A PCR amplification and product detection system is disclosed. The system utilizes a uniform and direct photonic heating subsystem to mediate reaction-by-reaction, high-throughput PCR amplification detectable by a fluorescence detection subsystem. Reaction-by-reaction temperature monitoring for dynamic feedback heat regulation is also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using the same.

A system for preparing samples for chemical analysis comprises at least one sample container, and a container receptacle apparatus for receiving the sample container. The sample container comprises an elongate tubular body having a crucible portion proximal to a closed end for receiving a sample therein, and an expansion portion proximal to an open end. The container receptacle apparatus comprising a housing having a heating compartment, a cooling compartment spaced apart from the heating compartment, and an insulating region located between the heating compartment and the cooling compartment. The heating compartment is shaped to receive the crucible portion of the sample container, and the cooling compartment is shaped to receive the expansion portion of the sample container. The apparatus also includes a heating mechanism for heating the sample within the crucible portion of the sample container, and a cooling mechanism for cooling the expansion portion of the sample container.

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.

The object of the invention is a method of detecting genetic material in a biological sample in which the biological sample is loaded into the reaction cartridge (6) and then the reaction cartridge (6) is placed in the control device, the collected biological sample is taken to the isolation chamber (7), isolation of biological material from the tested sample by heating the isolation chamber (7), the isolated genetic material is moved into a plurality of reaction chambers (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4), genetic material is amplified by heating the reaction chambers (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4), lyophilized reagents for genetic material amplification together with lyophilized fluorescent tag intercalating with genetic material are present in the reaction chambers (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4), and signal detection from fluorescent tags is carried out along with the genetic material amplification stage.

The present invention relates generally to a system and a method for thermo-optical measurements in a droplet of aqueous solution comprising particles of interest, the method comprising the following steps: providing the droplet of aqueous solution with a volume of less than 200 nl, wherein the aqueous solution is a first liquid and at least a part of the particles of interest are fluorescent particles; embedding the droplet of aqueous solution at least partly in a second liquid; irradiating a laser light beam into the droplet to obtain a spatial temperature distribution in the droplet around the irradiated laser light beam; exciting fluorescently said fluorescent particles and detecting fluorescence at least at one position or at around one position in the droplet or detecting the fluorescence distribution of said fluorescently excited particles, wherein said detection of fluorescence is performed at least once at a predetermined time after the start of the laser irradiation; and determining a characteristic of the particles of interest from the detected fluorescence intensity or fluorescence intensity distribution.

A microfluidic cartridge can include at least one nucleic acid analysis portion. Each nucleic acid analysis portion can include a fluidic network being configured for micro-liter volumes or less, a sample input at the beginning of the fluidic network, a plurality of vent ports and fluidic channels in the fluidic network configured to effectuate hydrodynamic movement within the fluidic network, an extraction mixture reservoir in the fluidic network, a mixing chamber in the fluidic network, an amplification chamber in the fluidic network, and a separation channel in the fluidic network. A nucleic acid analyzer can be capable of performing nucleic acid analysis using the microfluidic cartridge. A nucleic acid analysis method can be performed using the microfluidic cartridge.

A method for the amplification of nucleic acids, in which nanoparticles in a reaction volume transfer heat to their environment through excitation. The method comprises a step of providing nanoparticles with the nucleic acids in a reaction volume and one or more heating steps. In at least one of the heating steps, the heating is achieved at least partially through the excitation of the nanoparticles. The interval of the excitation is chose to be shorter or equal to a critical excitation time.

A droplet detection system comprises a first channel in fluid communication with a carrier fluid reservoir and a second channel in fluid communication with a sample reservoir. The first channel and second channel can meet at an intersection. The sample reservoir can include a sample or partition thereof. During use, an emulsion comprising one or more droplets can be generated at the intersection. The emulsion flows from the intersection along a detection channel to a collection reservoir. A detection assembly that is coupled to at least a portion of the detection channel is configured to detect a signal from the one or more droplets. An energy providing member can be in thermal communication with at least one of the carrier fluid reservoir, the sample reservoir, the intersection, the detection channel and the detection assembly. The energy providing member is configured to transfer energy to the emulsion.

Provided is a microfluidic chip, which comprises a substrate and a cover sheet, wherein a microreactor array is arranged on the substrate and comprises at least one main channel (401) and at least two micro cells (402) connected to the main channel (401). The microfluidic chip also comprises at least one local temperature control device, which is used for heating the main channel (401) or cooling the micro cells (402). The use of the microfluidic chip ensures uniformity and independency of the micro cells (402). Also provided is an application of the microfluidic chip in biological detection or medical inspection.

A method and device for adjusting the temperature of a sample by heating a substrate with a laser diode light; said light projected on to the substrate to absorb the light and convert the light energy to a heat energy thereby raising the temperature of the substrate corresponding to the intensity of the light energy, the substrate configured to transfer the thermal energy substantially homogenously to the sample. The device or method suitable for amplification of a nucleic acid sample.