The present invention relates to an immunochromatographic assay device, comprising: a cover plate; an immunochromatographic assay kit; and a sample loading pad. A wet zone is defined by the cover plate and at least part of a sample loading portion of the sample loading pad disposed close to an installation position of the immunochromatographic assay kit. The height of the wet zone satisfies the following condition: when flowing into the wet zone, a sample solution is driven by capillary action to flow from a surface of the sample loading portion toward the immunochromatographic assay kit. A wet zone having a certain length is arranged in front of a sample loading zone of an immunochromatographic assay kit, such that when a sample solution flows into the wet zone, capillary action drives the sample solution to flow into the wet zone, thereby increasing a flow speed of the sample solution in the wet zone, allowing substantially simultaneous sample loading on immunochromatographic assay kits at different installation positions, and accordingly enhancing the consistency and uniformity of sample loading.

A blood component collection cassette of a blood component collection system, which is a biological component transfer system, includes a sheet-shaped cassette main body in which a blood line is formed. The blood line includes a second applied load measurement unit and line main body portions. A separation device includes a second load measurement unit that measures a load applied to a wall portion of the second applied load measurement unit in a cassette mounted state. The second applied load measurement unit is more easily deformed than the line main body portions, and is disposed at a location within the blood line on which only a positive pressure acts.

A blood collection device including a flow path to flow blood by capillary action capable of collecting a large amount of blood is provided. The blood collection device includes an introduction inlet 23 for introducing the blood of the subject M, a substrate 20 connected to the introduction inlet 23 and including a flow path 25 to flow the blood by capillary action, and a cooling body 30 for cooling the flow path 25.

In an example implementation, a method of dispensing fluid from a fluid dispensing device, includes receiving a dispense head at a receiving station, and receiving a notification that a supply slot in the dispense head has been filled with fluid. The method includes vibrating the dispense head to move fluid through a microfluidic channel from the supply slot into an ejection chamber of the dispense head, and providing a dispense signal to cause an ejection mechanism disposed within the chamber to eject an amount of the fluid from the dispense head.

In some aspects, the present disclose provides methods for amplifying and quantifying nucleic acids. Methods for amplifying and quantifying nucleic acids comprise isolating a sample comprising nucleic acid molecules into a plurality of microchambers, performing a polymerase chain reaction on the plurality of microchambers, and analyzing the results of the polymerase chain reaction. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides devices consistent with the methods herein.

A device (100) for sensing a first analyte in a biofluid is provided. The device includes a microfluidic component (130) configured to transport a biofluid sample. The device further includes a sensing solution (142) containing one or more probes, wherein the one or more probes are configured to interact with a first analyte in the biofluid. The device further includes a sensor membrane (172) separating the sensing solution (142) from the microfluidic component (130), the sensor membrane (172) configured to allow transport of the first analyte from the microfluidic component to the sensing solution and prevent transport of the one or more probes out of the sensing solution. The device further includes a sensor configured to sense a reaction between the one or more probes and the first analyte in the sensing solution (142).

Described is a multi-dimensional double spiral (MDDS) microfluidic device comprising a first spiral microchannel and a second microchannel, wherein the wherein the first spiral microchannel and second spiral microchannel have different cross-sectional areas. Also described is a device comprising a multi-dimensional double spiral and system for recirculation. The invention also encompasses methods of separating particles from a sample fluid comprising a mixture of particles comprising the use of the multi-dimensional double spiral microfluidic device.

Disclosed herein are devices, apparatus, systems, methods and kits for collecting and storing a fluid sample from a subject. A device for collecting the fluid sample can include a housing comprising a recess having an opening, a vacuum chamber in the housing and in fluidic communication with the recess, and one or more piercing elements that are extendable through the opening to penetrate skin of the subject. The vacuum chamber can be configured for having a vacuum that draws the skin into the recess. The recess can be configured having a size or shape that enables an increased volume of the fluid sample to be accumulated in the skin drawn into the recess.

The present invention is directed to the use of microfluidics in the preparation of cells and compositions for therapeutic uses.

A cell observation system observes a cell moving in a flow path with a fluid, and includes a first observation apparatus, a second observation apparatus, and a control device. The first observation apparatus includes an objective lens and a line camera. The second observation apparatus includes an objective lens and an area camera. The control device analyzes first imaging data output from the first observation apparatus to determine whether the cell satisfies a specific condition, instructs the area camera to output second imaging data of the cell determined to satisfy the specific condition, and analyzes the second imaging data output from the second observation apparatus to determine whether the cell is a specific cell.