The disclosure relates to devices and methods for analyzing particles in a sample. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for cytometry and additional analysis. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cartridge device and a reader instrument device, wherein the reader instrument device receives, operates, and/or actuates the cartridge device. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of using a device as disclosed herein for analyzing particles in a sample.

Methods for delivering discrete entities including, e.g., cells, media or reagents to substrates are provided. In certain aspects, the methods include manipulating and/or analyzing qualities of the entities or biological components thereof. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to create arrays of microenvironments and/or for two and three-dimensional printing of tissues or structures. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Certain embodiments are directed to a paper hybrid microfluidic microplate. In certain aspects, the hybrid microfluidic microplate is a low-cost, sensitive, and fast diagnostic apparatus for detecting pathogens, diagnosing disease and other bio-applications, especially for low-resource settings.

An apparatus (150) comprises a first detection chamber (130) for receiving microorganisms and configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the first detection chamber (130); a medium (120) configured to permit passage of microorganisms from a sample (110) through the medium (120) into the first detection chamber (130); and at least one second detection chamber (140) configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber (140).

A method for manipulating a microdroplet of a reaction medium in an immiscible carrier medium with a target molecule bound to a solid support for the purposes of effecting a chemical transformation is provided. It is characterised by the steps of (a) bringing the microdroplet into contact with the solid support under conditions where the microdroplet and solid support are caused to combine, (b) allowing the reaction medium to react with the target molecule and (c) thereafter exerting a force to induce the reaction medium to become detached from the solid support and reform a microdroplet in the carrier fluid. In one embodiment the solid support is a particle, bead or the like.

The invention provides a versatile sensing platform for sensing and analysis of biofluids, particularly well-suited for sensing and analysis of sweat. Systems of the invention allows for sensitive and selective detection of a range of analytes in sweat including metabolites, electrolytes and biomarkers. Systems of the invention provide a noninvasive and accurate means for quantitative characterization of important sweat characteristics including sweat volume, sweat loss and sweat rate. Systems of the invention are compatible with materials and device geometries for important class of conformal tissue mounted electronic devices, including epidermal electronic devices.

An apparatus for directing a liquid through a porous medium includes a fluidic module rotatable about a center of rotation and including a fluid chamber and an inflow structure. A porous medium is disposed in the fluid chamber to allow centrifugal force-effected flow of the liquid impinging on a radially inner portion of the porous medium, to a radially outer portion of the porous medium. The porous medium is laterally at least partially spaced apart from chamber walls of the fluid chamber with respect to the flow, so that a fluid connection exists between the radially inner portion of the porous medium and the radially outer portion of the porous medium outside the porous medium. The inflow structure is configured to limit a centrifugal force-effected inflow of the liquid to the radially inner portion of the porous medium to a first flow rate, wherein a ratio of the first flow rate to a maximum possible flow rate through the porous medium is not greater than two.

The present invention describes a whole blood assay chip that enables separation of the cellular compartment from surrounding plasma, facilitating multiplexed measurement of otherwise difficult to detect soluble factors produced upon cellular stimulation. The invention is a microfluidic chip with an incubation chamber comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a fluidic barrier. Using this platform, the cellular compartment can be stimulated with various substances and levels of immunologic biomarkers could be measured. Through a proprietary immunologic algorithm described herein, this would allow for the diagnosis of an allergic response to foods, antibiotics, and/or other drugs. Additional applications of the invention besides allergy testing could include pregnancy testing, blood type, and medical applications requiring whole blood cellular stimulation readouts.

Techniques include a substrate having a microchannel, first and second microchannel branches, and a fork joining the microchannel upstream and the branches downstream. The microchannel passes a continuous stream of droplets, having a first fluid with magnetic particles, separated by a spacer fluid. A picoinjector, disposed along the microchannel, includes both: a supply channel connected to the microchannel by an aperture on a first side of the microchannel; and, a pair of electrodes on an opposite side. The picoinjector injects a volume of a second fluid into a first droplet when the pair of electrodes carries a certain voltage difference. A first magnet introduces a magnetic field into the microchannel between the picoinjector and the fork to move magnetic particles in the first droplet toward the first side of the microchannel before the droplet is split at the fork to produce output droplets of the second fluid with magnetic particles.

A novel microfluidic chip is proposed for performing a chemical or biochemical test in a metered reaction volume. The microfluidic chip has a body which defines an inner flow volume. An inlet has been provided to the body for connecting the inner flow volume to the ambient space. A waste channel forms part of the inner flow volume and is in fluid communication with the inlet. A sample channel also forms part of the inner flow volume and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The sample channel includes a first hydrophobic stop and a second hydrophobic stop at a distance from the first hydrophobic stop so as to provide a metered reaction volume there between. An expelling channel is in fluid communication with the metered reaction volume of the sample channel through the first hydrophobic stop. A sample reservoir is in fluid communication with the metered reaction volume of the sample channel through the second hydrophobic stop.