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.

An apparatus for collecting liquid fractions from a separation/reaction apparatus (1). A capillary (2) guides an extracted liquid fraction to a branching unit (3), a collection arrangement (4) carries a plurality of target vessels (5) receiving the liquid fraction from the capillary and a fluid line (6) is flow-connected to a fluid pump (7) and opens into the branching unit. The capillary and the fluid line each have outlet openings in the direct vicinity of one another at their end facing a target vessel such that liquid emerging from the outlet opening (2′) of the capillary transitions into the outlet opening (6′) of the fluid line. This precludes back mixing with earlier/later liquid fractions, precludes uncontrolled dripping of sample substance at the transfer point, speeds displacement of the target vessels in the collection arrangement, facilitates automation of the fraction processing procedure, and results in a more compact fraction collection apparatus.

An apparatus, vortex generator assembly and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and processing. The vortex generator assembly includes sample holder having a lysis well, at least one wash well, and an elution well. The vortex generator assembly also includes a sample holder cover having a plurality of vibration rods for creating a vortex in the wells of the sample holder. The apparatus includes motor operating a rotating cam to cause the vibration rods to vibrate and create the vortex in a well holding fluid and magnetic beads, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA.

A substrate for sample analysis including: a substrate including a rotation axis; a first chamber, which includes a first space which retains the liquid; a second chamber, which includes a second space which retains the liquid discharged from the first chamber; and a first flow passage, which includes a path connecting the first chamber and the second chamber in which the first flow passage has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening are connected to the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, and the first opening is positioned on a side closer to the rotation axis than the second opening, in which the first space includes a first region, which includes a portion extending from the first opening and in which the first space of the first chamber has a capacity larger than a capacity of the first flow passage.

An embodiment for a microfluidic device is provided. The device comprises two areas, arranged side-by-side, and a trigger channel. They include a first area, which is delimited by a first liquid pinning barrier, and a second area, which is delimited by a second liquid pinning barrier. The latter extends parallel to the first liquid pinning barrier to delimit a corridor. The trigger channel extends through the corridor between the two areas. In addition, the trigger channel connects the first liquid pinning barrier with the second liquid pinning barrier, allowing a first liquid pinned at the first liquid pinning barrier and a second liquid pinned at the second liquid pinning barrier to be contacted, each, by a reverse flow of the second liquid in the trigger channel and thereby start mixing at a level of the corridor, in operation. The invention is further directed to related methods of operation.

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

A fluid sampler includes: a sample cell that includes: a substrate comprising: a first port; a second port in fluid communication with the first port; a viewing reservoir in fluid communication with the first port and the second port and that receives the fluid from the first port and communicates the fluid to the second port, the viewing reservoir including: a first view membrane; a second view membrane; and a pillar interposed between the first view membrane and second view membrane, the pillar separating the first view membrane from the second view membrane at a substantially constant separation distance such that a volume of the viewing reservoir is substantially constant and invariable with respect to a temperature and invariable with respect to a pressure to which the sample cell is subjected.

An apparatus and method for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple preparation and assay steps. The apparatus and methods described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of diagnostic assays. The apparatus includes mechanical actuating elements using linear and/or rotational motion.

A system for performing avidity-based screening includes a microfluidic circuit that has an inlet designed to receive target cells and CAR-T cells that bind to the target cells. A light source illuminates a portion of the microfluidic circuit that includes the CAR-T cells such that photoacoustic pressure is applied to the CAR-T cells. An imaging sensor captures images of the CAR-T cells. A processor is configured to analyze the images to determine if a CAR-T cell has detached from a target cell. Responsive to a determination that the CAR-T cell has detached, the processor records an amount of the photoacoustic pressure applied to the CAR-T cell. A desired avidity is determined based on a photoacoustic force spectrum, which is based on a plurality of photoacoustic pressures applied to a plurality of detached CAR-T cells. The processor also extracts one or more CAR-T cells that exhibit the desired avidity.

The present disclosure relates to fluidic systems and devices for processing, extracting, or purifying one or more analytes. These systems and devices can be used for processing samples and extracting nucleic acids, for example by isotachophoresis. In particular, the systems and related methods can allow for extraction of nucleic acids, including non-crosslinked nucleic acids, from samples such as tissue or cells. The systems and devices can also be used for multiplex parallel sample processing.