A device for dispensing one or more microdroplets is provided. The device comprising a microfluidic chip having an oEWOD structure configured to create an optically-mediated electrowetting (oEWOD) force, the microfluidic chip includes a first region and a second region, wherein said first and second regions are separated by a constriction; wherein the first region is adapted to receive and manipulate one or more microdroplets dispersed in a carrier fluid at first flow rate; and wherein the second region is configured to receive the microdroplet via the constriction from the first region and transfer said microdroplet to an outlet port of the microfluidic chip in a second flow rate; wherein the second region is configured to receive said microdroplet via the constriction from the first region by application of an optically -mediated electrowetting (oEWOD) force; and wherein the second flow rate in the second region is higher than the first flow rate in the first flow region. A method and apparatus for dispensing one or more microdroplets are also provided.

Reagent reservoirs and related systems and methods are disclosed. In accordance with a first implementation, an apparatus includes a system and a reagent reservoir. The system includes a reagent reservoir receptacle. The reagent reservoir is received within the reagent reservoir receptacle and has a body and a fluidic port. The body defines a storage chamber, a sipper chamber, and a fluidic sinus fluidly coupling the storage chamber and the sipper chamber. The fluidic port is fluidly coupled to the sipper chamber.

The invention relates in a first aspect to an improved fluidic device for determining a property of a microbe. The device comprising a bottom layer comprising a plurality of light-transmissive wells; and a top layer comprising an injection opening and a fluid distribution system. Each of said plurality of distribution channels has: essentially the same channel length between the inlet end and the outlet end; and essentially the same channel volume. The invention relates in a second aspect to a use of the device for determining a susceptibility of a microbe, preferably a bacterium, to an antimicrobial drug.

The present invention is in the field of an all-in-one microchamber for 3D muscular tissues, wherein at least one 3D microenvironment is present, a method of producing said device using silicon-based technology, and a use of said device in various applications, typically a biological cell experiment, such as a cell or organ-on-a-chip experiment, and lab-on-a-chip experiment, and use of the device as a micro-reactor.

A sample testing cartridge is usable to perform a variety of tests on a visco-elastic sample, such hemostasis testing on a whole blood or blood component sample. The cartridge includes a sample processing portion that is in fluid communication with a sample retention structure. A suspension, such as a beam, arm, cantilever or similar structure supports or suspends the sample retention portion relative to the sample processing portion in a unitary structure. In this manner, the sample retention portion may be placed into dynamic excitation responsive to excitation of the cartridge and correspondingly dynamic, resonant excitation of the sample contained within the sample retention portion, while the sample processing portion remains fixed. Observation of the excited sample yields data indicative of hemostasis. The data may correspond to hemostasis parameters such as time to initial clot formation, rate of clot formation, maximum clot strength and degree of clot lysis.

This disclosure provides devices and methods for the isolation of single cells or particles of interest from a solution comprising a plurality of cells or a solution composed of a homogenous population of particles. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to microfluidic devices and methods for analyzing cells in a sample. More specifically, the present disclosure provides droplet microfluidic devices and methods for using the same to obtain (trap), encapsulate, and retrieve (isolate) single cells or particles from a sample with improved efficiency.

The invention relates to a test set (1) for a photometric measuring device, comprising a mixing container (2) which has a filling opening (3) and comprising a metering container (8) which can be sealingly inserted into the filling opening (3) of the mixing container (2) and which contains a liquid reagent (13) in a closed cavity (9). The cavity (9) has a closure plunger (11), which can be moved axially in the cavity (9), at a first end of the metering container (8), said closure plunger generating a specifiable filling pressure in the reagent (13), and the metering container (8) has a closure membrane (10) at a second metering container and which can be inserted into the mixing container (2). According to the invention, the closure membrane (10) is equipped with a predetermined breaking point (20) which breaks open when the filling pressure is exceeded in a defined manner as a result of an axial movement of the closure plunger (11), said predetermined breaking point (20) of the closure membrane (10) being formed as a linearly extending material taper of the closure membrane (10), wherein the taper is arranged eccentrically in the region of an opening (24) in the base (23) of the substantially cylindrical metering container (8).

A separation container includes a separation tube receiving a sample therein, a first sedimentation part connected to an end portion of the tube, a particle in the sample being deposited by a centrifugal or agitating force, and a separating part provided in the tube and including at least one separating layer which selectively opens and closes the tube.

A recess 22 provided in a passage block 20; a diaphragm covering the recess 22 to form a valve chest 21 in which a fluid flows; an inflow port 23 opened at the recess 22 and allowing the fluid to flow into the valve chest 21; an NC outflow port 24 and an NO outflow port 25 opened at the recess 22 and allowing the fluid to flow out from the valve chest 21; by oscillating the diaphragm, the diaphragm is closely fitted to any one of a first valve seat 24b formed by an opening 24a of the NC outflow port 24 and a second valve seat 25b formed by an opening 25a of the second outflow port 25, to allow the fluid in the valve chest 21 to flow out from the other outflow port. The recess 22 has a first inclined portion 81 and a second inclined portion 82 having a depth gradually increasing from the first valve seat 24b and the second valve seat 25b toward the inflow opening 23.

A device includes multiple components that are independent from one another but are configured to be detachably coupled with one another so as to form a cartridge. One of the components is a clamp that is configured to hold the other components such that they are coupled together. The cartridge has one or more reservoirs, one or more functional chambers, and one or more channels configured to transport a liquid stored in at least one of the one or more reservoirs into the one or more functional chambers.