A method of detecting passage of a particle into a target location includes receiving a sample on a die including a microfluidic chamber, the microfluidic chamber including a microfluidic path coupling a reservoir to a foyer, and moving the sample from the reservoir to the foyer by firing a nozzle fluidically coupled to the foyer. The method further includes detecting passage of a particle of the sample from the reservoir to the foyer via a first sensor disposed within the microfluidic path, and detecting passage of the particle into the target location via a second sensor disposed between the first sensor and the nozzle. The method includes recording in a dispense map, an indication of whether the target location includes a single particle or multiple particles based on signals measured by the first sensor and the second sensor.

A multi-chamber saliva-collection device is configured to segregate a saliva sample into at least two aliquots, each of the at least two aliquots being contained within a distinct chamber of the multi-chamber device, wherein the multi-chamber device is useful for performing an instant analyte test and a subsequent DNA confirmation to validate the identity of the tested individual. Related methods for using the device to obtain each of: an analyte test result, and a DNA confirmation of the identity of the individual from which the tested saliva sample, are also disclosed.

A microfluidic chip can include a microfluidic network that comprises a port, one or more test volumes, and one or more channels through which fluid must flow from the port to the test volume(s). A crosslinkable material can also be disposed within the microfluidic network such that the crosslinkable material is flowable through the channel(s). The crosslinkable material of the microfluidic chip may be exposed to light and/or heat to crosslink the material within and thereby occlude the channel(s). A method of loading the microfluidic chip can include disposing a liquid within a port of a microfluidic network that includes one or more test volumes and one or more channels; flowing each of one or more portions of the liquid from the port, through at least one of the channel(s), and into a respective one of the test volume(s); and directing a crosslinkable material into at least one of the channel(s) and cross-linking the crosslinkable material such that none of the test volume(s) are in fluid communication with the port when the portion(s) of the liquid are in the test volume(s).

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic device including a microfluidic substrate and dry reagent-containing particles. The microfluidic substrate includes an ingress microfluidic channel that fluidly feeds an egress microfluidic channel through a microfluidic-retaining region that includes a microfluidic discontinuity feature, a particle-retaining chemical coating, or a combination thereof. The dry reagent-containing particles include a reagent that is releasable from the dry reagent-containing particles when exposed to a release fluid. The dry reagent-containing particles are retained within the microfluidic substrate at the microfluidic discontinuity feature or particle-retaining chemical coating in position to release the reagent into the egress microfluidic channel upon flow of release fluid from the ingress microfluidic channel through the microfluidic-retaining region.

A microfluidic device and a method for sensing and sorting of cells or particles in a microfluidic channel are disclosed. The microfluidic device may include a substrate with a microfluidic channel having an inlet, the microfluidic channel being coupled with two or more output channels; one or more sensors located adjacent to a first region of the microfluidic channel for sensing respective particles flown through the microfluidic channel; and a first piezoelectric actuator located adjacent to a second region of the microfluidic channel downstream from the first region for deflecting the respective particles flowing through the microfluidic channel to respective output channels of the two or more output channels based on signals from the one or more sensors.

A microfluidic test system is disclosed. The system includes a test substrate including parallel channels and reaction chambers. The reaction chambers are adapted to accommodate optical transmittance, absorbance and reflectance testing. The movement of the fluid within the system is controlled and synchronized in real time with the optical measurements of the reagents and analytes within each individual reaction chamber. The optical testing of each reaction chamber is customized regarding the color and intensity of the source light. The system includes an easy-to-use applicator for the capture of the test fluid and a fully automated measurement and test system. The microfluidic test system may be incorporated into clothing or apparel such as in a diaper. A device and method are also disclosed.

An extracellular vesicle-containing sample can be processed using a device for isolating one or more subpopulations of the extracellular vesicles. The extracellular vesicle-containing sample is flowed through a flow chamber of the device under an applied fluid pressure, in which the device has one or more inlets and two or more outlets in fluid communication with one another via the flow chamber. The device has one or more filters in the flow chamber between the inlet(s) and at least one of the outlet(s). The extracellular vesicle-containing sample is flowed through the filter(s) in the flow chamber to sort the extracellular vesicles of extracellular vesicle-containing sample by size into two or more subpopulations of the extracellular vesicles. At least one of the subpopulations that has been sorted flows out of a corresponding one of the outlets. Surface marker-based exosome sorting using magnetic beads may be used after the size-based exosome isolation.

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.

Bodily fluid sample collection systems, devices, and method are provided. The sample is collected at a first location and subjected to a first sample processing step. The sample may be shipped to a second location and subjected to a second sample processing step that does not introduce contaminants into a plasma portion of the sample formed from the first processing step. The sample may also be mixed with other material(s) in the collection device.

There is provided a microchip comprising: a main flow path through which a liquid containing microparticles flows; and a branch flow path that branches from the main flow path. A cross-sectional area of a portion of the main flow path is substantially constant up to a branch start position or decreases toward the branch start position, and a radius of curvature R of a side wall that connects a side wall of the main flow path and a side wall of the branch flow path is 0.5 mm or less and more than 0 mm.