An example system includes an input channel to flow nucleic segments therethrough, a mixing portion coupled to the input channel, a separation chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the input channel, at least two output channels coupled to the chamber, and an integrated pump to facilitate flow through the separation chamber. The mixing portion is to include at least two different categories of beads having different sizes from each other and having a probe to attach to a corresponding nucleic acid segment. The separation chamber has a passive separation structure including an array of columns spaced apart to facilitate separation of the different categories of beads and attached corresponding nucleic acid segment into at least two flow paths based on a size of the category of the beads. Each output channel is to receive separated categories of beads and attached nucleic acid segments.

The present invention provides a microfluidic system, method and kit for performing assays. The system may comprise a microfluidic device and a detector, wherein the assay yields results that may be read by a detector and analyzed by the system. The assay may comprise one or more chemical or biological reaction against, or performed on, a sample or multiple samples. The sample(s) may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The sample(s) may be present within a vehicle, or on a carrier within a vehicle, in the microfluidic device, and wherein the vehicle may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The assay may be a cascading assay comprising a series of multiple assays, wherein each assay may be the same or different, and wherein each assay in the series of multiple assays may further comprise one or more process or step.

A sample extraction chip and a biological reaction device are disclosed according to the present disclosure. The sample extraction chip includes a chip body and a sample extraction module provided on the chip body, the sample extraction module includes a sample-loading lysis unit, a liquid release-control unit, an extraction unit, a liquid switch-control unit, a liquid collection unit and a sample collection unit, which are connected through flow channels in a sequence of extraction. The liquid release-control unit is configured to store and release liquid reagents, and the liquid switch-control unit is configured to switch between communication of the liquid collection unit and the extraction unit and communication of the sample collection unit and the extraction unit. The sample collection unit includes a front collection portion and a rear collection portion which are both in communication with the liquid switch-control unit.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for a microfluidic channel having a cover opposite its bottom and having electrodes with patterned two-dimensional conducting materials, such as graphene sheets integrated into the top of its bottom. Using the two-dimensional conducting materials, once a fluid sample is applied into the channel, highly localized modulated electric field distributions are generated inside the channel and the fluid sample. This generated field causes the inducing of dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces. These DEP forces are the same or greater than DEP forces that would result using metallic electrodes because of the sharp edges enabled by the two-dimension geometry of the two-dimensional conducting materials. Because of the induced forces, micro/nano-particles in the fluid sample are separated into particles that respond to a negative DEP force and particles that respond to a positive DEP. Microfluidic chips with microfluidic channels can be made using standard semiconductor manufacturing technology.

An analyte selection device can include: a body defining a fluid channel having a channel inlet and channel outlet; a bipolar electrode (BPE) between the inlet and outlet; one of an anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel inlet side of the BPE and the other of the anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel outlet side of the BPE; and an electronic system operably coupled with the anode and cathode so as to polarize the BPE. The fluid channel can have any shape or dimension. The channel inlet and channel outlet can be longitudinal or lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel. The BPE can be any metallic member, such as a flat plate on a wall or mesh as a barrier BPE. The anode and cathode can be located at a position that polarizes the BPE.

This document provides methods and devices for metering fluids. In some cases, the methods and devices include intersecting channels that include capillary-stop geometries at each intersection point that guides the fluids on a desired path, which is controlled by the opening and closing of valves. For example, a metering channel can intersect a loading channel and intersect an outflow channel and a metering portion can be defined by the geometry of the metering channel between the intersection points.

A rapid diagnostic test device uses driven flow technology to significantly expedite the testing time of a sample. The rapid diagnostic test device can be used to analyze liquids, such as some body fluids, by using labeled molecular affinity binding, such as immunochromatography. The test device can detect an analyte, such as an antibody or antigen, which may indicate a particular condition, the presence of a particular drug, or the like. The device includes an inner member that receives the body fluid. Dripping holes in the inner member, or a sloped surface, creates a stream force of the body fluid against the sample pad of the test strip. A portion of the stream force of the body fluid is directed upward toward the conjugate pad to push the antibody/body fluid sample onto the membrane of the test strip.

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

A method and system for improving throughput of a fluidic system such as a biopolymer analysis system by cleaning accumulated or clogging biopolymer from the fluidic system is disclosed. The method and system utilize a light energy source to photocleave the biopolymer molecules that may accumulate or aggregate in the fluidic system or clog a passageway. The accumulated biopolymer may be exposed to a light energy source for a sufficient period of time such that the biopolymer molecule is dosed with sufficient energy to photocleave the biopolymer molecules, thereby restoring the efficiency of and flow through the system.