Disclosed herein include systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for introducing one or more components into a fluid. A first fluid and a second fluid can be co-injected into a fluidic channel of a flow cell. In some embodiments, the first fluid and a second fluid are immiscible (e.g. an aqueous buffer and a non-aqueous liquid). In some embodiments, the second fluid is less dense than the first fluid.

An analyzing system is provided. The analyzing system includes a fluid container defining a sample chamber where a sample is contained in the sample chamber, and a sensor including a transparent body with a reverse face and an obverse face where the obverse face having a nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface includes a plurality of elongate nanostructures having a respective longitudinal axis that is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the obverse face. The analyzing system includes an excitation and detection apparatus that includes an excitation source for generating a beam of polarized radiation and a corresponding radiation detector where the sensor is coupled to the fluid container such that the nanostructured surface is exposed to the sample chamber, to the sample located therein.

Disclosed herein are example embodiments of a transformative sensor apparatus that is capable of detecting and quantifying the presence of a substance of interest such as a specified bacteria within a sample via changes in impedance exhibited by a detection electrode array. In an example embodiment, sensitivity is improved by including a focusing electrode array in a rampdown channel to focus a concentration of the substance of interest into a detection region. The focusing electrodes include an opposing pair of electrodes in a rampdown orientation. The focusing electrode may also include tilted thin film finger electrodes extending from the rampdown electrodes. In another example embodiment, trapping electrodes are positioned to trap a concentration of the substance of interest onto the detection electrode array.

A microchamber array device having built-in reaction microchambers, in which the dilution ratio can be greatly increased at the same time as dramatically raising cell recovery efficiency, and an inspection object analysis method using said device are provided. This microchamber array device is provided with: a microchamber array 1 for cell capture by electrophoresis comprising an arrangement of a substrate 2, electrodes 3 and photoresists 4 and a reaction microchamber array 6 which is separated from the capture microchamber array 1, and which is formed from reaction microchamber 8 comprising micro channels 7 arranged so as to be opposite of the aforementioned microchamber array 1.

A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance. The method generally includes the steps of (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface; (ii) a starting droplet comprising: (1) one or more magnetically responsive beads; (2) a starting quantity of the substance; and (3) a starting volume; (b) magnetically immobilizing the one or more magnetically responsive beads at a location which is at a distance from a target droplet splitting zone; (c) conducting one or more droplet operations comprising droplet dividing operations selected to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets comprising: (i) a droplet comprising substantially all of the one or more magnetically responsive beads and having a decreased quantity of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet substantially lacking the magnetically responsive beads.

Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.

The disclosure describes methods and devices with which to process and analyze difficult chemical, biological, environmental samples including but not limited to those containing bulk solids or particulates. The disclosure includes a cartridge which contains a separation tube as well as one or more valves and cavities for receiving raw sample materials and for directing and containing various fluids or samples. The cartridge may contain a separation fluid or density medium of defined density, and structures which direct particulates toward defined regions of the cartridge. Embodiments can include a rotational device for rotating the cartridge at defined rotational rates for defined time intervals. Embodiments allowing multiple assays from a single sample are also disclosed. In some embodiments, this device is used for direct processing and chemical analysis of food, soil, blood, stool, motor oil, semen, and other samples of interest.

A MEMS-based particle manipulation system which uses a particle manipulation stage and optical confirmation of the manipulation. The optical confirmation may be camera-based, and may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the particle manipulation stage. In one exemplary embodiment, the particle manipulation stage is a microfabricated, fluid valve, which sorts a target particle from non-target particles in a fluid stream. The optical confirmation stage is disposed in the microfabricated fluid channels at the input and output of the microfabricated sorting valve. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the sorting, and to control or adjust sort parameters during the sorting process.

A biomolecule analysis method including: feeding a reagent into a reaction container which includes a plurality of wells and filing the reagent in the plurality of wells, the reagent being for causing an enzymatic reaction with regard to a target substance of analysis; feeding an oil sealing solution over the plurality of wells and sealing the reagent into the plurality of wells with the oil sealing solution so that the plurality of wells become a plurality of independent reaction containers; performing the enzymatic reaction by incubating the reaction container; and detecting a signal amplified by the enzymatic reaction.

Provided herein are instruments and cartridges for processing samples. The cartridges include fluidic circuits in which fluid movement can be regulated by diaphragm valves. In certain cartridges, deformable material providing a diaphragm contacts an interface in the instrument that actuates the diaphragm directly, without intervening actuation layer. Certain cartridges have a plurality of fluidic circuits and fluid distribution channels or pneumatic distribution channels configured to deliver fluids or pneumatic pressure to any of the fluidic circuits, selectively. Certain cartridges have compartments containing on-board reagents. Compartments can be closed by a film attached to a body the cartridge through a heat seal.