The present disclosure relates to a mechanism for fluidic sealing of a reaction cartridge in a reaction system using a single linear actuator. A single motion provided by the linear actuator is used to establish leak-resistant fluid communication between the reaction cartridge and two independent fluidic channels. The dual-sealing assembly described herein enables the use of fewer parts and a simpler control unit. The use of fewer parts and simpler control system allow for a very compact sealing mechanism and could also increase reliability, will be easier to manufacture as it will require less manufacturing testing and calibration, and is more tolerant of variance in the part being sealed (the reaction cartridge). In some embodiments, the reaction cartridge comprises a solid support matrix and a reaction reagent attached to the solid support matrix, and the reaction system is used for treating macromolecules, such as polypeptides, for sequencing and/or analysis.

A system and method for receiving and delivering a fluid, the system comprising: a body configured to interface with an opening of a reservoir and defining: a protrusion defining a set position of the body relative to the reservoir; a wall extending from the protrusion; a receiving surface coupled to the wall and sloping from an apex to a nadir along a first direction, the receiving surface comprising a vent; and an outlet positioned closer to the nadir than the apex of the receiving surface and displaced from the vent, the outlet comprising an extension from the body, the extension configured to contact an interior wall of the reservoir, wherein the body comprises: a bubble-mitigating operation mode in which the receiving surface receives and transmits the fluid along the receiving surface, and a fluid-transmitting operation mode in which the body directs the fluid along the interior wall of the reservoir.

A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.

A system and method for receiving and delivering a fluid, the system comprising: a body configured to interface with an opening of a reservoir and defining: a protrusion defining a set position of the body relative to the reservoir; a wall extending from the protrusion; a receiving surface coupled to the wall and sloping from an apex to a nadir along a first direction, the receiving surface comprising a vent; and an outlet positioned closer to the nadir than the apex of the receiving surface and displaced from the vent, the outlet comprising an extension from the body, the extension configured to contact an interior wall of the reservoir, wherein the body comprises: a bubble-mitigating operation mode in which the receiving surface receives and transmits the fluid along the receiving surface, and a fluid-transmitting operation mode in which the body directs the fluid along the interior wall of the reservoir.

The invention relates to a substrate for testing samples, in particular cells or molecules, wherein the substrate comprises a fluid system comprising a sample chamber configured in the substrate for storing and testing samples and at least one liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the sample chamber, and wherein the substrate comprises a passive blocking element capable of assuming a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position a fluid exchange between the sample chamber and the liquid reservoir is blocked.

The present invention provides systems and methods for rapid screening of individuals who may have been exposed to and carrying biological agents potentially contagious or otherwise harmful to the general public.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a microfluidic platform composed of a droplet generator having an entry point for donor particles and target particles, a first droplet incubation chamber in fluid communication with the droplet generator, a droplet detection functionality to allow for analysis of the inner content of droplets, and a droplet sorting functionality to allow for the separation of droplets based on the analysis of the inner content of droplets. In another embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method for cell-to-cell DNA, RNA, or other genetic material transfer through use of a water-in-oil emulsion microdroplet-based microfluidic platform for automation and high throughput identification or screening of genetic transfer outcomes utilizing the microfluidic platforms as disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for the arrangement of droplets in pre-determined locations. Many applications require the collection of time-resolved data. Examples include the screening of cells based on their growth characteristics or the observation of enzymatic reactions. The present invention provides a tool and related techniques which addresses this need, and which can be used in many other situations. The invention provides, in one aspect, a tool that allows for stable storage and indexing of individual droplets. The invention can interface not only with microfluidic/microscale equipment, but with macroscopic equipment to allow for the easy injection of liquids and extraction of sample droplets, etc.

A module for processing fluids includes one or more collapsible fluid chambers supported on a substrate, a compression element supported on the substrate and configured to be movable with respect to the one or more chambers, and an actuating element coupled to the compression element and configured to effect movement of the compression element relative to the one or more fluid chambers to collapse each fluid chamber by compressing the fluid chamber between the compression element and the substrate as the compression element moves over the fluid chamber. A method for motivating a fluid out of a fluid chamber comprises the steps of providing a module that includes one or more collapsible fluid chambers supported on a substrate, a compression element supported on the substrate and configured to be movable with respect to the one or more chambers, and an actuating element coupled to the compression element and configured to effect movement of the compression element relative to the one or more fluid chambers and moving the actuator element to move the compression element across at least a portion of t substrate and compress the fluid chamber, thereby motivating the fluid out of the fluid chamber.

A microfluidic device for detection of an analyte in a fluid is described. The microfluidic device comprises a substrate having a first surface defining entrances to one or more chambers defined in the substrate, surfaces of the chambers defining a second surface of the substrate, the first surface being modified for selective targeting and capture of at least one analyte to operably effect a blocking of the entrance to at least one of the chambers, and wherein a response characteristic of the microfluidic device is operably varied by the blocking of the entrance to the at least one of the chambers, thereby providing an indication of the presence of the analyte within the fluid.