Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for in-situ sealing of reaction wells. This invention provides reaction containers, methods, and systems for in-situ sealing of individual reaction wells illustratively in a closed reaction container using the conditions already present in a reaction (e.g., a thermocycling reaction) to deform a sealing material to seal the reaction wells and create a seal that is present during the reaction and that remains after the reaction is complete.

To provide a single particle capture technique that can shorten cell capture time without damaging a cell.

The present technology provides a particle capture device including: a particle capture unit having a particle capture region including a plurality of wells that captures particles, and dividing a space into a first space and a second space; a particle supply channel which is connected to the first space and through which a fluid containing the particles is supplied; a first discharge channel which is connected to the first space and through which a fluid is discharged from the first space; and a second discharge channel which is connected to the second space and through which a fluid is discharged from the second space, in which the particles are captured in the wells by simultaneous discharge of fluids from the first discharge channel and the second discharge channel.

A platform and method for conducting multi-variable combinational interactions are provided. An array of multiplexing chambers in formed in a body. The body also includes a common well communicating with each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers and a plurality of variable wells. Each of variable wells communicates with at least one multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers. The common well is loaded with a first variable and different variables are loaded in each of the plurality of variable wells. The interaction of the first variable with at least one of the different variables in each multiplexing chamber of the array of multiplexing chambers is observed.

Apparatus (20) for use with a biological sample, including at least one viable sperm cell (12) having a tail (8) and a head (6), comprising: a fluid chamber (40) shaped and sized for receiving the biological sample, and at least one electrode (80) coupled to the chamber and in operable communication with an electric source for applying alternating current (AC) to drive the at least one electrode (80) to generate a dielectrophoresis (DEP) force in the chamber. In response to the DEP force: (i) the tail of the at least one viable sperm cell is attracted to the electrode and pulled into proximity to the electrode, and simultaneously (ii) the head is repelled and distanced from the electrode such that a proximity of the tail to an edge of the electrode is greater than a proximity of the head to the edge of the electrode. Other applications are also described.

Collection systems for flow cytometrically sorted samples are provided. Aspects of the collection systems include: a collection container having a sort tube configured to be in droplet receiving relationship with a sort block of a flow cytometer; and a sample output operatively coupling a cell collection location of the collection container to a mating connection for a receiving container, such as an evacuated receiving container. Also provided are methods using the collection systems, as well as assemblies and kits including components of the systems.

Provided is a micro-fluid chip that enables reducing contamination between branch channels, has a relatively simple channel structure and facilitates miniaturization. A micro-fluid chip (1) having a channel structure (3) through which a fluid is delivered, wherein the channel structure (3) includes: a main channel (4) having an inflow port (5) and an outflow port (6); a plurality of branch channels (11) to (13) connected to the main channel (4), each branch channel having an inflow end on a side connected to the main channel (4) and an outflow end that is an end portion on an opposite side to the inflow end; and a sub-branch channel (14) connected to the main channel (4) between at least one pair of adjacent branch channels (11) and (12) among the plurality of branch channels (11) to (13), the sub-branch channel (14) having an inflow end on a side connected to the main channel (4).

An apparatus having a spectrometer and techniques for use thereof for efficient and effective point-of-care diagnostics are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided. The device includes: an intake port; fluidic channels connecting the intake port to a detecting chamber(s), wherein the detecting chamber(s) is configured to permit optical measurements of a fluid sample; a vent leading away from the detecting chamber(s); and a liquid blocker between the detecting chamber(s) and an opening of the vent, wherein the liquid blocker permits air to pass therethrough while at the same time restricting liquid flow. A method for analyzing a fluid sample is also provided. The method includes: introducing the fluid sample to the device; contacting the fluid sample with a reagent(s) prior to the fluid sample entering the detecting chamber(s); and making optical measurements of the fluid sample in the detecting chamber(s).

Embodiments relate to methods and compositions useful for routing and tracking multiple mobile units within a microfluidic device. Mobile units may be routed through a plurality of chemical environments, and the mobile units may be tracked to determine the path and/or environments that the mobile units have routed through. Mobile units may be routed in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. Mobile units may be routed through microfluidic devices in ordered flow. Mobile units routed through the microfluidic device can be used to perform various chemical reactions uniquely associated to the units, including without limitation peptide synthesis, enzymatic gene synthesis and gene assembly.

Digital microfluidic and analyte detection device includes a first substrate and a second substrate aligned generally parallel to each other with a gap defined therebetween in side view. At least one of the first and second substrates has an electrode array configured to generate electrical actuation forces to urge at least one droplet within the gap along the at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrode array has a plurality of electrodes defining an electrode array area in plan view. At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate has a well array defining a well array area in plan view. The well array area is bounded within the electrode array area and overlapping a portion of each of the plurality of electrodes. The well array area overlaps less than 75% of the electrode array area in plan view.

Systems and methods for light based heating of light absorbing sources for modification of nucleic acids through fast thermal cycling of polymerase chain reaction are described.