A fluid preparation device can include a fluid-receiving vessel and a fluid loader with multiple fluid chambers including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The multiple fluid chambers can partially be defined by actuator seals that are positioned on an actuator. The actuator can be moveable among a plurality of positions and the actuator seals can be positioned on the actuator to fluidically separate the first fluid chamber from the second fluid chamber when the actuator is in a closed position from the plurality of positions, allow fluidic communication between the second fluid chamber and the fluid-receiving vessel when the actuator is in a first open position from the plurality of positions, and allow fluidic communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber when the actuator is in a second open position from the plurality of positions.

A biological component separator can include a vertically layered fluid column with a plurality of fluids positioned in fluid layers and a density-differential interface along which two fluids from the plurality of fluids are positioned. The biological component separator can also include a magnetic field generator positioned about the vertically layered fluid column and having multiple magnetic field profiles appliable across the vertically layered fluid column. The multiple magnetic field profiles can include a particle aggregating profile to concentrate magnetizing particles when present in the vertically layered fluid column and a particle sweeping profile to re-suspend and sweep the magnetizing particles when present across the vertically layered fluid column.

A vertically layered fluid column can include a plurality of fluids positioned in fluid layers, a density-differential interface along which two fluids from the plurality of fluids are positioned, and a capillary force-supported interface along which two fluids from the plurality of the fluids are positioned.

A device for biological sample preparation and analysis is disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced apart arrays disposed on an upper surface of the substrate. Each array includes a plurality of reaction vessels, each reaction vessel having a hydrophilic surface. A hydrophilic ring surrounds each array. Methods of making and using the device are also disclosed.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for making droplets of fluid surrounded by a liquid, using, for example, electric fields, mechanical alterations, the addition of an intervening fluid, etc. In some cases, the droplets may each have a substantially uniform number of entities therein. For example, 95% or more of the droplets may each contain the same number of entities of a particular species. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for dividing a fluidic droplet into two droplets, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions with an electric field. The invention also relates to systems and methods for fusing droplets according to another aspect of the invention, for example, through charge and/or dipole interactions. In some cases, the fusion of the droplets may initiate or determine a reaction. In a related aspect of the invention, systems and methods for allowing fluid mixing within droplets to occur are also provided. In still another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for sorting droplets, e.g., by causing droplets to move to certain regions within a fluidic system. Examples include using electrical interactions (e.g., charges, dipoles, etc.) or mechanical systems (e.g., fluid displacement) to sort the droplets. In some cases, the fluidic droplets can be sorted at relatively high rates, e.g., at about 10 droplets per second or more. Another aspect of the invention provides the ability to determine droplets, or a component thereof, for example, using fluorescence and/or other optical techniques (e.g., microscopy), or electric sensing techniques such as dielectric sensing.

Provided is a support for fluorescence polarization immunoassay of which reaction parts are loaded with an antibody and a fluorescent labeling substance. The plurality of reaction parts may be loaded with different concentrations of an antibody and a fluorescent labeling substance. Further, antibodies having different binding affinities for a target substance may be loaded. With such a support, fluorescence polarizations can be measured simply by adding a sample solution containing a target substance to the reaction parts, and a wide measurement range of the concentration the target substance can be secured.

Provided herein are methods and systems for biochemical analysis, including compositions and methods for processing and analysis of small cell populations and biological samples (e.g., a robotically controlled chip-based nanodroplet platform). In particular aspects, the methods described herein can reduce total processing volumes from conventional volumes to nanoliter volumes within a single reactor vessel (e.g., within a single droplet reactor) while minimizing losses, such as due to sample evaporation.

The invention relates to a device for inserting into an imaging system. The device has a receptacle for a specimen carrier for a specimen. The device also includes an arrangement for producing a magnetic field in a region of the receptacle for the specimen carrier.

Technology for a pillar structure for a biochip is disclosed. The pillar structure for a biochip includes: a substrate portion having a plate structure; an insertion pillar portion formed in one piece with the substrate portion and protruding downward from a lower surface of the substrate portion so as to be inserted into a well; and a compensation pillar portion formed in one piece with the substrate portion, the compensation pillar portion corresponding to the insertion pillar portion and protruding upward from an upper surface of the substrate portion. Therefore, when the pillar structure is cooled during an injection molding process, the substrate portion is prevented from being partially recessed, and when samples are analyzed using microscopic images, accuracy and reliability may be improved.

Disclosed is a cell culture microscopy slide comprising an optically transparent generally flat supporting surface (20) including upper and lower opposed substrate surfaces (27,28). A peripheral frame (40) surrounds the substrate (20), the frame (40) having a lower frame surface (44) and an upper frame surface (42). The lower frame surface (44) and the lower substrate surface (28) are generally flush. The upper frame surface (42) lies above the upper substrate surface (27), to form a well (32), and the upper and lower frame surfaces (42,44) are continuously flat and generally parallel. The substrate is preferably glass having a thickness of 1.7 mm.