A capsule is disclosed which includes a flexible outer shell capable of transforming into an asymmetric shape; an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles can move in response to an applied magnetic field. A valve system includes an in-line valve sized to fit within a flow channel including a capsule having a flexible outer shell containing an internal medium encapsulated by the outer shell, the medium including a plurality of magnetic particles; and a magnetic field source disposed about the exterior wall of the channel.

The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.

A portable, disposable in-vitro diagnostic apparatus and method of performing a point-of-care invitro-diagnostic test is provided. The method includes disposing a specimen to be analyzed in a disposable diagnostic apparatus. Then, channeling a first fluid through a first channel into a first chamber and causing an actuator member to expand upon contact with the fluid from a compressed, deactivated state to an expanded, activated state, thereby causing a second fluid to be pumped outwardly from the first chamber under bias of the actuator to a second chamber for analysis.

The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.

The invention relates to a valve (2) for controlling a passage of particles from a first region (6) to a second region (7), wherein the valve (2) comprises a valve material (4) having a modifiable degree of penetrability and a valve region (16) comprising the valve material (4), wherein the valve region (16) and the valve material (4) are adapted such that the particles have to penetrate the valve material (4) if the particles pass the valve (2) for being transferred from the first region (6) to the second region (7). The degree of opening of the valve (2) can easily be controlled by modifying the degree of penetrability of the valve material (4), for example, by modifying the temperature of the valve material (4). Moreover, by penetrating the valve material (4) the particles can be separated from other elements like a fluid containing the particles.

A portable, disposable in-vitro diagnostic apparatus and method of performing a point-of-care in vitro-diagnostic test is provided. The method includes disposing a specimen to be analyzed in a disposable diagnostic apparatus. Then, channeling a first fluid through a first channel into a first chamber and causing an actuator member to expand upon contact with the fluid from a compressed, deactivated state to an expanded, activated state, thereby causing a second fluid to be pumped outwardly from the first chamber under bias of the actuator to a second chamber for analysis.

The invention provides microfluidics devices, methods and kits employing expandable gels in a sample chamber for translocating cells or particles in a sample solution to an observation plane to facilitate counting and analysis.

The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.

The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.

The present invention relates to A device for performing an assay on an aqueous biological sample, the device comprising: (i) at least a first chamber comprising a desiccated hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel incorporates at least a first desiccated assay reagent or reagents, the hydrogel and reagent or reagents being configured to allow the controlled release of the first reagent or reagents when the hydrogel has been exposed to the aqueous biological sample and has at least been partially hydrated; and (ii) an imaging device for imaging and analysing the first chamber after the aqueous biological sample has been introduced into the first chamber and the hydrogel has been at least partially hydrated and at least part of the first reagent or reagents has or have been released. The present invention also relates to a device for rapidly determining the susceptibility of a microorganism in an aqueous biological sample to an antimicrobial agent comprising: a) a multi-chamber plate, wherein: (i) at least a first chamber comprises a growth medium, a first dye, and a desiccated hydrogel; and (ii) at least a second chamber comprises a growth medium, a first dye, a desiccated hydrogel, and a first antimicrobial agent that inhibits or slows the proliferation of the, or a, microorganism; and b) an imaging device for imaging and analysing one or more chambers after the biological sample has been introduced into the chamber and the hydrogel has been at least partially hydrated. The invention also relates to related methods and a kit of parts. The device is particularly suited for identifying the which antimicrobial agents would be suitable for the treatment of microbial infections, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).