An exemplary system and method are disclosed for a digital microfluidic chip cartridge and system configured for electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic operations and experimental analysis. The exemplary portable lab-on-a-chip devices and systems can be configured to execute complex assays such as DNA isolation employing integrated sensor and electronics can analyze results. The EWOD or digital microfluidic cartridge can be configured with customizable assays having preloaded reagents targeted specifically for a given assay that can be used in an analysis in the field (i.e., point of care, i.e., not in a central laboratory) using a disposable or recyclable assay cartridge system. The cartridge and portable instrument can operate on specific instructions based on the algorithm intended for the assay.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated from the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets are sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.

Systems and methods for cleansing blood are disclosed herein. The methods include acoustically separating target particles from elements of whole blood. The whole blood and capture particles are flowed through a microfluidic separation channel formed in a thermoplastic. At least one bulk acoustic transducer is attached to the microfluidic separation channel. A standing acoustic wave, imparted on the channel and its contents by the bulk acoustic transducer, drives the formed elements of the blood and target particles to specific aggregation axes.

A microfluidic chip (100), an apparatus, a system, and a control and preparation method therefor. The method comprises: a substrate (101), and an electrode layer (102) and a functional layer (103) sequentially formed on the substrate (101), said electrode layer (102) comprising a plurality of electrode groups (1021) arranged in an array, the electrode groups (1021) being used for converting electrical signals into acoustic signals when an electrode group is activated, and transmitting the acoustic signals to the functional layer (103); and the functional layer (103) being used for carrying a sample to be tested, and for absorbing the acoustic wave signals emitted by the activated electrode group (1021) and converting same into thermal energy for heating the sample to be tested that is carried at the position corresponding to the activated electrode group (1021).

Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated front the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets arc sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.

A microscope slide holder comprising a slide support member and at least one acoustic source for introducing acoustic waves to a microscope slide in communication with the slide support member such that one or more fluids present on the surface of the microscope slide are contactlessly mixed.

A method for extracting or enriching immune cells in a fluid sample, which contains immune and cancer cells and debris, includes the steps introducing the fluid sample into a first microfluidic device as two streams along two sidewalls thereof; applying a first power to the first microfluidic device to exert a first acoustic radiation pressure to produce a first output fluid having a higher relative fraction of the cancer cells than the fluid sample and a second output fluid having a lower relative fraction of the cancer cells than the fluid sample; introducing the second output fluid into a second microfluidic device as two streams along two sidewalls thereof; and applying a second power, which is higher than the first power, to the second microfluidic device to exert a second acoustic radiation pressure to produce a third output fluid having a higher relative fraction of the immune cells than the fluid sample.

A method for separating biological entities in a fluid sample, which contains small, medium, and large biological entities, includes the steps introducing the fluid sample into a first microfluidic device as two streams along two sidewalls thereof; applying a first power to the first microfluidic device to exert a first acoustic radiation pressure to produce a first output fluid having a higher relative fraction of the large biological entities than the fluid sample and a second output fluid having a lower relative fraction of the large biological entities than the fluid sample; introducing the second output fluid into a second microfluidic device as two streams along two sidewalls thereof; and applying a second power, which is higher than the first power, to the second microfluidic device to exert a second acoustic radiation pressure to produce a third output fluid having a higher relative fraction of the medium biological entities than the fluid sample.

A microfluidic device for sorting biological objects includes a microfluidic chip including a planar substrate having first and second planar surfaces, the planar substrate including first and second networks of channels recessed respectively from the first and second planar surfaces and fluidically connected by way of at least a through-hole in the planar substrate; a first lid attached to the first planar surface of the planar substrate and substantially covering the first network of channels; and a second lid attached to the second planar surface of the planar substrate and substantially covering the second network of channels; and one or more piezoelectric transducers attached to the first lid and/or the second lid and configured to generate first and second acoustic standing waves in a first linear channel of the first network of channels and a second linear channel of the second network of channels, respectively.

A microfluidic device including: a transport channel having an inlet and an outlet; a plurality of pump loops extending along the transport channel, wherein each of the plurality of pump loops includes: a first branch, a second branch, and a first connecting section connecting the first branch and the second branch, wherein the first branch includes a first opening and the second branch includes a second opening, and wherein the first opening and the second opening are in direct fluid communication with the transport channel; an actuator positioned in the first branch; and a heater positioned to heat fluid in a portion of the pump loop.