A microfluidic chip for on-chip detection of the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid region in an isolated nucleic acid sample is disclosed. The microfluidic chip includes a nucleic acid entanglement array, an isolated nucleic acid sample immobilized in the nucleic acid entanglement array, and at least one probe specific to a target nucleic acid region. Systems and methods of using the microfluidic chip are disclosed. An integrated microfluidic cell processing system is disclosed, which includes: a multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system having a plurality of reconfigurable microfluidic layers that form a plurality of reconfigurable microfluidic channels, where the multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system function to assist in directing flow of materials into, through, and out of the integrated cell processing system; and at least one microfluidic chip functionally integrated into at least one layer of the multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system, and operates under continuous flow conditions.

Disclosed is a microfluidic chip, including a chip upper cover, a chip lower layer, a membrane, a sealing gasket and a sealing ring. The microfluidic chip is provided with a sample storage zone, a droplet formation zone, a droplet storage zone, a droplet detection zone and a waste liquid storage zone. The sample storage zone, the droplet formation zone, the droplet storage zone, the droplet detection zone and the waste liquid storage zone communicate by means of a micropore or a micro-channel. The droplet formation zone is used to transform the sample phase into tens of thousands to millions of droplets, the droplets undergo the PCR reaction in the droplet storage zone, the droplet detection zone is used to perform optical detection on the droplets after PCR reaction, and the waste liquid storage zone is used to collect and store the detected droplets and continuous phase.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for evacuating and for filling an array at the point of use.

A microfluidic cartridge, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, comprising: a top layer comprising a set of cartridge-aligning indentations, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a turnabout portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.

We describe assay modules (e.g., assay plates, cartridges, multi-well assay plates, reaction vessels, etc.), processes for their preparation, and method of their use for conducting assays. Reagents may be present in free form or supported on solid phases including the surfaces of compartments (e.g., chambers, channels, flow cells, wells, etc.) in the assay modules or the surface of colloids, beads, or other particulate supports. In particular, dry reagents can be incorporated into the compartments of these assay modules and reconstituted prior to their use in accordance with the assay methods. A desiccant material may be used to maintain and stabilize these reagents in a dry state.

Microfluidic gradient generators that can create robust platforms that can not only be used for creating co-cultures of cells with various ratios, but also can simultaneously generate gradients of mechanical and chemical stresses. A chip utilizes microchambers embedded within channels to provide space for 3D cell culture and exposes these cells to gradients of mechanical shear stress and a chemical treatment.

An oral care implement that includes a head having a face with a tuft hole therein. A plurality of bristles are disposed within the tuft hole and arranged in a bristle tuft that extends from the face of the head. The bristle tuft includes a first subset of the bristles and a second subset of the bristles. Each of the bristles has a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, the major axes of the bristles being longer than the minor axes of the bristles. The major axes of the bristles of the first subset may be non-parallel to the major axes of the bristles of the second subset.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

Systems and methods for culturing and/or analyzing cells are provided. The system can include a microfluidic layer, a multi-well grid layer and a base layer. An electrode layer can optionally be provided. The system can also include an alignment feature for aligning microchannels of the microfluidic layer with electrodes of the electrode layer to achieve a predetermined organized architecture of the microchannels relative to the electrodes. The system can include a plurality of microfluidic layers and a microfluidic layer engaging frame engageable with the plurality of microfluidic layers to form a unitary structure engageable with a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of wells each comprising an electrode layer. A well identification feature associated with a microfluidic unit can be provided on an upper surface of the multi-grid layer to enable visual identification of a well of the multi-well grid layer that is in fluid communication with a microfluidic unit.

A system for processing a biological sample includes a substrate comprising a plurality of wells and a plurality of flow channels. The system further includes a flow control system comprising a manifold having a plurality of ports configured to fluidically couple to the plurality of wells, and one or more containment structures configured to contain carrier fluid and fluidically couple to the ports. The flow control system further includes a cradle configured to removably receive the substrate. The flow control system is configured to transmit pressure differential, via the manifold, to the plurality of wells so as to cause a plurality of sample volumes held by at least some wells of the plurality of wells to flow through respective flow channels and cause the carrier fluid to flow through the flow channels and form a plurality of droplets of the plurality of sample volumes separated by the carrier fluid.