The invention relates to systems and methods including a combination of thermal generating device technologies to achieve more efficiency and accuracy in PCR temperature cycling of nucleic samples undergoing amplification.

A device for performing biological sample reactions may include a plurality of flow cells configured to be mounted to a common microscope translation stage, wherein each flow cell is configured to receive at least one sample holder containing biological sample. Each flow cell also may be configured to be selectively placed in an open position for positioning the at least one sample holder into the flow cell and a closed position for reacting biological sample contained in the at least one sample holder. The plurality of flow cells may be configured to be selectively placed in the open position and the closed position independently of each other.

The disclosure provides a device and method for rapidly changing temperatures of a sample. An example of the device include: a first plate; a second plate; and a heating/cooling layer disposed on either the first or second plate. The first plate and the second plate face each other and are configured to receive a fluid sample sandwiched therebetween. The method includes depositing the fluid sample on one or both of the two plates, pressing the plates to form a thin layer of the sample, and changing and/or maintaining the temperature of the sample. The device or method can be used in, for example, PCR.

A heater for a microfluidic test card is disclosed herein. In a general example embodiment, a test card for analyzing a fluid sample includes at least one substrate layer including a microchannel extending through at least a portion of one of the substrate layers, and a printed substrate layer that is bonded to or printed on one substrate layer of the at least one substrate layer. The printed substrate layer includes a heater printed on the printed substrate layer so as to align with at least a portion of the microchannel. The heater includes two electrodes aligned on opposite sides of the microchannel, and a plurality of heater bars electrically connecting the two electrodes. The plurality of heater bars includes a central heater bar disposed between outer heater bars.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for conducting an assay, wherein the apparatus comprises a turntable (1) for receiving an assay disc (100) and to control an assay on said assay disc by rotational movement of said turntable, wherein said turntable comprises: one or more heater modules (4) to apply heat to one or more specific parts of said assay disc during rotation; a heater controller (54) to select a required heater and to control the temperature thereof, and an IR transceiver (30, 55) to allow instructions and/or heating parameters to be transferred to the heater controller wirelessly. More specifically, the present invention discloses, an apparatus for conducting an assay, wherein the heating location and rate of heating/cooling at a particular location on the assay disc may be controlled.

A single molecule/single cell detection chip, including: a micropore array, comprising multiple micropore arrays for dividing the test solution into test target droplets; a detection IC circuit, located below the micropore array, including: a detection unit: comprising multiple detection subunits set one-to-one correspondence with multiple micropores, multiple detection subunits connected to a main control unit for measuring the fluorescence intensity of target nucleic acid/protein molecule/cell, and sending the raw measurement results to the main control unit; Main control unit: used for power management, controls the detection unit through row and column selection, receiving raw results, and generating final detection results based on the raw measurement results. This present application integrates the functions of target droplet generation, arraying, nucleic acid/protein molecule/cell detection, photoelectric detection, and data processing through the detection chip. It simplifies the overall structure of the chip, improves reaction speed and detection performance, and enhances chip stability.

A microfluidic device, for use in separation systems, includes a substrate having a fluidic channel. One or more heaters made of a thick film material are integrated with the substrate and in thermal communication with the fluidic channel of the substrate. The one or more heaters produce a thermal gradient within the fluidic channel in response to a current flowing through the one or more heaters. A plurality of electrically conductive taps can be in electrically conductive contact with the one or more heaters. The plurality of electrically conductive taps provides an electrically conductive path to the one or more heaters by which an electrical supply can produce the current flowing through the one or more heaters. Alternatively, the thick film material can be ferromagnetic, and the electrical supply can use induction to cause the current to flow through the one or more heaters.

A flow control and processing cartridge used in a nucleic acid analysis apparatus includes a cartridge body and a reaction chip. The cartridge body includes plural chambers for storing at least one sample and plural biochemical reagents and buffers, and plural channels connected with the plural chambers. The reaction chip is in conjunction with the cartridge body and includes plural detection wells, at least one main fluid channel connected with the detection wells and adapted to dispense the sample into the detection wells, and at least one gas releasing channel connected with the detection wells and adapted to release gas from the detection wells.

There is provided plate equipped with a mechanism to facilitate determination of the amount of a fluid added to or removed from a well in the plate. Other embodiments are also described.

A device and system for changing the temperature of a fluidic sample includes a first plate and a second plate movable relative to each other into an open configuration and a closed configuration, and spacers having a uniform height. The plates include a sample contact area for contacting the sample and have a configuration for changing the temperature of the sample. In the open configuration the plates are separated, and the sample is capable of being deposited onto the plates. In the closed configuration, the plates are parallel, the plates compress the sample into a layer of uniform thickness that is stagnant relative to the plates, the layer is confined by the sample contact areas of the plates and is regulated by the plates and the spacers, and the plates are configured to change the temperature of the sample at a rate of at least 10 C./sec.