A continuous throughput microfluidic system includes an input system configured to provide a sequential stream of sample plugs; a droplet generator arranged in fluid connection with the input system to receive the sequential stream of sample plugs and configured to provide an output stream of droplets; a droplet treatment system arranged in fluid connection with the droplet generator to receive the output stream of droplets in a sequential order and configured to provide a stream of treated droplets in the sequential order; a detection system arranged to obtain detection signals from the treated droplets in the sequential order; a control system configured to communicate with the input system, the droplet generator, and the droplet treatment system; and a data processing and storage system configured to communicate with the control system and the detection system.

A microfluidic device comprising at least one isolation unit and at least one capillary valve. The at least one isolation unit has at least one chamber. The at least one chamber configured to receive at least two different aqueous solutions. The at least one capillary valve is configured to allow for the at least two different aqueous solutions to be introduced into the at least one chamber without mixing prior to entering the at least one chamber based at least in part on pressure levels of the at least two different aqueous solutions.

An amount of gas remaining within a fluid control valve is reduced according to a method for fixing the fluid control valve to achieve highly accurate trace dispensation by simply removing gas. The dispensing device has a discharge nozzle, a liquid feeding tube that is disposed so as to connect a reagent bottle in which a reagent is stored and the discharge nozzle and forms a reagent flow path, and a fluid control valve that is disposed on the liquid feeding tube route connecting the reagent bottle and the discharge nozzle. The fluid control valve is provided with a reagent flow path having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and a diaphragm valve provided in the middle of the flow path. The fluid control valve is disposed in an orientation such that the diaphragm valve is disposed at the bottom of the flow path of the fluid control valve.

A digital dispense system and method for preparing samples for analysis. The system includes a fluid droplet ejection system housed in a compact housing unit. The fluid droplet ejection system contains a fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge containing one or more fluids to be dispensed, a cartridge translation mechanism for moving the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction; and a sample holder translation mechanism for moving a sample back and forth beneath the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction. A digital display device is attached to the fluid droplet ejection system for displaying fluid volume information to a user. The fluid volume information is selected from relative fluid volume, absolute fluid volume, and a combination of relative and absolute fluid volumes.

A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.

Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.

Arrays of droplet-on-demand dispensers are controlled by a row-column addressing scheme that can reduce the number of on-chip address lines, thereby making it feasible to construct large dispenser arrays. Decoders are used to further reduce the number of control lines that select a specific address line. A microfluidic logic controller includes row-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same row, and column-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same column such that each dispenser is associated with a unique row-column address. A logic circuit can actuate a dispenser only if the logic circuit receives signals from both of the row-select line and the column-select line corresponding to the row-column address of the selected dispenser. Reagents can be dispensed from the dispenser array, thereby allowing for rapid formatting of a reagent library into microfluidic droplets.

The invention relates to a dispensing device comprising a housing having at least one pressure chamber, having a supply opening for the supply of liquid into the pressure chamber and having a multiplicity of conduits between the pressure chamber and an external side of the housing, there being situated in each of the conduits a tube, the first end of which protrudes into the pressure chamber and the second end of which protrudes out of the housing on the external side.

A particle isolation apparatus 100 for isolating particles from a suspension sample, includes a droplet dispenser device 10 for collecting the suspension sample from a carrier substrate 20 and for dispensing droplets onto a target substrate 30, a mechanical pump device 40 being coupled with the droplet dispenser device 10 for loading a dilution liquid into the droplet dispenser device 10 and for aspirating a first portion of the suspension sample into the droplet dispenser device 10, and a syphon pump device 50 being coupled with the droplet dispenser device 10 and being arranged for aspirating a second portion of the suspension sample into the droplet dispenser device 10. Preferably, the droplet dispenser device 10 is configured for dispensing single particle droplets on the target substrate 30. Furthermore, a method of isolating particles from a suspension sample is described.

A dropper dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir (1) including at least one movable wall (11) so as to put the fluid in the reservoir (1) under pressure; a cannula (24) having an outlet (25) that is designed to form a drop of fluid; and a valve (3) that is arranged between the reservoir (1) and the cannula (24) so as to control firstly the flow of fluid from the reservoir (1) into the cannula (24), and secondly the flow of fluid, and possibly air, from the cannula (24) into the reservoir (1), the valve (3), when subjected to sufficient pressure from the fluid in the reservoir (1), defining an opening (33) having a flow section that is proportional to the force exerted on the movable wall (11) of the reservoir (1); the dropper dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises a valve-opening limiter (27) so as to limit the opening (33) of the valve (3) while fluid is flowing from the reservoir (1) into the cannula (24), so as to create additional head loss that reduces the flow of fluid through the cannula (24).