A flow reactor system and methods having tubing useful as polymerization chamber. The flow reactor has at least one inlet and at least one mixing chamber, and an outlet. The method includes providing two phases, an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase and forming an emulsion for introduction into the flow reactor.

A method of using a fluidics apparatus for lysing a cell. In the method, the cell is placed in a fluid sample contacting a substrate surface. The method further includes providing surface acoustic waves (SAWs) at the substrate surface, causing cell lyses.

A flow reactor system and methods having tubing useful as polymerization chamber. The flow reactor has at least one inlet and at least one mixing chamber, and an outlet. The method includes providing two phases, an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase and forming an emulsion for introduction into the flow reactor.

The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

The present invention provides microsphere manufacturing method and apparatus capable of stable obtaining microspheres of a desired size and reducing facility cost. According to the method and the apparatus, to manufacture microspheres made of a second liquid in a first liquid, the first liquid is supplied into a first channel to flow therein and the second liquid is supplied to an intermediate part of the first channel through a second channel. The supply velocities of the first and second liquids are set such that the second liquid closes the first channel and the closing part of the second liquid is cut off due to a pressure difference between an upstream side and a downstream side to form microspheres.

We describe a method of layer-by-layer deposition of a plurality of layers of material onto the wall or walls of a channel of a microfluidic device, the method comprising: loading a tube with a series of segments of solution, a said segment of solution bearing a material to be deposited; coupling said tube to said microfluidic device; and injecting said segments of solution into said microfluidic device such that said segments of solution pass, in turn, through said channel depositing successive layers of material to perform said layer-by-layer deposition onto said wall or walls of said channel. Embodiments of the methods are particularly useful for automated surface modification of plastic, for example PDMS (Poly(dimethylsiloxane)), microchannels. We also describe methods and apparatus for forming double-emulsions.

A conductive micro-channel structure includes a layer having layer edges and an electrode having first and second portions formed in or under the layer. One or more fluid micro-channels are formed in the layer, expose the first portion of the electrode, and extend to a layer edge to form a fluid port. A conductor micro-channel includes a solid conductor in the conductor micro-channel. The solid conductor is electrically conductive, is electrically connected to the second portion of the electrode, and extends from the second portion to a layer edge to form a conductor port.

The invention generally relates to assemblies for displacing droplets from a vessel that facilitate the collection and transfer of the droplets while minimizing sample loss. In certain aspects, the assembly includes at least one droplet formation module, in which the module is configured to form droplets surrounded by an immiscible fluid. The assembly also includes at least one chamber including an outlet, in which the chamber is configured to receive droplets and an immiscible fluid, and in which the outlet is configured to receive substantially only droplets. The assembly further includes a channel, configured such that the droplet formation module and the chamber are in fluid communication with each other via the channel. In other aspects, the assembly includes a plurality of hollow members, in which the hollow members are channels and in which the members are configured to interact with a vessel. The plurality of hollow members includes a first member configured to expel a fluid immiscible with droplets in the vessel and a second member configured to substantially only droplets from the vessel. The assembly also includes a main channel, in which the second member is in fluid communication with the main channel. The assembly also includes at least one analysis module connected to the main channel.

A microfluidic device for performing physical, chemical or biological treatment to at least one packet without contamination.

Systems and methods for confining droplets within a microfluidic channel as well as systems and methods for packing droplets are provided. More specifically, a system and method are provided for controlling the introduction and removal of oil into a microfluidic channel in order to control where drops are allowed to flow within that channel.