A particle manipulation system uses a MEMS-based, microfabricated particle manipulation device which has a sample inlet channel, output channels, and a movable member formed on a substrate. The device may be used to separate a target particle from non-target material in a sample stream. In order to improve the sorter speed, accuracy or yield, the particle manipulation system may also include a microfluidic structure which focuses the target particles in a particular portion of the sample inlet channel. The particle manipulation device may have two separate sort output channels, wherein the sort channel used depends on the characteristics of the sort pulse delivered to the micromechanical particle manipulation device.

A fluid exit passage is at a location along a microfluidic channel. A fluid displacement device is proximate the location along the microfluidic channel. A constituent locator distinguishes a target constituent in a fluid within the microfluidic channel from remaining non-target constituents and locate the target constituent proximate the fluid exit passage. A controller selectively actuates the fluid displacement device when the target constituent is proximate the fluid exit passage to discharge the target constituent from the microfluidic channel through the fluid exit passage.

There are provided methods, and devices for assaying for a binding interaction between a protein, such as a monoclonal antibody, produced by a cell, and a biomolecule. The method may include retaining the cell within a chamber having an aperture; exposing the protein produced by the cell to a capture substrate, wherein the capture substrate is in fluid communication with the protein produced by the cell and wherein the capture substrate is operable to bind the protein produced by the cell; flowing a fluid volume comprising the biomolecule through the chamber via said aperture, wherein the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the capture substrate; and determining a binding interaction between the protein produced by the cell and the biomolecule.

Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyses include high density nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.

The invention provides analyzers that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient and specific selection and sensitive imaging detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification. Automated embodiments allow efficient walk-away, on-demand, random-access high-throughput testing. The analyzers perform tests without requiring wash steps thus streamlining engineering and lowering costs. Thus, the invention provides analyzers that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests for analytes.

A biological fluid collection device that is adapted to receive a blood sample having a cellular portion and a plasma portion is disclosed. After collecting the blood sample, the biological fluid collection device is able to transfer the blood sample to a point-of-care testing device or a biological fluid separation and testing device. After transferring the blood sample, the biological fluid separation and testing device is able to separate the plasma portion from the cellular portion and analyze the blood sample and obtain test results.

The invention provides systems for handling biofluids including the transport, capture, collection, storage, sensing, and/or evaluation of biofluids released by tissue. Systems of some aspects provide a versatile platform for characterization of a broad range of physical and/or chemical biofluid attributes in real time and over clinically relevant timeframes. Systems of some aspects provide for collection and/or analysis of biofluids from conformal, watertight tissue interfaces over time intervals allowing for quantitative temporal and/or volumetric characterization of biofluid release, such as release rates and release volumes.

There is disclosed a capillary microfluidic circuit including a main channel communicating with a flow inducing element. The main channel has intermediary inlets. Reservoirs for containing one or more liquids prior to being drawn into the main channel. The reservoirs include a first reservoir and at least a second reservoir. Each of the reservoirs has an upstream end connectable to vents for filling the reservoirs with the one or more liquids and a downstream end. The downstream end of each of the reservoirs is connected to the intermediary inlets of the main channel A conduit is disposed between the first reservoir and the a least a second reservoir. The conduit links the downstream end of the first reservoir with the upstream end of the at least a second reservoir.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manipulating fluids. The apparatus may include a microfluidic structure including inlet channels (1 and 2) and outlet channels (306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, and 314) oriented among bifurcated (5), trifurcated (6) and merging junctions (7 and 8). The apparatus splits and merges fluids flowing in the channels to produce successive dilutions of the fluids within the outlet channels. Multiple apparatus may be combined in serial, parallel, combined serial and parallel and/or stacked configurations. One or more apparatus may be used alone or to provide various devices or chambers with the diluted fluids.

A system and method for isolating and analyzing single cells, wherein the system includes: an array of wells defined at a substrate, each well including an open surface and a well cavity configured to capture cells in one of a single-cell format and single-cluster format, and a fluid delivery module including a fluid reservoir superior to the array of wells through which fluid flow is controlled along a fluid path in a direction parallel to the broad face of the substrate; and wherein the method includes: capturing a population of non-cell particles into the array of wells in single-particle format; releasing, from the non-cell particles, a set of probes into the array of wells; capturing a population of cells into the array of wells in single-cell format; releasing biomolecules from each captured cell into the array of wells; and generating a set of genetic complexes comprising the biomolecules associated with a single captured cell and a subset of probes within individual wells of the array of wells.