An electrowetting device includes a first substrate, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first substrate, a dielectric layer formed on the plurality of first electrodes, a first water-repellent layer formed on the dielectric layer, a second substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and a second water-repellent layer formed on the second electrode. The first substrate and the second substrate are arranged with a gap between the first water-repellent layer and the second water-repellent layer. The first electrode includes an indium oxide-zinc oxide layer, the dielectric layer includes a silicon nitride layer, and the silicon nitride layer is formed directly on the indium oxide-zinc oxide layer.

The present inventive concept relates to a microfluidic arrangement (1) for capillary driven fluidic connection between capillary flow channels (8, 16). The microfluidic arrangement (1) comprises: a first microfluidic system (4) comprising a first surface (5), and a first capillary flow channel (8), wherein the first capillary flow channel (8) has an elongation in a first plane, and the first surface comprises an outlet opening (9) in a plane different from the first plane, the outlet opening defining an outlet area (35) in the first surface and being adapted to allow fluidic communication with the first capillary flow channel thereby forming a flow outlet (12) of the first capillary flow channel, and a second microfluidic system (6) comprising a second surface (7) and a second capillary flow channel (16), wherein the second capillary flow channel (16) has an elongation in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and a portion of the second surface (7) comprises an inlet opening (13) in a plane different from the second plane, the inlet opening defining an inlet area (33) in the second surface and being adapted to allow fluidic communication with the second capillary flow channel thereby forming a flow inlet (20) of the second capillary flow channel, wherein the first microfluidic system (4) and the second microfluidic system (6) are arranged with the first and the second surfaces in contact such that the flow outlet (12) and the flow inlet (20) are interfaced, thereby allowing capillary driven fluidic connection between the first and the second capillary flow channels (8, 16), wherein the outlet area (35) overlaps at least a portion of the inlet area (33), said at least a portion of the inlet area (33) overlapped by the outlet area (35) being smaller than the outlet area (35).

A flow cell of the flow cytometer of the present invention includes: a sample flow path through which a sample fluid containing a sample flows; and a sample fluid supply portion which communicates with an upstream end of the sample flow path in the sample fluid flow direction and supplies the sample fluid to the sample flow path, wherein the sample fluid supply portion includes a plurality of sample opening portions which supply a sample fluid to the sample flow path, a cleaning liquid supply opening portion to which a second tube is connectable and which supplies a cleaning liquid for cleaning the sample fluid supply portion, and a cleaning liquid discharge opening portion to which a first tube is connectable and which discharges the cleaning liquid from the sample fluid supply portion.

Devices and methods for controlling collection of liquid sample are described. In an example, a microfluidic device can include an analytical device and an actuator. The actuator can be connected to the analytical device. The actuator can be operable to absorb fluid. The actuator can guide the absorbed fluid to an input layer of the analytical device. The actuator can deform in response to an occurrence of an absorption condition. A degree of deformation of the actuator indicates a volume of fluid collected by the analytical device.

The present invention relates to encapsulated microfluidic packages and methods thereof. In particular embodiments, the package includes a device, a cradle configured to support the device, and a lid having a bonding surface configured to provide a fluidic seal between itself and the device and/or cradle. Other package configurations, as well as methods for making such fluidic seals, are described herein.

An example apparatus comprises a thermal cell lysis chamber, including a substrate and a lid coupled to the substrate to form a microfluidic channel therethrough. The apparatus includes cell detection circuitry to detect presence of a cell within the microfluidic channel and to detect lysis of the cell. The apparatus also includes a thermal lysing element disposed in the lid to apply heat to a cell detected by the cell detection circuitry, and lysis control circuitry. The lysis control circuitry is to regulate a temperature applied by the thermal lysing element, based on detection by the cell detection circuitry of a cell within the microfluidic channel and based on detection by the cell detection circuitry of a lysis event, and record the temperature applied by the thermal lysing element at which the lysis event occurred.

Aspects relate to systems and methods for fluid sensing using passive flow. An exemplary system includes a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including at least a reservoir configured to contain at least a fluid and at least a passive flow component in fluidic communication with the at least a reservoir and configured to flow the at least a fluid with predetermined flow properties, at least an sensor device configured to be in sensed communication with the at least a fluid and detect at least a sensed property; and at least an sensor interface configured to wet at least a surface of the at least a sensor device with the at least a fluid.

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) are disclosed. A processing region includes one or more surfaces (e.g., particle surfaces) modified with ligands that retain polynucleotides under a first set of conditions (e.g., temperature and pH) and release the polynucleotides under a second set of conditions (e.g., higher temperature and/or more basic pH). The processing region can be used to, for example, concentrate polynucleotides of a sample and/or separate inhibitors of amplification reactions from the polynucleotides. Microfluidic devices with a processing region are disclosed.

A method and/or system can include processing a blood sample of a patient by degrading red blood cells of the blood sample using a lysing solution, quenching the degradation of the red blood cells after a threshold lysing time, centrifuging and aspirating the quenched solution to remove degraded red blood cell debris and concentrate white blood cells of the blood sample, and suspending the concentrated white blood cells in a buffer solution; within a threshold transfer time, deforming white blood cells, of the suspended white blood cells, within a microfluidic chip; and determining a probability that the patient is in an immune activation state based on images of the white blood cells acquired while deforming the white blood cells.

An apparatus includes a fluidic coupler including an opening. A first port is in fluid communication with the opening and is to interface with an inlet of a flow cell of a sensor device. A second port is to interface with an outlet of the flow cell of the sensor device. A third port is in fluidic communication with the second port. The apparatus further includes a mechanical assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The fluidic coupler is secured to the flow cell of the sensor device in the first position. The fluidic coupler is disengaged from the flow cell of the sensor device in the second position.