Various apparatus, systems, and methods for measuring a solution characteristic of a sample comprising microorganisms are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor apparatus is disclosed comprising a sample container comprising a sample chamber configured to receive the sample and a reference sensor component comprising a reference conduit having a reference conduit cavity defined therein. The reference conduit cavity can be at least partially filled with a reference buffer gel, buffer solution, or wicking component. A segment of the reference conduit can extend into the sample chamber. A reference electrode material can be positioned at a proximal end of the wicking component or extend partially into the reference conduit cavity. The sensor apparatus can also comprise an active sensor component having an active electrode in fluid contact with the sample. The sample in the sample chamber can be aerated through an aeration port defined along a surface of the sample container.

An electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic device comprises at least one integrated electrochemical sensor, the electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode; a sensing electrode; and an analyte-selective layer positioned over the sensing electrode. In some embodiments, the electrochemical sensor measures a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample exposed to the electrochemical sensor based on a potential difference between the reference electrode and the sensing electrode. The first analyte and the second analyte can be selected from a group consisting of K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Cl.sup.−, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, Mg.sup.2+, H.sup.+, Ba.sup.2+, Pb.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, I.sup.−, NH4.sup.+, (SO4).sup.2−.

A perfusion manifold assembly is described that allows for perfusion of a microfluidic device, such as an organ on a chip microfluidic device comprising cells that mimic cells in an organ in the body, that is detachably linked with said assembly so that fluid enters ports of the microfluidic device from a fluid reservoir, optionally without tubing, at a controllable flow rate.

A culture module is contemplated that allows the perfusion and optionally mechanical actuation of one or more microfluidic devices, such as organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices comprising cells that mimic at least one function of an organ in the body.

A radiosynthesis system is disclosed that leverages droplet microfluidic radiosynthesis and its inherent advantages including reduction of reagent consumption and the ability to achieve high molar activity even when using low starting radioactivity. The radiosynthesis system enables the parallel synthesis of radiolabeled compounds using droplet-sized reaction volumes. In some embodiments, a single heater is used to create multiple reaction or synthesis sites. In other embodiments, separate heaters are used to create independently-controlled heating conditions at the multiple reaction or synthesis sites. In one embodiment, a four-heater setup was developed that utilizes a multi-reaction microfluidic chip and was assessed for the suitability with high-throughput radiosynthesis optimization. Replicates of several radiochemical operations including the full synthesis of various PET tracers revealed the platform to have high repeatability (e.g., consistent fluorination efficiency). The system may also be used for synthesis optimization.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a first switch and a second switch; wherein the first switch is configured to apply a drive signal to a first electrode when the first switch receives a control signal; wherein the second switch is configured to electrically isolate the first electrode from a second electrode when the second switch receives the control signal; wherein the second switch is configured to short-circuit the first electrode to the second electrode when the second switch does not receive the control signal; wherein the first electrode and the second electrode face each other and are separated by a gap configured to accommodate a liquid droplet.

A detection chip, a method for manufacturing a detection chip, a method for operating a detection chip, and a reaction system are disclosed. The detection chip includes a first substrate, a micro-cavity definition layer, and a heating electrode. The micro-cavity definition layer defines a plurality of micro-reaction chambers. The heating electrode is configured to release heat after being energized. The heating electrode includes a first electrode portion and at least one second electrode portion. Orthographic projections of the plurality of micro-reaction chambers on the first substrate are within an orthographic projection of the first electrode portion on the first substrate, the orthographic projections of the plurality of micro-reaction chambers on the first substrate do not overlap with an orthographic projection of the second electrode portion on the first substrate, and a resistance value of the first electrode portion is greater than a resistance value of the second electrode portion.

In a method for producing a compound of at least two polymer substrates, two polymer substrates each having a connecting surface are provided. At least one of the polymer substrates is coated with a self-assembling polypeptide, at least in the area of the connecting surface. The two polymer substrates are connected by pressing together the connecting surfaces under pressure and at a temperature corresponding to at least the glass transition temperature of the material of one of the polymer substrates at the connecting surface, wherein a diffusion of polymer chains takes place between the connecting surfaces by the self-assembling polypeptide and a solid connection is formed between the two connecting surfaces. A sealed microfluidic cartridge includes a polymer cartridge and a sealing film connected by such a method.

Provided is a digital microfluidic device for quick polymerase chain reaction. The digital microfluidic device includes an enclosed chamber for holding droplets comprising PCR mixtures. The chamber has an upper layer and a lower layer, which provide a top heater and a bottom heater contained in a thermal electrode respectively to form dual heaters. The lower layer further has an array of electrodes and a dielectric layer, e.g. Norland Optical adhesive 61, coating thereon. Such arrangement of the digital microfluidic device allows quick and homogeneous heating of droplets to lower the heating voltage, shorten the reaction time, and prevent the dielectric layer from breakdown during the thermal cycle.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for performing a process on biological samples. An analysis of biological samples in multiple regions of interest in a microfluidic device and a timeline correlated with the analysis may be identified. One or more region-of-interest types for the multiple regions of interest may be determined; and multiple characteristics may be determined for the biological samples based at least in part upon the one or more region-of-interest types. Associated data that respectively correspond to the multiple regions of interest in a user interface for at least a portion of the biological samples in the user interface based at least in part upon the multiple identifiers and the timeline. A count of the biological samples in a region of interest may be determined based at least in part upon a class or type of data using a convolutional neural network (CNN).

A low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid. One low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the low of fluid includes a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.