A microfluidic system for processing a tissue sample includes a microfluidic digestion device having an outlet fluidically connected to an inlet of a dissociation/filter device. The microfluidic digestion device includes an inlet and an outlet and a tissue chamber that connects to plurality of upstream fluidic channels and a plurality of downstream fluidic channels. The microfluidic dissociation/filter device includes an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a plurality of furcating dissociation channels having a plurality of expansion and constriction regions disposed along a length thereof, wherein one or more filters are disposed in a flow path downstream of the plurality of furcating dissociation channels. Pumps are provided to pump buffer and/or enzyme-containing fluid through the digestion device and dissociation/filter device. Tissue is initially processed in the digestion device and then passes into the dissociation/filter device.

A cartridge for analyzing a biological fluid, comprises an array of channels defining a plurality of analysis paths. Each channel is defined by at least two channel walls facing each other and defining a channel height. A wall of at least one channel has a step for defining on either side of the step: a first segment of the channel wherein the wall has a first surface energy and a first elevation defining a first height of the channel; a second segment of the channel wherein the wall has a second surface energy and a second elevation defining a second height of the channel. The first height of the channel and the first surface energy of the wall are greater than the second height of the channel and the second surface energy, respectively.

This disclosure describes microfluidic tissue biopsy and immune response drug evaluation devices and systems. A microfluidic device can include an inlet channel having a first end configured to receive a fluid sample optionally containing a tissue sample. The microfluidic device can also include a tissue trapping region at the second end of the inlet channel downstream from the first end. The tissue trapping region can include one or more tissue traps configured to catch a tissue sample flowing through the inlet channel such that the fluid sample contacts the tissue trap. The microfluidic device can also include one or more channels providing an outlet.

Methods and devices for concentrating target cells using dielectrophoresis (DEP) are disclosed. The method allows relatively high throughput of sample through a microfluidic device in order to allow rapid capture of target cells even when they are present in low concentrations within the sample. The method utilizes multiple chambers through which samples will flow, the chambers arranged such that the first capture area has a larger area and faster flow rate than a second chamber, the second chamber being positioned downstream of the first capture area and being smaller with a slower flow rate to further concentrate the material captured in the first capture area.

The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.

The present invention provides a detection device comprises a testing element and a transparent area, wherein the testing element comprises a test area which is configured to detect a presence of an analyte in a liquid sample; the transparent area is configured to read the test result on the test area through the transparent area; a part of the transparent area contacts a part of the detection area, or the detection area and the transparent area are arranged in one sealed space, thus to make the air in the sealed space not exchange with the air outside the sealed space; the scheme can reduce the mist to ensure the test result is displayed clearly.

A system and method for determining a trajectory parameter of particles, comprising receiving a plurality of particles at a microfluidic channel, applying a force to each particle of the microfluidic channel, acquiring a dataset of each particle, measuring a trajectory of the particle, and determining a trajectory parameter of the particles.

Disclosed are microfluidic chips and methods of loading the same. Some microfluidic chips include a microfluidic network that has an inlet port, a channel configured to receive liquid from the inlet port, and a droplet-generating region that includes an end of the channel having a transverse dimension, a constant portion extending from the end of the channel and having a constant transverse dimension that is larger than the traverse dimension of the end of the channel, and an expanding portion extending from the constant portion, wherein the transverse dimension of the end of the channel, the transverse dimension of the constant portion, and a length of the constant portion are configured such that, when an aqueous liquid is flowed through the droplet-generating region in the presence of a non-aqueous liquid, droplets of the aqueous liquid are completely formed in the constant portion.

The invention provides methods and apparatus for carrying out multiple amplification reactions in a single reaction chamber by successive cycles of loading reaction mixture, amplifying, and removing spent reaction mixture in a fluidly closed reaction system. In particular, the present invention allows amplification of a plurality of target polynucleotides from a single sample by carrying out under closed-loop control successive amplifications of different target polynucleotides from different portions of the sample.

A portable microfluidic system capable of rapid diagnosis is described, which is able to analyze genetic, protein and cell composition of a sample in parallel for specific diseases from a relatively small sample. The method uses a single microfluidic chip integrated into a unique portable microfluidic platform and provides improved diagnostic accuracy, allows for frequent monitoring and is suitable for easy use in clinical settings.