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.

A microfluidic device for forming droplets includes at least one ferrofluid reservoir disposed in the microfluidic device and containing a ferrofluid therein. The microfluidic device includes a continuous-phase reservoir disposed in the microfluidic device and containing an oil phase therein and one or more microfluidic channels connecting between the at least one ferrofluid reservoir and the continuous-phase reservoir, the continuous-phase reservoir comprising a step region having an increased height as compared to a height of the one or more microfluidic channels. To form droplets an externally applied magnetic field is applied to the device to pull the ferrofluid into the continuous-phase reservoir, whereby droplets are formed at step region.

System for performing a flow-based assay. The system may comprise a droplet generator to produce an emulsion including droplets in a carrier fluid. The system also may comprise a thermocycler including two or more temperature-controlled zones and also including a channel connected to the droplet generator for receiving the emulsion. The channel may form a single-pass continuous fluid route traversing the temperature-controlled zones multiple times, such that droplets passing through the channel are thermally cycled. The system further may comprise a detection station downstream from the thermocycler and configured to detect a signal from the droplets after such droplets have been thermally cycled by passing through the channel.

The invention relates to a device for synthesising oligonucleotides, comprising: a reagent container receptacle (1) for holding a reagent container support (17) comprising multiple reagent containers (18); an exchangeable microfluid chip (10) comprising a synthesis chamber, fluid connectors and microfluid valves; a control device (5); fluid connecting means (2); wherein the device can be loaded with the microfluid chip (10) and the reagent container support (17) when in a loading position; a chip receptacle (3). To allow cost-effective and prompt synthesis even of small amounts of oligonucleotides, the invention provides for an actuator device (6) to be provided, with which the reagent container receptacle (1), the microfluid chip (10) and the fluid connecting means (2) can be brought from the loading position to an operating position, in which operating position the reagent container receptacle (1), the chip receptacle (3) and the fluid connecting means (2) are positioned relative to each other such that reagents can be conveyed out of the reagent containers (18) towards the synthesis chamber (14) depending on the valve position of the microfluid valves.

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of sample chambers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a common fluid source and a plurality of independent, continuous fluidic pathways. Each independent, continuous fluidic pathway comprises a sample chamber and a pneumatic compartment. The sample chamber is connected to the common fluid source, and the pneumatic compartment is connected to the sample chamber. The sample chamber comprises, in part, an assay chamber. The assay chamber comprises a monolithic substrate and a plug having optically transmissive properties. In some embodiments, the assay chamber contains a magnetic mixing element. In some embodiments, the assay chamber is a double tapered chamber. In some embodiments, a ratio of a volume of the sample chamber to a volume of the pneumatic compartment is substantially equivalent for each fluidic pathway of the plurality of fluidic pathways.

Some embodiments of a micro-fluidic device include at least one inlet hole located on an inlet side of the microfluidic device, the inlet hole consisting of a plurality of holes with diameters smaller in size than a diameter of the at least one inlet hole, at least one outlet hole located on an outlet side of the microfluidic device opposite the inlet side; and a micro-channel, where the plurality of holes are connected to the micro-channel.

A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

The disclosure provides a method of manipulating droplets in an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) device. Electro-wetting electrodes of the EWOD device are selectively actuated to: cause first and second droplets in a fluid medium in the fluid chamber of the EWOD device to contact each other to form a droplet interface bilayer, the first droplet containing fluid of a first composition including a first solute species and the second droplet containing fluid of a second composition different to the first composition, maintain the first and second droplets contacting each other to maintain the droplet interface bilayer and thereby allow the first solute species to pass from the first droplet to the second droplet via the DIB; and cause the first droplet to separate from the second droplet. This method aspect results in transfer of solute from the first droplet to the second droplet. This provides a convenient way of altering the concentration of a particular component or components in a fluid droplet within an EWOD device. This allows, for example, an undesired solute species to be extracted from a reaction droplet or the undesired solute species to be diluted in the reaction droplet before the droplet undergoes further reaction steps.

A microfluidic mixer, formed by two parts, a first part being a substrate having formations defining fluid channels on an outer surface that is directed towards a second part, which is a flexible layer. The flexile layer has formations defining a fluid channel which, when the flexible layer is positioned over the substrate so as to cover the fluid channels of the substrate provides a fluid communication path. A section of said communication path comprises at least first and second fluid channels for providing first and second fluids. The first and second fluid channels merge before an inlet of a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber comprises perturbation formations. An outlet of the mixing chamber is connected to an outlet fluid channel. The flexible layer comprises points for compression at the inlet and outlet of the mixing chamber for closing the merged fluid channel. The perturbation formations of the mixing chamber are vertically arranged vertically with respect to an inner surface.

The present invention is directed to methods, compositions and devices useful for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant, including an endotoxin. In embodiments, cartridges are provided that suitably include dried compositions that are useful in absorbance-based assays and in combination with portable readers/devices.