Magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for and methods of actuating magnetically-responsive microposts in a reaction (or assay) chamber is disclosed. For example, a microfluidics system is provided that includes a microfluidics device (or cartridge) that includes the reaction (or assay) chamber in which a field of magnetically-responsive surface-attached microposts is installed. The presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are provided in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive microposts wherein the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are used for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts. For example, the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms generate an actuation force that is used to induce, for example, synchronized beat patterns and/or metachronal beat patterns in the magnetically-responsive microposts. Additionally, a method of using the presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts is provided.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay apparatus and a method thereof. The immunoassay apparatus including a cartridge 13 in which a tube for T tip 9, a reaction tube 11, a tube for washing 3, and a tube for signal measurement 5 are integrally coupled or individually configured; a T tip 7 and a magnetic rod 31 used for performing reaction and washing processes while moving large magnetic particles m, capture materials, signal materials, and analyte materials with magnetic force by entering successively a plurality of tubes 3 and 5; a cartridge holder 15 in which the cartridge 13 is seated; and a heating member 17 that generates heat by being disposed at a region in which the reaction tube 11 is seated in the cartridge holder 15; is configured in a state where each of the different shapes of magnetic particles is bound with materials.

A microfluidic device for and methods of using surface-attached posts and capture beads in a microfluidic chamber is disclosed. For example, the microfluidics device includes a pair of substrates separated by a gap and thereby forming a reaction (or assay) chamber therebetween. A field of actuatable surface-attached posts (e.g., magnetically responsive microposts) is provided on one or both of the substrates. The surface-attached posts are functionalized with capture beads. Additionally, methods are provided of functionalizing the surface-attached posts with the capture beads. Additionally, methods are provided of using the surface-attached posts that are functionalized with capture beads in a microfluidics device for binding a target of interest. Further, a bead spraying system and method is provided for spraying magnetically responsive and/or non-magnetically responsive beads atop and/or among a field of surface-attached microposts for use in a microfluidic device.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Methods are provided for separating magnetically responsive beads from a droplet in a droplet actuator. Droplet operations electrodes and a magnet are arranged in a droplet actuator to manipulate a bead-containing droplet and position it relative to a magnetic field region that attracts the magnetically responsive beads. The droplet operations electrodes are operated to control the droplet shape and transport it away from the magnetic field region to form a concentration of beads in the droplet. The continued transport of the droplet away from the magnetic field causes the concentration of beads to break away from the droplet to yield a small, concentrated bead-containing droplet immobilized by the magnet.

An analysis cartridge includes a first cover, a second cover, a plurality of containers, a plurality of fluid tunnels and a rotary valve. The second cover has two opposite surfaces, a plurality of first through holes and a second through hole individually penetrate through the two opposite surfaces, and the first cover is attached to the second cover. The plurality of containers are disposed between the first cover and the second cover, with each of the containers being aligned to and filled in the first through holes. The plurality of the fluid tunnels are disposed on the first cover, and each of which is individually connected with a first pipette. The rotary valve is rotatably disposed between the first cover and the second cover to correspond to the second through hole, and a flow channel disposed on the rotary valve is connected with the containers individually.

The present application relates to a pipetting device and a pipetting method for pipetting, therefore for aspirating and/or dispensing, a metered liquid using a working gas, independently of the flow- and/or wetting characteristics of the metered liquid, wherein a pipetting channel comprises a first working region, of which the known base temperature is in a lower base temperature range, and a second working region, of which the known working temperature is in a working temperature range that is increased with respect to the base temperature range.

An electronically-controlled digital ferrofluidic device is disclosed which employs a network of individually addressable coils in conjunction with one or more movable permanent magnets, where each moveable permanent magnet delivers the designated fluid manipulation-based tasks. The underlying mechanism facilitating fluidic operations is realized by addressable electromagnetic actuation of miniaturized mobile magnets that exert localized magnetic body forces on droplets filled with magnetic nanoparticles. The reconfigurable, contactless, and non-interfering magnetic-field operation properties of the underlying actuation mechanism allow for the integration of passive and active components to implement advanced and diverse operations with high efficiency (e.g., droplet sorting, dispensing, generation, merging, mixing, filtering, and analysis).

The present invention provides a magnetic sorting microfluidic chip, including a substrate, a chip model material layer, a micro-channel unit and a magnetic sorting unit, where the chip model material layer is disposed on the substrate, and the micro-channel unit and the magnetic sorting unit are both disposed in the chip model material layer; the micro-channel unit includes a sorting channel and magnetic pole channels; the sorting channel is provided with a plurality of sorting channel inlets and a plurality of sorting channel outlets; and the magnetic sorting unit includes permanent magnets, high-permeability alloys, and magnetic pole arrays disposed in the magnetic pole channels, where the high-permeability alloys are configured to conduct magnetic fields of the permanent magnets to the magnetic pole arrays, so that the magnetic pole arrays generate magnetic fields having opposite polarities on left and right positions of the sorting channel.

A cell purification module, configured to purify multiple cells from a fluid sample is provided. The cell purification module includes a hollow column, multiple hollow fiber membranes, at least one first magnetic component, a fluid sample inlet end, and a fluid sample outlet end. The hollow column has a first opening, a second opening, and an accommodating space connecting the first opening and the second opening. The hollow fiber membranes are disposed in the accommodating space and each hollow fiber membrane has multiple pores. The first magnetic component is disposed at a periphery of the hollow column. The fluid sample inlet end and the fluid sample outlet end are respectively disposed at two ends of the hollow column. The hollow fiber membranes extend in an axial direction of the hollow column, and are arranged in a radial direction of the hollow column. A cell purification system is also provided.