Systems and methods for improved flow properties in fluidic and microfluidic systems are disclosed. The system includes a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a fluid reservoir having a working fluid and a pressurized gas, a pump in communication with the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired pressure of the pressurized gas, and a fluid-resistance element located within a fluid path between the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel. The fluid-resistance element includes a first fluidic resistance that is substantially larger than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

A microfluidic system which enables singular confinement of cells at the capturing stations and impedance measurements of single cells at these stations. The microfluidic system includes an inlet, a dielectrophoretic separation site, a waste outlet I, a connection pad, a hydrodynamic flow resistance. Collective measurements can also be obtained by measuring up to twenty singular cells at capturing stations simultaneously.

A technology capable of preventing a sample from being retained is to be provided. Provided are a microchip (1) that includes at least: a sample inlet (11) into which a sample is introduced; a sample flow path (12) through which the sample introduced from the sample inlet (11) flows; and a sorting flow path (16) in which a target sample is sorted out from the sample, in which a first tube (T1) is inserted into and fixed to the sample inlet (11), and a sample sorting kit that includes at least the microchip (1).

A method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles. The method constitutes a method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device including the steps of: inputting a fluid reservoir containing particles into the EWOD device; performing an electrowetting operation to dispense a plurality of dispensed droplets from the fluid reservoir; interrogating each droplet with a detector and determining whether each dispensed droplet has a desired number of particles; selecting dispensed droplets that contain the desired number of particles and performing an electrowetting operation to move the selected dispensed droplets to a reaction area on the EWOD device; and rejecting dispensed droplets that do not contain the desired number of particles and performing an electrowetting operation to move the rejected dispensed droplets to a holding area on the EWOD device that is different and spaced apart from the reaction area. The selected droplets may be combined, including with or without a portion of the rejected droplets and/or additional reagent, into a larger reaction droplet that may be used in subsequent reaction protocols.

A method of exchanging fluids with suspended particles includes providing a microfluidic device with a first inlet channel operatively coupled to a source of particles and a second inlet channel operatively coupled to an exchange fluid. A transfer channel is connected at a proximal end to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. First and second outlet channels are connected to a distal end of the transfer channel. The source of particles is flowed at a first flow rate into the first inlet channel while the exchange fluid is flowed at a second flow rate into the second inlet channel wherein the ratio of the second flow rate to the first flow rate is at least 1.5. Particles are collected in one of the first and second outlet channels while fluid substantially free of particles is collected in the other of the first and second outlet channels.

A medical system for determining an analyte quantity in a blood sample via a cartridge that spins around a rotational axis. The cartridge may include: a separation chamber that separates blood plasma from the sample; a processing chamber containing a reagent with a specific binding partner which binds to the analyte to form an analyte specific binding partner complex; a first valve structure connecting the separation chamber to the processing chamber; a measurement structure to measure the quantity of the analyte, wherein the measurement structure includes a chromatographic membrane with an immobilized binding partner for direct or indirect binding of the analyte or the analyte specific binding partner complex, and an absorbent structure that is nearer to the axis than the membrane; a second valve structure connecting the processing chamber to the measurement structure; and a fluid chamber filled with a washing buffer and fluidically connected to the measurement structure.

The present invention provides a membrane carrier 3 for a test kit of detecting a target substance in a liquid sample, comprising at least one flow path 2 transporting the liquid sample, wherein a microstructure producing capillary action for transporting the liquid sample is formed at a bottom of the flow path 2, and the microstructure is provided to change along a transport direction d of the liquid sample.

A first container for housing a reagent and a second container for housing the first container inside are provided. The pressurization mechanism pressurizes a pressurization space formed outside the first container in the second container to pressurize the inside of the first container communicating with the pressurization space. The reagent is drawn out from the pressurized inside of the first container through a pipe.

The present invention relates to a system and method for moving samples, such as fluid, within a microfluidic system using a plurality of gas actuators for applying pressure at different locations within the microfluidic. The system includes a substrate which forms a fluid network through which fluid flows, and a plurality of gas actuators integral with the substrate. One such gas actuator is coupled to the network at a first location for providing gas pressure to move a microfluidic sample within the network. Another gas actuator is coupled to the network at a second location for providing gas pressure to further move at least a portion of the microfluidic sample within the network. A valve is coupled to the microfluidic network so that, when the valve is closed, it substantially isolates the second gas actuator from the first gas actuator.

A fluid refining device and assembly comprises an inlet for fluid to be refined, a separation outlet and a concentration outlet for processed fluid in a refining layer, wherein the refining layer comprises a plurality of refining units arranged in a pattern, and wherein the cross section of the concentration outlet is less than the cross section of the inlet.