A microfluidic channel backplane includes a base, and a plurality of microfluidic channels, a sample-adding channel and an enrichment channel that are disposed above the base. Each microfluidic channel of the plurality of microfluidic channels includes a first end and a second end. The sample-adding channel is communicated with first ends of the plurality of microfluidic channels. The enrichment channel includes a first enrichment sub-channel and a second enrichment sub-channel. The first enrichment sub-channel is communicated with second ends of the plurality of microfluidic channels, and one end of the second enrichment sub-channel is communicated with the first enrichment sub-channel.

Methods, compositions, systems, apparatus, and kits are provided for depositing samples onto surfaces. The samples can include one or more particles, and the surface can include one or more reaction chambers. In some embodiments, the depositing can include the use of companion particles in combination with sample particles.

Supporting apparatus having a columnar first member and a cylindrical second member having an inner surface allowed to face with of an outer surface of the first member, one portion of the first member is inserted in a cylinder defined by the inner surface, a state of the members is allowed to change from a first state to a second state, the first state includes a state in which a predetermined space is ensured, the predetermined space is surrounded by one portion of the inner surface of the second member and an edge surface at one side of the first member that is different from the outer surface, the second state includes a state in which the second member has moved toward a side that is opposite to the one side relative to the first member from a base position of the members in the first state.

Under one aspect, a device is provided for use in luminescent imaging. The device can include a photonic superlattice including a first material, the first material having a first refractive index. The first material can include first and second major surfaces and first and second pluralities of features defined though at least one of the first and second major surfaces, the features of the first plurality differing in at least one characteristic from the features of the second plurality. The photonic superlattice can support propagation of a first wavelength and a second wavelength approximately at a first angle out of the photonic superlattice, the first and second wavelengths being separated from one another by a first non-propagating wavelength that does not selectively propagate at the first angle out of the photonic superlattice. The device further can include a second material having a second refractive index that is different than the first refractive index. The second material can be disposed within, between, or over the first and second pluralities of features and can include first and second luminophores. The device further can include a first optical component disposed over one of the first and second major surfaces of the first material. The first optical component can receive luminescence emitted by the first luminophore at the first wavelength approximately at the first angle, and can receive luminescence emitted by the second luminophore at the second wavelength approximately at the first angle.

The invention relates to a carrier with a binding surface at which target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles, can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface. The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector. Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles at the binding surface and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b). A magnetic field generator is optionally used to generate a magnetic field (B) at the binding surface by which magnetic label particles can be manipulated, for example attracted or repelled.

Microfluidic devices and methods for using the same are provided. Aspects of the invention include microfluidic devices that include a separation medium and a pan-capture binding medium. The microfluidic devices are configured to subject a sample to two or more directionally distinct electric fields. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic and validation assays.

A microfluidic apparatus is provided having one or more sequestration pens configured to isolate one or more target micro-objects by changing the orientation of the microfluidic apparatus with respect to a globally active force, such as gravity. Methods of selectively directing the movements of micro-objects in such a microfluidic apparatus using gravitational forces are also provided. The micro-objects can be biological micro-objects, such as cells, or inanimate micro-objects, such as beads.

A gene sequencing reaction device, a gene sequencing system and a gene sequencing reaction method. The gene sequencing reaction device includes: a supporting platform; a dipping container disposed on the supporting platform, wherein the dipping container has a dipping reaction area, and the dipping reaction area is configured to hold a chemical reagent for gene sequencing reaction, so as to dip a sequencing chip having a DNA sample loading structure on the surface and having a DNA sample loaded thereon in the chemical reagent to perform a gene sequencing reaction; a temperature control apparatus, configured to control the temperature of the chemical reagent in the dipping reaction area; and a transfer apparatus, configured to insert the sequencing chip into the dipping reaction area or pull out the sequencing chip from the dipping reaction area.

An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the Raman spectral range from the illuminated particle, and characterizing logic operative to characterize the particle based on image processing operations performed on the acquired image and based on the Raman spectrum. The holder cell (22) comprises a first plate (34) and a second plate (36) that are separated by a predetermined distance defining the planar volume depth.

There is provided a microparticle sorting method including a procedure of collecting a microparticle in a fluid that flows through a main channel in a branch channel that is in communication with the main channel by generating a negative pressure in the branch channel. In the procedure, a flow of a fluid is formed that flows toward a side of the main channel from a side of the branch channel at a communication opening between the main channel and the branch channel.