The present invention is in the field of microfluidic devices produced with silicon technology wherein at least one 3D microenvironment is present, a method of producing said device using silicon based technology, and a use of said device in various applications, typically a biological cell experiment, such as a cell or organ on a chip experiment, and use o the device as a microreactor.

A circuit with electrical interconnect for external electronic connection and sensor(s) on a die are combined with a laminated manifold to deliver a liquid reagent over an active surface of the sensor(s). The laminated manifold includes fluidic channel(s), an interface between the die and the fluidic channel(s) being sealed. Also disclosed is a method, the method including assembling a laminated manifold including fluidic channel(s), attaching sensor(s) on a die to a circuit, the circuit including an electrical interconnect, and attaching a planarization layer to the circuit, the planarization layer including a cut out for the die. The method further includes placing sealing adhesive at sides of the die, attaching the laminated manifold to the circuit, and sealing an interface between the die and fluidic channel(s).

The present invention discloses a convective PCR apparatus by using a transparent conductive thin film to replace the traditional metal heater. The PCR reaction is activated when the container with reagents contacted the heated transparent conductive thin film and the temperature inside the container raised to initiate the convective circulation. Also, the present invention could apply for a quantitative PCR reaction by adding a specific probe, a fluorescent dye, a light source, or a photon receiver.

A sensor device for use in sensing a change in a concentration of micro-organisms, comprises a waveguide interferometer having a sensing arm and a reference arm, a microfluidic channel for a fluid containing the micro-organisms, and a trapping arrangement in the microfluidic channel for physically trapping the micro-organisms when the fluid flows along the microfluidic channel so as to concentrate the micro-organisms in a sensing region of the microfluidic channel. The sensing arm is configured to guide sensing light, the reference arm is configured to guide reference light, and the waveguide interferometer is configured to interfere the sensing light with the reference light. The waveguide interferometer and the microfluidic channel are configured to allow the sensing light to interact with the fluid and the micro-organisms in the sensing region of the microfluidic channel.

Described herein are apparatuses and methods for the processing and/or measurements of chemical or biochemical samples on a digital microfluidic device. Also described are methods to configure and operate the modules for efficient processing and measurements of the samples on the device. The apparatus can be used in applications such as DNA/RNA/protein/cell concentration/purification, real-time PCR, isothermal amplification, immunoassay, cell-based assay, library preparation for NGS sequencing, etc.

Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus for analysing fluid samples. The apparatus is sized and shaped so that it can fit into an input port of an electronic device. The input port could be an existing port of the electronic device such as an input port for a memory card or a charger. The electronic device can be configured with a heat transfer means so that, when the apparatus is inserted into the electronic device, heat from the electronic device can be used to control the temperature of a fluid sample within the apparatus. This can enable the reaction conditions within the apparatus to be controlled.

The invention relates to a method for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of providing a liquid sample (S) in a barrel (10) of a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, passing the liquid sample (S) through a first filtering membrane (40) such that microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) are retained at a first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40), contacting said first side (41) with a first growth medium (210) capable of supporting growth of microorganisms, incubating the first filtering membrane (40) and the first growth medium (210) at an incubation temperature, arranging a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) in fluid connection with a second side (42) of the first filtering membrane (40), detecting a metabolic gas released by the microorganisms by means of the gas sensor (50). The invention further relates to a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising a barrel (10) enclosing a barrel compartment (13) for receiving a liquid sample (S), a first piston (20) which (20) is movable in said barrel (10), wherein said barrel compartment (13) is configured to be brought in fluid communication via a first filtering membrane (40) with a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) configured to detect a metabolic gas released by microorganisms, wherein the first filtering membrane (40) is configured to retain microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) at the first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40). Furthermore, a sensor cartridge (4) and a kit of parts comprising the device (1) are provided.

A sample testing device is disclosed. The sample testing device can include a first compartment that is configured to receive a test sample, a second compartment that is configured to receive the test sample, a separator that is disposed between and separating the first compartment and the second compartment, and a mechanical lock structure that is configured to lock and unlock a movement of the separator. When the mechanical lock is unlocked, the separator opens to transfer the test sample from the first compartment to the second compartment. The sample testing device can include a sensing assembly.

Disclosed herein are platforms, systems, and methods including a cell culture system that includes a cell culture container comprising a cell culture, the cell culture receiving input cells, a cell imaging subsystem configured to acquire images of the cell culture, a computing subsystem configured to perform a cell culture process on the cell culture according to the images acquired by the cell imaging subsystem, and a cell editing subsystem configured to edit the cell culture to produce output cell products according to the cell culture process.

Described are a test device, a multi-specimen test fixture star and a multi-specimen test fixture. The test device includes a bath chamber that is automatically replenished with bath liquid throughout an extended test period. The multi-specimen test fixture star is non-circularly symmetric and can be used, for example, in a rectangular bath chamber to hold a greater number of test specimens than a circularly symmetric test fixture star. The multi-specimen test fixture includes, in part, a multi-specimen test fixture star and a shaft having one or more keyways and enables the test fixture star to be repositioned along the shaft without loss of rotational alignment to the shaft.