An apparatus with a self-contained, tunable, microfluidic pumping system that utilizes the high air permeability of the matrix material to actuate fluid flow in a network of fluidic microchannels and microstructures is provided. The pumping relies upon partial evacuation of degas/vacuum channels that are located next to the fluid channels to degas air from the fluid channels or structures producing a reduction of pressure in the fluidic channel leading to the flow of fluid from an inlet at atmospheric pressure through the device. The solution is isolated from the pumping apparatus since the liquid does not pass through the diffusion barriers. The apparatus and method can also provide bubble-free microfluidic pumping, without any auxiliary equipment or device pre-treatment, and can fill dead-end channels and chambers, providing a powerful liquid handling tool for a broad range of applications.

The present disclosure relates to a biological fluid processing system and method. The system comprises a fluid processing device comprising at least one fluid path, a pump for providing a pressure in the at least one fluid path, a valve arranged along said fluid path and a first actuator arranged to control the valve to assume a desired opening state of said fluid path. The biological fluid processing system comprises further a processing interface comprising a pump drive for driving the pump of the fluid processing device, and a processing control element comprising a pump control system arranged to control at least the pump drive and a valve control system arranged to control the first actuator. The system is modular. The fluid processing device is comprised in a fluid processing device module having a predetermined fluid processing device configuration. The processing interfaces have a predetermined processing interface configuration. The processing control element is arranged to receive information relating to the predetermined processing interface configuration of the processing interface module and/or the predetermined fluid processing device configuration of the fluid processing device module and control the at least one pump drive and/or the valve based on the received information relating to the predetermined fluid processing device configuration and the predetermined processing interface configuration.

Flow cell devices, cartridges, and systems are described that provide reduced manufacturing complexity, lowered consumable costs, and flexible system throughput for nucleic acid sequencing and other chemical or biological analysis applications. The flow cell device can include a capillary flow cell device or a microfluidic flow cell device.

An apparatus, in particular a microfluid apparatus, includes a chamber for extracting a fluid. The chamber has a wall with an opening. The opening is sealed by a sealing mechanism that is impermeable to specified substances. The apparatus further includes a membrane that contacts the outside of the wall, in a region of an outside of the wall which adjoins the opening, and covers the opening.

A fluidic manifold cartridge includes a plurality of source fluid inlets and fluid outlets. A plurality of fluid input flow channels are provided. Each fluid inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid input flow channel. Each fluid input flow channel directs fluid from the fluid inlet past a plurality of valves. A plurality of fluid output flow channels are in fluid communication with a fluid outlets. Each valve includes a valve seat, a portion of membrane, and a control fluid opening. Each valve has an open and closed condition. The valve in the open condition directs fluid from a fluid input flow channel to a fluid output flow channel. The control fluid opening directs control fluid to move the membrane so as to change the valve between the open and closed conditions. Systems and methods for fluidic manifold are also disclosed.

The disclosed embodiments related to an apparatus and methods for biological sample processing enabling isolation and concentration of microbial or pathogenic constituents from the sample. Sample may be obtained directly from a specimen container, such as a vacutainer, and processed directly without risk of user exposure. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide a convenient and inexpensive solution for rapid sample preparation compatible with downstream analysis techniques.

Disclosed are cartridge components, cartridges, systems, and methods for isolating analytes from biological samples. In various aspects, the cartridge components, cartridges, systems, and methods may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material from complex fluids.

A cartridge for assay of a target nucleic acid sequence in a liquid sample. The cartridge comprises: a fluidic portion through which the sample flows and in which nucleic acid amplification and detection takes place; a pneumatic portion which controls flow through the fluidic portion; and at least two electrodes which provide a potential difference for the detection of an amplified nucleic acid of interest.

Surface-modified glass and polymer membrane interfaces form high-electrical resistance seals that can be used in microfluidic valves and array devices tailored for electrophysiological measurements. The incorporation of high seal resistance valves into the array device allows only the desired electrophysiological signal to be detected by a patch clamp amplifier, enabling parallel experiments with one patch clamp amplifier, which can greatly improve the cost efficiency. To achieve the desired high seal resistance, surface modification was performed on the glass components to increase the interaction between the glass and the membrane surfaces. The valves exhibit seal resistance of >500 GΩ after modification, which is 100× higher than reported for unmodified valves.

A fluid valve is provided that includes a first planar substrate having a smooth surface or a surface with features, an elastomer disposed on the first substrate, a second planar substrate disposed on another side of the elastomer, where the second substrate has a smooth surface or features, where the first and second substrate are more rigid than the elastomer, where the first substrate, the second substrate or the elastomer has a fluid channel, where the channel is open when the first or second substrate are in a first thermal state or a first compression state, where the channel is closed or partially closed when the first or second substrate are in a second thermal state or a second compression state, where the second thermal state is a different temperature than the first thermal state, where the second compression state is a different pressure than the first compression state.