The valve is formed in a valve body housing a first path portion, a second path portion, and an coupling zone between the first and second path portions. A shutter is arranged in the coupling zone and has a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material that is deformable under the action of an external magnetic field between an undeformed position, wherein the shutter closes the coupling zone, and a deformed position, wherein the shutter at least partially frees the coupling zone. The shutting portion of the shutter is formed by a rubber membrane incorporating particles, for example of ferrite particles.

A cartridge for analyzing a biological sample, wherein the cartridge includes a fluid system having a plurality of channels and at least one valve, wherein the valve is covered on the outside by a cover, and wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by deforming a wall of the valve.

Systems and techniques for collecting and analyzing breath samples to detect one or more target analytes are disclosed.

Microfluidic devices in which electrokinetic mechanisms move droplets of a liquid or particles in a liquid are described. The devices include at least one electrode that is optically transparent and/or flexible.

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.

Microarrays, hybridization seals and related methods. An apparatus includes a substrate including a plurality of probes and a hybridization seal. The hybridization seal includes an evaporation barrier and a layer including walls that form a grid pattern and define a plurality of sample chambers that are to receive fluid. The layer includes a first side removably coupled to the substrate and a second side that is coupled to the evaporation barrier. The evaporation barrier includes barrier sections that cover the probes and include one or more slits that allow the barrier sections to have a convex profile or a concave profile depending on an amount of the fluid within the corresponding sample chamber.

The present invention provides a fluidic device in which solutions of different concentrations can be easily obtained. The fluidic device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are stacked in a thickness direction; an undiluted solution introduction flow path which has an undiluted solution introduction port and which is constituted of a groove part provided on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; a first circulation flow path which is constituted of a groove part having an annular shape and having a shared part that shares part of a flow path with the undiluted solution introduction flow path and a non-shared part which is not shared with the undiluted solution introduction flow path and which is connected to a diluting solution introduction port; a second circulation flow path which is provided independently of the first circulation flow path and which is constituted of a groove part having an annular shape and having a shared part that shares some flow path with the undiluted solution introduction flow path and a non-shared part which is not shared with the undiluted solution introduction flow path and which is connected to a diluting solution introduction port; and/or a third circulation flow path which is constituted of a groove part having an annular shape and having a shared flow path that shares part of a flow path with the first circulation flow path and a non-shared flow path which is not shared with the first circulation flow path and which is connected to a diluting solution introduction port, wherein the undiluted solution introduction flow path includes a valve at both ends of the shared part.

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.

A reagent cartridge including (a) a support having reservoirs; (b) a main channel within the support, the channel having first and second ends exiting the support; (c) a pump channel that connects to the main channel between the first and second ends; (d) a valve manifold in the support, including (i) a first passage at the first end of the main channel, (ii) a second passage at the second end of the main channel, (iii) a first master valve between the pump channel and the first end of the main channel, (iv) a second master valve between the pump channel and the second end of the main channel, and (v) reservoir valves for regulating flow from individual reservoirs to the main channel. The valves can be normally closed diaphragm valves formed by magnetic pistons attached to an elastomeric sheet that is sandwiched in the support.

The valve is formed in a valve body housing a first path portion, a second path portion, and an coupling zone between the first and second path portions. A shutter is arranged in the coupling zone and has a shutting portion of ferromagnetic material that is deformable under the action of an external magnetic field between an undeformed position, wherein the shutter closes the coupling zone, and a deformed position, wherein the shutter at least partially frees the coupling zone. The shutting portion of the shutter is formed by a rubber membrane incorporating particles, for example of ferrite particles.