The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic device and a method allowing the generating and screening of combinatorial samples. A microfluidic device for producing droplets of at least one sample into an immiscible phase is provided, the device comprising a droplet maker connecting an immiscible phase channel and a sample channel having at least one sample inlet connected to at least one sample inlet channel injecting the at least one sample into the sample channel, wherein the injection of the at least one sample is controlled by at least one sample valve, so that the at least one sample flows either towards a sample waste outlet or into the at least one sample inlet channel, wherein different sample inlet channel of the at least one sample inlet channel have the same hydrodynamic resistance resulting from the length, height and width of each sample inlet channel upstream of the droplet maker.

A device for handling a particle suspension, in particular a cell suspension, which includes at least one channel for flowing the particle suspension, a pumping unit configured to move a driving fluid and control element for controlling the pumping unit. Also, a method for handling a particle suspension, which includes flowing the particle suspension in or out of at least one channel using a driving fluid for driving the particle suspension in the channel.

Analyte collection and testing systems and methods, and more particularly to testing systems and methods that achieve significant improvements in the detection of fluorescence signals in the reader by modulating the applied optical excitation. Also described herein are optical detection apparatuses and methods for removable photonic chips that do not require translation for calibration when coupling the photonics chip with the sensing system. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for accurately calibrating a dilution factor when reading from a photonics chip.

Examples herein involve amplification and detection of nucleic acids using a microfluidic reaction chamber. An example apparatus includes a reaction-chamber circuit to process a reagent and a biologic sample for amplification of nucleic acids. The apparatus further includes a plurality of capillaries to pass the reagent and the biologic sample through the microfluidic reaction chamber. A valve control system may selectively control each of a plurality of valves to cause the reagent and the biologic sample to selectively move through the microfluidic reaction chamber for the amplification of the nucleic acids according to a particular timing sequence. In various examples, a trapping region disposed in the microfluidic reaction chamber secures the nucleic acids in the microfluidic reaction chamber for amplification using the reaction-chamber circuit

A fluidic system that includes a reagent manifold comprising a plurality of channels configured for fluid communication between a reagent cartridge and an inlet of a flow cell; a plurality of reagent sippers extending downward from ports in the manifold, each of the reagent sippers configured to be placed into a reagent reservoir in a reagent cartridge so that liquid reagent can be drawn from the reagent reservoir into the sipper; at least one valve configured to mediate fluid communication between the reservoirs and the inlet of the flow cell. The reagent manifold can also include cache reservoirs for reagent re-use.

Disclosed herein are microfluidic devices and methods to deliver concentration gradients to biological material such as oocytes and embryos for the purpose of cryopreparation, cryopreservation, or thawing. Cryopreservation methods, such as vitrification, involve the use of cryoprotectants to reduce formation of damaging ice crystals in cells during freezing. Microfluidic devices and methods described herein improve cell viability and efficiency during handling and cryopreservation of biological materials.

The present invention provides self-contained systems, apparatus and methods for determining a chemical state, the system includes a stationary cartridge for performing the assay therein, the cartridge adapted to house at least one reagent adapted to react with a sample; and at least one reporter functionality adapted to report a reaction of the at least one reagent with the sample to report a result of the assay, a mechanical controller including a first urging means adapted to apply a force externally onto the cartridge to release the at least one reagent; and at least one second urging means adapted to apply a removable force to induce fluidic movement in a first direction in the cartridge and upon removal of the force causing fluidic movement in an opposite direction to the first direction, an optical reader adapted to detect the reaction and a processor adapted to receive data from the optical reader and to process the data to determine said chemical state.

A mini-fluidics cassette, for detection of at least one analyte in a sample, comprising, at least one sample inlet port, at least one reagent inlet port, at least one outlet port, at least one channel extending between said at least one sample inlet port and said at least one outlet port, at least one insertion port for a fiber optic cable light source, at least one insertion port for a fiber optic cable spectrophotometer distant said at least one insertion port for a fiber optic cable light source, wherein said at least one insertion port for a fiber optic cable light source and said at least one insertion port for a fiber optic cable spectrophotometer forms part of the at least one channel, and is proximate said at least one outlet port and forms at least one reading cell/path length for light from said fiber optic cable light source to said fiber optic cable spectrophotometer port.

An apparatus with a self-contained, tunable, microfluidic pumping system that utilizes the high air permeability of the matrix material to actuate fluid flow in a network of fluidic microchannels and microstructures is provided. The pumping relies upon partial evacuation of degas/vacuum channels that are located next to the fluid channels to degas air from the fluid channels or structures producing a reduction of pressure in the fluidic channel leading to the flow of fluid from an inlet at atmospheric pressure through the device. The solution is isolated from the pumping apparatus since the liquid does not pass through the diffusion barriers. The apparatus and method can also provide bubble-free microfluidic pumping, without any auxiliary equipment or device pre-treatment, and can fill dead-end channels and chambers, providing a powerful liquid handling tool for a broad range of applications.

A flow cell having at least one reservoir region containing a liquid reagent. The reservoir region is delimited by a carrier element introduced into an opening in the flow cell together with the reagent, wherein the carrier element seals off the reservoir region from the outside in a fluid-tight manner, and has a vessel and/or capillary structure holding the liquid reagent on the carrier element.