There is provided an arrangement (100) which allows for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid at a predetermined volume mixing ratio in a capillary driven fluidic system. The arrangement (100) allows filling an initially empty mixing chamber (110) with the first fluid. The arrangement then allows emptying a predetermined fraction of the first fluid from the mixing chamber (110) such as to form an empty space in the mixing chamber (110). The arrangement then allows filling the empty space of the mixing chamber (110) with the second fluid, thereby allowing a predetermined volume of the first fluid to mix with a predetermined volume of the second fluid over time.

A bridge (30) comprises a first inlet port (31) at the end of a capillary, a narrower second inlet port (32) which is an end of a capillary, an outlet port (33) which is an end of a capillary, and a chamber (34) for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber (34). The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber (34). The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisymmetric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port (32) causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port (32), and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge (30). In another embodiment, a droplet (55) segments into smaller droplets which bridge the gap between the inlet and outlet ports.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for conducting multiple simultaneous micro-volume chemical and biochemical reactions in an array format. In one embodiment, the format comprises an array of microholes in a substrate. Besides serving as an ordered array of sample chambers allowing the performance of multiple parallel reactions, the arrays can be used for reagent storage and transfer, library display, reagent synthesis, assembly of multiple identical reactions, dilution and desalting. Use of the arrays facilitates optical analysis of reactions, and allows optical analysis to be conducted in real time. Included within the invention are kits comprising a microhole apparatus and a reaction component of the method(s) to be carried out in the apparatus.

A droplet generating system includes a reservoir configured to receive an organic fluid and an aqueous fluid, a barrier separating the reservoir into a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, a tube, and an indexer. The barrier is capable of preventing the aqueous fluid from entering the second reservoir portion from the first reservoir portion. The tube is disposed near the barrier, and the tube has a microfluidic channel. The indexer guides the aqueous fluid and the organic fluid into the microfluidic channel so as to form droplets of the aqueous fluid.

An open-channel microfluidic diode includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is in fluid communication with the first reservoir, wherein the first channel is characterized by a first cross-sectional area. The second channel is in fluid communication with the first channel and the second reservoir, wherein the second channel is characterized by a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. The first channel interacts with the second channel at a junction, and wherein liquid flows from the second channel to the first channel via capillary forces.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for conducting multiple simultaneous micro-volume chemical and biochemical reactions in an array format. In one embodiment, the format comprises an array of microholes in a substrate. Besides serving as an ordered array of sample chambers allowing the performance of multiple parallel reactions, the arrays can be used for reagent storage and transfer, library display, reagent synthesis, assembly of multiple identical reactions, dilution and desalting. Use of the arrays facilitates optical analysis of reactions, and allows optical analysis to be conducted in real time. Included within the invention are kits comprising a microhole apparatus and a reaction component of the method(s) to be carried out in the apparatus.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for conducting multiple simultaneous micro-volume chemical and biochemical reactions in an array format. In one embodiment, the format comprises an array of microholes in a substrate. Besides serving as an ordered array of sample chambers allowing the performance of multiple parallel reactions, the arrays can be used for reagent storage and transfer, library display, reagent synthesis, assembly of multiple identical reactions, dilution and desalting. Use of the arrays facilitates optical analysis of reactions, and allows optical analysis to be conducted in real time. Included within the invention are kits comprising a microhole apparatus and a reaction component of the method(s) to be carried out in the apparatus.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for conducting multiple simultaneous micro-volume chemical and biochemical reactions in an array format. In one embodiment, the format comprises an array of microholes in a substrate. Besides serving as an ordered array of sample chambers allowing the performance of multiple parallel reactions, the arrays can be used for reagent storage and transfer, library display, reagent synthesis, assembly of multiple identical reactions, dilution and desalting. Use of the arrays facilitates optical analysis of reactions, and allows optical analysis to be conducted in real time. Included within the invention are kits comprising a microhole apparatus and a reaction component of the method(s) to be carried out in the apparatus.

A system for processing a biological sample can include a droplet generation assembly comprising a plurality of first reservoirs configured to contain an aqueous sample and a plurality of second reservoirs configured to contain a carrier fluid immiscible with the aqueous sample. The plurality of first reservoirs and the plurality of second reservoirs can be arranged to be in respective flow communication in pairs of reservoirs comprising a first reservoir of the plurality of first reservoirs and a second reservoir of the plurality of second reservoirs constituting a plurality of pairs of reservoirs. The droplet generation assembly can further include a flow control system configured to control a pressure in the plurality of pairs of reservoirs so as to generate a flow of a series of volumes of the aqueous sample separated by the carrier fluid. The system can further include a thermocycling system.

An example microfluidic mixer can include an inlet microfluidic channel portion and a fluid splitting channel portion including an overpass microfluidic channel to receive fluid from a first side of the inlet microfluidic channel portion and an underpass microfluidic channel to receive fluid from a second side of the inlet microfluidic channel portion, where the underpass microfluidic channel extends under the overpass microfluidic channel such that the channels overlap at their respective downstream ends. A fluid recombining channel portion is downstream of the fluid splitting portion and includes an angled recombining surface having an acute angle with respect to a direction of fluid flow, where the angled recombining surface is between the downstream ends of the overpass and underpass microfluidic channels. An outlet microfluidic channel portion is fluidly connected downstream from the fluid recombining channel portion.