The current invention relates to the device and method to separate biological entities from a sample fluid by a microfluidic device. The claimed methods separate biological entities by differentiating the sizes of the biological entities with ultrasound modes. The claimed methods further utilize a multi-staged design that removes smaller size entities at earlier and wider sections and concentrates larger entities at later and narrower sections of a microfluidic channel.

The current invention relates to the method and apparatus to separate biological entities from a fluid sample. The claimed methods separate biological entities based on size of entities by using acoustic pressure nodes in a microfluidic device. The claimed methods further separate biological entities with magnetic labels and by using a magnetic device. The claimed methods further include combination of microfluidic devices and magnetic devices to separate biological entities from a fluid sample.

The current invention relates to the method and apparatus to magnetically separate biological entities with magnetic labels from a fluid sample. The claimed methods separate biological entities with magnetic labels by using a magnetic device. The claimed methods further include processes to dissociate biological entities magnetic conglomerate after magnetic separation.

The current invention relates to the method to detect early stage pre-symptom cancer with enhanced accuracy. The claimed methods use anti-tumor agent to cause lysis of any existing cancer cells in a person, and causing release of genetic material from the lysed cancer cells into the blood stream of the person. The claimed methods further utilize a PCR method to amplify cancer gene in released generic material from a blood plasma sample of the person. The claimed methods further perform genetic sequencing on the blood plasma sample after PCR to identify existence of the cancer genes, thereby confirming existence of cancer.

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.

According to an example, a microfluidic device may include a transport channel having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of pump loops extending along the transport channel. Each of the plurality of pump loops may include a first branch, a second branch, and a connecting section connecting the first branch and the second branch. The first branch may include a first opening and the second branch may include a second opening, in which the first opening and the second opening are in direct fluid communication with the transport channel. The pump loops may also each include an actuator positioned in the first branch, in which the actuators in the pump loops are to be activated to induce a traveling wave that is to transport the fluid through the transport channel from the inlet to the outlet.

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.

Systems and methods are described herein for improved droplet generation within microfluidic apparatuses. Electrowetting forces of varying configurations may be used to separate droplets from a fluidic reservoir in a reproducible and rapid manner. In many embodiments, separation of droplets from the fluidic reservoir is performed without the use of highly specialized surfactants.

Disclosed is a microfluidic system based on an artificially structured acoustic field, comprising a microcavity and a ultrasonic emission device, wherein the microcavity is used to accommodate a solution containing particles, the ultrasonic emission device is used to emit ultrasound, and characterized in further comprising a phononic crystal plate placed in the microcavity, wherein the phononic crystal plate has an artificial cycle structure, and is used to modulate the acoustic field so as to control the particles. Also disclosed is a method of controlling microfluid particles based on an artificially structured acoustic field. In the particular embodiments, since a microcavity, an ultrasonic emission device and a phononic crystal plate are comprised, the ultrasonic emission device is used to emit ultrasound, and the phononic crystal plate has an artificial cycle structure, and is used to modulate the acoustic field so as to control the particles. The method provides a new means for drug delivery, and offers technical support for drug research and development.

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.