel, a processing channel, and at least two output channels, and a pump for movement of a particle containing sample through the concentrator device. The concentrator device may have separate diversion channels that may be controlled by a valve or a functionally similar diversion technique to collect all of, or fractions of, a particle concentrated stream or a particle depleted stream. The concentrator device may be operable under automated control and further comprise one or more sensors inside, or adjacent to, portions of the processing channel or inlet channel to detect presence or absence or quantity of particles or other physical or chemical properties of the particles or sample flow stream.

In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides an inflatable bladder lid that configures with a cartridge configured for assay testing. The inflatable bladder provides substantially uniform pressure to the cartridge. The pressure is substantially distributed across the one or more regions of the cartridge to extend pressure over a wide cartridge surface. At least a portion of the bladder lid may comprise a flexible membrane material that inflates and stretches over at least a portion of the cartridge to conformally contact its first/top surface.

An apparatus may include a first microfluidic valve coupled between a first reservoir and a fluid channel. The first microfluidic valve may include a fluid agitator to break a meniscus formed at an air-fluid interface and release fluid from the first reservoir into the fluid channel in response to an electrical signal. The apparatus may also include a second microfluidic valve coupled between a second reservoir and the fluid channel. Fluid from the first reservoir and fluid from the second reservoir mix in the fluid channel.

A kit for diagnosing a disease includes a micro device including a flow path through which a sample to be diagnosed flows, and one or more grooves at a bottom portion of the flow path, and an aperture having an opening corresponding with the flow path.

Methods of maintaining narrow residence time distributions in continuous flow systems, particularly applicable to virus inactivation such as during a protein purification process. Fluid sample is introduced into an axial flow channel and caused to flow therein in discrete packets or zones to minimize residence time distribution and axial dispersion. Embodiments described herein obviate or minimize the need for using large tanks or reservoirs for performing virus inactivation during a protein purification process; reduce the overall time required for virus inactivation, and/or reduce the overall physical space required to perform the virus inactivation operation during a protein purification process, which in turn reduces the overall footprint for the purification process.