An apparatus for generating one or several droplets of a first liquid in a second liquid immiscible with the first liquid includes a rotational body and a drive apparatus. The rotational body includes a fluid chamber, a fluid channel and a transition area. The transition area includes a first expansion area and a second expansion area. The drive apparatus is configured to provide the rotational body with such a rotation that the first liquid is supplied centrifugally to the fluid chamber and that centrifugally hydrodynamically induced pressure and lifting forces are caused due to the second expansion area, which cause a droplet break-off in the first liquid, such that a droplet of the first liquid embedded in the second liquid is generated.

An integrated microfluidic chip, wherein at least one integrated reaction unit is provided on its substrate, and the integrated reaction unit comprises at least a sample cell (1), a mixing cell (2) and a reaction cell (3) connected through liquid channels (6). In one aspect, one end of the sample cell (1) is provided with a sample inlet (4), and the chip further comprises an internal air circulating system/circuit. One end of the internal air circulating system/circuit is connected with the mixing cell (2), while the other end comprises at least a first circulation branch circuit connected with the end of the sample cell (1) distal to the sample inlet (4).

The present invention provides a cartridge, a detection method, and a detection device capable of stabilizing the liquid level of a sample accommodated in a chamber in a predetermined state. A cartridge 20, that is rotated around a rotating shaft 42 for detecting a target substance, is provided with a chamber 100 in which a sample containing a target substance is stored. The chamber 100 includes a first region 110 in which a sample is stored, a second region 120 disposed at a position closer to the rotating shaft 42 than the first region 110, and a protrusion 130 protruding from a position between the first region 110 and the second region 120 to the inner side of the chamber 100.

A reagent delivery method includes placing a reagent delivery column including a plurality of reagent storage elements therein in a centrifugal device, coupling a breaching element to the housing, and rotating the centrifugal device to force the reagent storage elements toward the breaching element, breaching of the reagent storage elements releasing reagent therein and communicating the same to an external environment. A reagent delivery system includes a column having a housing, a plurality of reagent storage element sheets positioned in the housing or forming a stack, a plurality of breaching elements, and a microplate having a plurality of wells, the microplate coupled to the housing where each well corresponds or aligns with a breaching element and a reagent storage element. The system can be rotated in a centrifugal device to force the reagent storage element stacks toward the breaching elements.

A feedwell assembly (1) having a feedwell (3) and feed dilution apparatus (27) is characterised in that the feed dilution apparatus (27) includes a centrifugal impeller (16) arranged within a pump housing (9). The pump housing is arranged below a weir box (12) having an upper opening and a spill lip (12b). The spill lip (12b) is arranged at an upper periphery of the weir box (12). The spill lip (12b) is configured to be arranged below an air-liquid interface (20) during operation such that there is a depth of submergence (26) between the spill lip (12b) and the air-liquid interface (20).

A microfluidic device for evaluation of an organic/inorganic scale inhibitor is provided. The device comprises a substrate mountable to a disc for rotation about an axis. The device further comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The substrate defines a sample reservoir, a solvent reservoir, an inhibitor reservoir, and a precipitant reservoir at the proximal end and an analysis chamber at the distal end in fluid communication with the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs. The substrate is constructed to direct one or more of fluids in the sample reservoir, solvent reservoir, inhibitor reservoir, and precipitant reservoir radially outwardly towards the analysis chamber under the influence of centrifugal force when the microfluidic device rotates.

A fluidics module rotatable about a rotational center includes first and second chambers and a compression chamber. First and second fluid channels are provided between the first and second chambers and the compression chamber, respectively. The flow resistance of the second fluid channel is smaller, for a flow of liquid from the compression chamber to the second chamber, than a flow resistance of the first fluid channel for a flow of liquid from the compression chamber to the first chamber. Upon rotation at a high rotational frequency, liquid is initially introduced from the first chamber into the compression chamber via the first fluid channel, so that a compressible medium is compressed within the compression chamber. Subsequently, the rotational frequency is reduced, so that the compressible medium within the compression chamber will expand and so that, thereby, liquid is driven into the second chamber via the second fluid channel.

Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow and facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.

A method of evaluating an asphaltene inhibitor includes providing a centrifugal microfluidic system including: a disc mounted to rotate about an axis; a microfluidic device mounted on the disc, the device having sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs and an analysis chamber in fluid communication with the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs; and an optical detection system coupled to the analysis chamber and configured to measure the optical transmission of fluid in the analysis chamber. The method includes filling the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs, respectively, with a sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant; rotating the disc to generate centrifugal force to cause the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant to travel radially outward to the analysis chamber; and measuring the optical transmission of a mixture of the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant in the analysis chamber as a function of radial distance of the analysis chamber.

A microfluidic element for thoroughly mixing a liquid with a reagent used for the analysis of the liquid for an analyte contained therein and a method thereof are disclosed. The microfluidic element has a substrate and a channel structure. The channel structure includes an elongate mixing channel and an output channel. The mixing channel has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and is implemented to mix the reagent contained therein with the liquid flowing through the inlet opening into the mixing channel. The outlet opening of the mixing channel is in fluid communication to the output channel. The outlet opening is positioned closer to the middle of the length of the mixing channel than the inlet opening.