Systems and methods for conducting designated reactions utilizing a base instrument and a removable cartridge. The removable cartridge includes a fluidic network that receives and fluidically directs a biological sample to conduct the designated reactions. The removable cartridge also includes a flow-control valve that is operably coupled to the fluidic network and is movable relative to the fluidic network to control flow of the biological sample therethrough. The removable cartridge is configured to separably engage a base instrument. The base instrument includes a valve actuator that engages the flow-control valve of the removable cartridge. A detection assembly held by at least one of the removable cartridge or the base instrument may be used to detect the designated reactions.

Transfer of genetic and other materials to cells is conducted in a hands-free, automated and continuous process that includes flowing the cells between electroporation electrodes to facilitate delivery of a payload into the cells, while acoustophoretically focusing the cells. Also described is a control method for the acoustophoretic focusing of cells that includes detecting locations of cells flowing through a channel, such as with an image analytics system, and modulating a drive signal to an acoustic transducer to change the locations of the cells flowing in the channel. Finally, an electroporation driver module is described that uses a digital to analog converter for generating an electroporation waveform and an amplifier for amplifying the electroporation waveform for application to electroporation electrodes.

A microfluidic device can include an upstream passage, a sample passage, a bifurcating passage, and a combining passage. The upstream passage can be configured to provide a focusing stream. The sample passage can be configured to provide a sample stream. The bifurcating passage can include a specified bifurcating flow resistance. The combining passage can be configured to create a combined stream from the focusing stream and the sample stream, where the focusing stream can direct the sample stream away from the upstream passage and toward the bifurcating passage. A first portion of the combined stream can be discharged through the bifurcating passage. The main discharge can be configured to discharge a second portion of the combined stream. The main discharge can include a main discharge resistance that is selectable to vary the main discharge resistance relative to the bifurcating flow resistance.

A device including a microfluidic channel structure formed on a substrate and including a first channel and a fluid actuator within the microfluidic channel structure. A sense region within the first channel is to receive a fluid flow of target biologic particles for counting in a single file pattern, with the sense region having a volume on a same order of magnitude as a volume of a single one of the target biologic particles.

Devices and methods for characterization of analyte mixtures are provided. Some methods described herein include performing enrichment steps on a device before expelling enriched analyte fractions from the device for subsequent analysis. Also included are devices for performing these enrichment steps.

A device for processing a sample comprises a blister defined by first and second walls. The first wall is flexible allowing the blister to be divided into one or more sealed regions by an external pressure applied to a portion of the first wall. The external pressure is applied in the form of a 2-dimensional shape to form a sealed region having that shape.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assaying a sample. A microfluidic device to perform an assay of a sample (e.g., biological sample) is described having a sample application site, a porous component and a flow channel. The porous component provides for uniform dissolution of a reagent and mixing of the sample and reagent without filtering the sample.

The disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for the generation of encapsulated reagents and the partitioning of encapsulated reagents for use in subsequent analyses and/or processing, such as in the field of biological analyses and characterization.

A tissue sample processing system and associated methods is disclosed and described. The tissue sample processing system (100) can include a microfluidic separating system (110). The microfluidic separating system (110) can include a fluid channel to receive a carrier fluid (104) and a tissue sample (102), and a plurality of outlets. Flow of the carrier fluid (104) and the tissue sample (102) in the fluid channel can facilitate segregation of materials in the tissue sample (102) based on size into a plurality of size fractions, such that each one of the plurality of outlets receives a different size fraction of the materials in the tissue sample. In addition, the sample processing system (100) can comprise a cryopreservation system (120) associated with at least one of the plurality of outlets to freeze the material in the tissue sample (102) associated with the at least one of the plurality of outlets.

The present invention provides a novel target analysis chip and analysis method for directly detecting a target such as a microRNA without performing PCR.