Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines.

Microfluidic devices, systems and methods are described herein. The devices, systems and methods provide for trapping particles, including cells. Methods of generating a droplet in a microfluidic device and collecting droplets from microfluidic devices are also disclosed herein.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor. The assembly, pneumatic system, and control unit operate together to prepare the sample and provide the prepared sample to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also process measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

An in vitro diagnostic analyzer and a reagent card. The reagent card includes a reagent card body and a mounting body. The mounting body includes a mounting hole configured to be sleeved on receive a sample tube, a hollow needle disposed in the mounting hole, a sealing portion disposed in the mounting hole, and a gas inlet channel. An end of the hollow needle is capable of being inserted into the sample tube. The sealing portion is capable of being in sealing fit with an outer wall of the sample tube. The gas inlet channel includes a gas outlet hole, a gas inlet hole, and a first flow-stopping structure. The gas inlet hole is disposed in a surface of the reagent card body. The first flow-stopping structure is disposed between the gas outlet hole and the gas inlet hole. The gas outlet hole is configured to be in fluid communication with the sample tube mounted on the mounting hole. The reagent card body includes a sample feeding channel, a test chamber, and a venting end. The sample feeding channel is in fluid communication with a liquid outlet end of the hollow needle. The sample feeding channel and the venting end are both in fluid communication with the test chamber

Modular active surface devices for microfluidic systems and methods of making same is disclosed. In one example, the modular active surface device includes an active surface layer mounted atop an active surface substrate, a mask mounted atop the active surface layer wherein the mask defines the area, height, and volume of the reaction chamber, and a substrate mounted atop the mask wherein the substrate provides the facing surface to the active surface layer. In other examples, both facing surfaces of the reaction chamber include active surface layers. Further, the modular active surface device can include other layers, such as, but not limited to, adhesive layers, stiffening layers for facilitating handling, and peel-off sealing layers. Further, a large-scale manufacturing method is provided of mass-producing the modular active surface devices. Further, a method is provided of using a plasma bonding process to bond the active surface layer to the active surface substrate.

Spectrophotometric measurements on highly absorbing turbid samples face technical challenges that can be solved by reducing a path length of an optical chamber used during measurement. Reducing the path length requires exceptional control of variables that may be difficult to achieve in unit-use and inexpensive cuvettes. The invention provides a precise inexpensive method for producing an optical cavity useful in making spectrophotometric measurements on high attenuation liquid samples. Two components are shaped such that, when in contact, a central optical chamber and peripheral groove are formed. Liquid adhesive dispensed into the groove wicks around the interface perimeter, sealing the components together when cured. This results in a short precisely controlled path length that reduces chances of mechanical induced distortions (that arise with other bonding methods). The invention provides for manufacturing of a consistent optical chamber with very short path length within a diagnostic cartridge or cuvette.

The application relates to microfluidic apparatus and methods of use thereof. Provided in one example is a microfluidic device comprising: a first fluidic input and a second fluidic input; and a fluidic intersection channel to receive fluid from the first fluidic input and the second fluidic input, wherein the fluidic intersection channel opens into a first mixing chamber on an upper region of a first side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the first mixing chamber has a length, a width, and a depth, wherein the depth is greater than about 1.5 times a depth of the fluidic intersection channel; an outlet channel on an upper region of a second side of the first mixing chamber, wherein the outlet channel has a depth that is less than the depth of the first mixing chamber, and wherein an opening of the outlet channel is offset along a width of the second side of the first mixing chamber relative to the fluidic intersection.

Provided are a method and a device for encapsulating a cell in droplet for single-cell analysis, or a method and a device for forming droplet for single-cell analysis. According to the method and the device of one aspect, by using the effects of inertial ordering, not only a ratio at which one cell is encapsulated in one droplet is increased, but also a yield of generating droplet is improved.

A microfluidic chip comprises: a first unit which has a channel for a cell sample to pass through and is configured to separate circulating tumor cells in the cell sample; a second unit, a front end of which communicates with a tail end of the first unit, and the second unit is configured to capture single cells from the separated circulating tumor cells and subject the captured single cells to closed lysis; and a gel layer which is provided at the second unit. The microfluidic chip is configured to implement the binding of a protein molecule of the single cell with an antibody in the gel layer after the single cell is lysed. A cell separation and western blotting method using the microfluidic chip comprises: lysing circulating tumor cells, capturing, and implementing the binding of a lysate with an antibody. A manufacture method of the microfluidic chip, comprises: manufacturing a first interlayer and a separation unit; manufacturing a second interlayer and pasting the second interlayer on a basal layer, and manufacturing a single-cell capture unit; and bonding the first interlayer with the separation unit and the second interlayer with the single-cell capture unit.

There is provided a method of forming a thin film-based microfluidic electronic device. The method includes: providing a first elastomeric thin film layer on a substrate; depositing a first elastomer on the first elastomeric thin film by direct ink writing to form an elastomeric structure configured to define a microfluidic channel on the first elastomeric thin film layer; providing a second elastomeric thin film layer over the elastomeric structure to cover the microfluidic channel; providing a sacrificial layer on the second elastomeric thin film; depositing liquid metal into the microfluidic channel to form a conductor in the microfluidic channel; and electrically connecting the conductor to an electronic component. The thin film-based microfluidic electronic device is a tissue or skin adhesive sensor including a skin adhesive acoustic device.