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.

The disclosure relates to a method for pretreating a sample for metals determination. The method includes: providing an aqueous sample mixture comprising a sample containing or suspected of containing one or more metals for detection; contacting the aqueous sample mixture with a first electrode (anode) comprising electrically conducting boron-doped diamond (BDD); electrically contacting the aqueous sample mixture with a second electrode (cathode); applying an electrical potential between the first electrode and the second electrode (i) to provide an electrical current therebetween and through the aqueous sample mixture, (ii) to generate hydroxyl ion (OH.sup.−) species at the first electrode, (iii) to oxidize and free the one or more metals for detection in the sample, thereby forming a pretreated aqueous sample comprising free metal ions in aqueous solution and corresponding to the one or more metals in the original sample; and withdrawing the pretreated aqueous sample comprising the free metal ions in aqueous solution. The pretreated aqueous sample can be analyzed for metal content using any desired conventional analysis technique.

This invention relates to compositions of matter, methods, modules and automated, end-to-end closed instruments for automated mammalian cell growth, reagent bundle creation and mammalian cell transfection followed by nucleic acid-guided nuclease editing in live mammalian cells. The disclosed compositions and method entail making “reagent bundles” comprising many (hundreds of thousands to millions) clonal copies of an editing cassette and delivering or co-localizing the reagent bundles with live mammalian cells such that the editing cassettes edit the cells and the edited cells continue to grow.

The invention provides devices that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification for highly sensitive testing. The invention does not require washing steps and thus allows sensitive and specific detection while simplifying manual operation and lowering costs and complexity in automated operation. In short, the invention provides devices that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests.

The present disclosure discloses a microfluidic structure, a microfluidic chip and a detection method. The microfluidic structure includes: a first base substrate and a second base substrate opposite to each other, an antibody area located between the first base substrate and the second base substrate and storing an enzyme-labeled first antibody, a cleaning area storing cleaning liquid, a signal substrate area storing a signal substrate solution and a detection area with a second antibody and an ion sensitive film fixed thereon, wherein all channel areas from the antibody area, the cleaning area and the signal substrate area to the detection area each have a driving electrode structure driving liquid drops to move; and the detection area has a thin film transistor connected with the ion sensitive film.

An analytical toilet comprising a bowl for receiving excreta from a user; a base supporting the bowl; a supply of flush water; and a plurality of receptacles, each providing mechanical attachment, a power supply, and a data connection to an analytical device, which analytical device is adapted to provide data useful to the user is disclosed.

The present invention discloses a nanoparticle control and detection system and operating method thereof. The present invention controls and detects the nanoparticles in the same device. The device comprises a first transparent electrode, a photoconductive layer, a spacer which is deposed on the edge of the photoconductive layer and a second transparent electrode. The aforementioned device controls and detects the nanoparticles by applying AC/DC bias and AC/DC light source to the transparent electrode.

Devices for high throughput cell electroporation include a trapping component that at least partially defines an upper boundary of a microfluidic chamber. A cell trap array is patterned on the underside of the trapping component, and a channeling component is positioned beneath the trapping component. The channeling component includes a vertically oriented nanochannel array. The trapping component and the channeling component are positioned such that a given nanochannels is positioned beneath a cell trap. During use, fluid flow holds trapped cells in secure contact with the nanochannels beneath the cell trap. The device further includes upper and lower electrode layers for generating an electric field to electroporate trapped cells via the nanochannel array. A reservoir positioned beneath the channeling component can be filled transfection reagent solution. During electroporation, the transfection reagent solution travels through the nanochannel array during to transfect the trapped cells.

Described herein are systems relating to a continuous-flow instrument that includes all necessary components for digital droplet quantification without the need to introduce key reagents or collect and transfer droplets between stages of instrument operation. Digital quantification can proceed without any additional fluid or consumable handling and without exposing fluids to risk of external contamination.

Microfluidic pumps are provided that use electrowetting to manipulate the location of one or more droplets of a working fluid (e.g., water) in order to pump tears, blood, laboratory samples, carrier fluid, or some other payload fluid. The working fluid is separated from the payload fluid by one or more droplets of an isolating fluid that is immiscible with the working fluid. The working fluid is manipulated via electrowetting, by applying voltages to two or more electrodes, to repeatedly move back and forth. Forces, pressures, and/or fluid flows exerted by the working fluid are coupled to the payload fluid via the droplet(s) of isolation fluid and reed valves, diffuser nozzles, or other varieties of valve can act as flow-rectifying elements to convert the coupled forces into a net flow of the payload fluid through the pump.