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.

Methods and devices for the formation and/or merging of droplets in microfluidic systems are provided. In certain embodiments a microfluidic droplet merger component is provided that comprises a central channel comprising a plurality of elements disposed and spaced to create a plurality of lateral passages that drain a carrier fluid out of a fluid stream comprising droplets of a first fluid contained in the carrier fluid; and a deformable lateral membrane valve disposed to control the width of said center channel.

A solution jetting device includes: a cylindrical member; a movable member that is movably fitted to a hollow portion of the cylindrical member; a first drive mechanism that moves the movable member; a first flow passage that connects a solution container, in which a solution containing a biological sample or containing a reagent to be reacted with a biological sample is contained, to the hollow portion; an openable and closable first on-off valve that is provided on the first flow passage; a jetting tool that jets the solution to an objective region; a second flow passage that connects the hollow portion to the jetting tool; an openable and closable second on-off valve that is provided on the second flow passage; a second drive mechanism as defined herein; and a control unit as defined herein.

The disclosure provides a microfluidic chip, a droplet generation device and a method for controlling a droplet generation size. The microfluidic chip includes a substrate and a first flow channel, a second flow channel and a third flow channel distributed on the substrate, the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the third flow channel intersecting to form a confluence area, the first flow channel being configured for a flow of a dispersed phase fluid from it, the second flow channel being configured for a flow of a continuous phase fluid from it, the dispersed phase fluid and the continuous phase fluid forming droplets in the third flow channel. The dispersed phase fluid flows in the first flow channel along a first direction, an orthographic projection of the first flow channel on the substrate has a first width which is constant in a second direction.

A metering head for receiving and metering at least one medium, the metering head including: one or multiple media access points; at least two dispensing terminals each having at least one media outlet; and fluid lines, which connect the one or multiple media access points to the at least one media outlet of the at least two dispensing terminals. In at least one of the fluid lines, an actively controllable element for manipulating and/or detecting the medium in the fluid lines is inserted. A fluidic system, including: a metering head of this type; a microfluidic cartridge; and at least one connecting element for fluidically connecting the metering head to the microfluidic cartridge. The dispensing terminal is designed to indirectly or directly receive the connecting element. The microfluidic cartridge includes: at least one inlet opening for connecting to the at least one connecting element; and a channel structure fluidically connected to the inlet opening.

Methods and devices for the formation and/or merging of droplets in microfluidic systems are provided. In certain embodiments a microfluidic droplet merger component is provided that comprises a central channel comprising a plurality of elements disposed and spaced to create a plurality of lateral passages that drain a carrier fluid out of a fluid stream comprising droplets of a first fluid contained in the carrier fluid; and a deformable lateral membrane valve disposed to control the width of said center channel.

A fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir (1); and a pump (3) comprising a pump body (30) and an actuator rod (34), defining between them a pump chamber (33) having a predetermined maximum volume, the rod (34) being axially movable in the body (30) so as to vary the volume of the pump chamber (33); the dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises a dispenser cannula (5) that is mounted on the actuator rod (34) and that includes a dispenser outlet (52) that is suitable for forming a drop of fluid that separates from the cannula (5) by gravity, the determined maximum volume of the pump chamber (33) being substantially equal to the volume of the drop of fluid that is dispensed at the dispenser outlet (52).

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 pressure generating device includes a tank, a deformable membrane, a driving device, and an actuating arm. The tank defines a chamber therein, and includes an opening and a communication port each of which is in fluid communication with the chamber. The deformable membrane is disposed to seal the opening, and is deformable between a flat state and a deformed state. The actuating arm is coupled to be driven by the driving device to move between a first position, where the deformable membrane is in the flat state, and a second position, where the deformable membrane is forced to be in the deformed state, such that a predetermined negative pressure is generated through the communication port when the actuating arm is driven from one of the first and second positions to the other one of the first and second positions.

An apparatus includes a housing, a reaction vial and a transfer mechanism. The housing defines a first flow path and a second flow path. The housing has transfer port defining an opening in fluid communication with the second flow path and a volume outside of the housing. The transfer port includes a flow control member to limit flow through the opening. The reaction vial is coupled to the housing and defines a reaction volume, which is in fluid communication with the transfer port via the second flow path. The transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a sample from an isolation chamber of an isolation module to the reaction chamber via at least the first flow path when the transfer mechanism is actuated. The transfer mechanism configured to produce a vacuum in the reaction vial to produce a flow of a sample from the isolation chamber to the reaction volume.