A cell separation control apparatus may include a separation disc having a plurality of chambers and configured to separate a target material from a sample by means of a centrifugal force generated by a rotation, a printed circuit board coupled to the separation disc and having heating terminals configured to transfer heat to valves in channels that connect the plurality of chambers of the separation disc, and a plurality of pressing parts provided on the printed circuit board and configured to transfer heat from the heating terminals to the valves by pressing the heating terminals toward the valves.

The present invention provides an analyte detection system for detecting target analytes in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a detection system in a rotor or disc format that utilizes a centrifugal force to move the sample through the detection system. Methods of using the rotor detection system to detect analytes in samples, particularly biological samples, and kits comprising the rotor detection system are also disclosed.

A rotary analysis apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a rotary machine operable to rotate or spin a removable disk-type analytical cartridge. The cartridge includes a plurality of fluidly isolated processing trains for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Each process train includes an extractant mixing chamber, slurry filtration chamber, supernatant collection chamber, and reagent mixing chamber in fluid communication. In one use, soil sample slurry is prepared and added to the extractant mixing chamber. The slurry is mixed with an extractant by rotating the cartridge to separate out an analyte from the mixture. A sediment filter in the filtration chamber deliquifies and traps soil particles to produce clear supernatant. A color changing reagent or fluorescent agent may be mixed with the collected supernatant for subsequent colorimetric, fluorescent, turbidimetric, or other type of analysis.

Provided is a rotatable microfluidic device for conducting simultaneously two or more assays. The device includes a platform which can be rotated, a first unit which is disposed at one portion of the platform and detects a target material from a sample using surface on which a capture probe selectively binds to the target material is attached, and a second unit which is disposed at another portion of the platform and detects a target material included in the sample by a different reaction from the reaction conducted in the first unit.

Improved mechanisms for storing and introducing liquid volumes in a liquid handling device and, in particular, improved mechanisms for rupturing a liquid storage package to introduce liquid into the device, improvements to the stability of a liquid receiving chamber inside the device and improvements to liquid handling in the receiving chamber are achieved.

Improved mechanisms for storing and introducing liquid volumes in a liquid handling device and, in particular, improved mechanisms for rupturing a liquid storage package to introduce liquid into the device, improvements to the stability of a liquid receiving chamber inside the device and improvements to liquid handling in the receiving chamber are achieved.

A drive system for aligning a detection zone of a cartridge with an image capture device is provided. The drive system can include a first motor configured for the purpose of spinning the cartridge to drive centrifugal flow of a liquid in the cartridge. The drive system can further include a second motor coupled to a cartridge-aligning member, configured for the purpose of aligning the detection zone with the image capture device. Advantageously, each motor can be adapted for its specific purpose.

According to the invention, generally, a microfluidic aliquoting (MA) chip, adapted to fit in a Petri dish, has a center well (inlet) connected by a plurality of microchannels to a plurality of side wells (outlets). A relatively large (such as 120 L) cell suspension having several cells may be injected into the inlet of the MA chip, and single cells may be substantially simultaneously and uniformly distributed, via positive pressure-driving flow, to the several (such as 120) side wells having single cells in less than 1 minute. The MA Chip has a high efficiency in cell recovery. Due to rapid isolation and easy identification of single cells, high cell viability, high enrichment factor, and convenient transfer of submicroliter single-cell suspension, MA Chips are well compatible with CTC isolation from blood, single-cell cloning, PCR, and sequencing.

According to the invention, generally, a microfluidic aliquoting (MA) chip, adapted to fit in a Petri dish, has a center well (inlet) connected by a plurality of microchannels to a plurality of side wells (outlets). A relatively large (such as 120 L) cell suspension having several cells may be injected into the inlet of the MA chip, and single cells may be substantially simultaneously and uniformly distributed, via positive pressure-driving flow, to the several (such as 120) side wells having single cells in less than 1 minute. The MA Chip has a high efficiency in cell recovery. Due to rapid isolation and easy identification of single cells, high cell viability, high enrichment factor, and convenient transfer of submicroliter single-cell suspension, MA Chips are well compatible with CTC isolation from blood, single-cell cloning, PCR, and sequencing.

The present invention provides centrifuge/magnet-based analyzers and methods of operating thereof. The analyzer comprises three discs sandwiched together, in which each disc has difference functions. The top disc comprises magnetic units configured in patterns, whereas the bottom disc comprises tracks and magnetic units free to move in the tracks. The magnetic field co-generated by the top disc and the bottom disc attracts the magnetic beads in the intermediate disc to move and thus facilitates the reactions in the intermediate disc.