A centrifuge unit for a microfluidic device for processing liquid samples includes a centrifuge cup and at least one centripetal force-dependent valve function.

A centrifugal reaction microtube, centrifugal reaction device and its centrifugal examination method are provided to achieve easy, quick operation, safety, energy saving, precision, cost effectiveness, and prevention of contamination by controlling a centrifugal force and using a uni-directional valve in the centrifugal reaction microtube.

A detection cassette for detecting a sample is provided. The sample includes a first component and a second component. The detection cassette includes a sample injection hole, first and second separation tanks communicated with the sample injection hole, and first and second detection tanks communicated with the first and second separation tanks. A part of the sample enters the first separation tank from the sample injection hole and separated into the first component and the second component in the first separation tank. Another part of the sample enters the second separation tank from the sample injection hole and separated into the first component and the second component in the second separation tank. The first component separated in the first separation tank flows to the first detection tank and the second component separated in the second separation tank flows to the second detection tank for detections. A detection system is provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, systems and devices, for precise and reduced spot-size capabilities using a laser to alter surfaces without chemical treatment, chemical waste, or chemical residues is provided for microfluidic systems (e.g., lab-on-a-disk, for example). In some embodiments, hydrophobic and super-hydrophilic areas can be created on surfaces in the same material at different areas and positions merely by using different laser settings (e.g., spot size, wavelength, spacing, and/or pulse duration). Accordingly, capillary forces that are a recurrent issue in a microfluidic devices (e.g., a centrifugal microfluidic disk) can be controlled for practical applications, including, for example when users handle the disks and insert a sample, the moment the substrate/device (e.g., disk) is placed in a system (e.g., a centrifugal system), capillary forces can take place and move the fluids, which becomes a problem for sequential bioassays taking place in substrate/device (e.g., disk). Thus, in some embodiments, the systems, devices and methods increase fluid control in microfluidic devices.

Provided are methods and apparatuses for controlling a position of a target point on a processing result relative to a focus point of a focusing sensor system for determining properties of the processing result. The method includes the steps of determining an initial focus point of the focusing sensor system, controlling rotation of the cartridge and disc, checking whether the initial focus point of the focusing sensor system corresponds to the target point on the processing result, comparing (x, y) target positions in captured images with the initial focus point of the focusing sensor system, adjusting rotation of the cartridge and disc such that the focus point of the focusing sensor system corresponds to the target point on the processing result, and detecting and examining signals received from the focusing sensor system for determining properties of the processing result.

The present disclosure pertains to sample preparation devices useful for affinity capture and purification that include one or more internal structures that comprise a reservoir, a well, a fluid passageway, sorbent particles, and a filter element that blocks passage of the affinity sorbent particles, which sample preparation devices combine the attributes of both dispersive and flow through designs into a single sample preparation device. The present disclosure also pertains to kits that contain and methods that use such sample preparation devices.

Microfluidic devices that are configured to use centrifugal forces to bias particles into one or more capture regions based on their individual sizes are described.

A method for rapid isolation of a biological compound (e.g. protein) from an aqueous sample is described herein. The method uses a porous hydrophobic membrane that has an average pore size significantly greater than the size of the biological compound. The method permits the biological compound to attach to the membrane while the aqueous solvent rapidly moves through the membrane under the application of a vacuum. The biological compound that is attached to the membrane can be washed, optionally digested, and eluted for analysis.

The invention relates to a cartridge for an analysis method which is rotation-based and utilizes one-sided heat input. The cartridge has a planar main body in which a microfluidic channel-and-chamber structure is formed, with channels interconnecting multiple process chambers, a number of positioning and/or fastening elements, formed in the main body, for positioning and/or fastening the main body on/to a support plate of an analyzer for carrying out the analysis method, and a cover body which is fastened to the main body and which is one-sidedly arranged on a top side of the main body that faces away from a heat input side and which covers at least a chamber.

The present invention relates to improved methods for processing fluids and to a fluid processing device (1) for use in a centrifuge comprising: (a) a first holder (14) form-fit to the shape of a first tube (18) for holding said first tube (18) whereby said first tube (18) has a first cross section (A1); and (b) a second holder (22) form-fit to the shape of a second tube (26) for holding said second tube (26) whereby said second tube (26) has a second cross section (A2) that is different from said first cross section (A1). With the fluid processing devices and the methods according to the invention, it is possible to simplify the centrifugal processing steps for a given fluid processing sequence and to automate them.