The present disclosure relates to a computer aided design (CAD) manufactured lattice structure. The structure may have a plurality of tessellated cells formed from a plurality of interconnected struts, with the interconnected struts formed from a curable resin. The interconnecting struts form voids within each cell, with the voids communicating with one another. The struts may be formed such that the voids have a non-uniform dimension to create a varying porosity within the lattice structure.

A blood sample collection and/or storage device includes a medium, such as a membrane or microstructured environment for storing a body fluid sample such as a blood sample. The medium has hydrophobic patterns formed thereon or therein to define precisely dimensioned channels for fluid flow or fluid retention. Break lines in the medium defined predetermined areas (or volumes) of the medium. After sample collection, the medium may be broken apart along the break lines to obtain a precisely measured amount of the fluid sample.

A cartridge for analyzing a biological fluid, comprises an array of channels defining a plurality of analysis paths. Each channel is defined by at least two channel walls facing each other and defining a channel height. A wall of at least one channel has a step for defining on either side of the step: a first segment of the channel wherein the wall has a first surface energy and a first elevation defining a first height of the channel; a second segment of the channel wherein the wall has a second surface energy and a second elevation defining a second height of the channel. The first height of the channel and the first surface energy of the wall are greater than the second height of the channel and the second surface energy, respectively.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward methods and apparatuses for interacting a first liquid and a second liquid in one or more fluidic channels of a capillary structure. The methods and apparatuses can include providing at least one capillary barrier that positions a meniscus of the first liquid at a fluid-interface region using capillary forces within the capillary structure. Additionally, a path is provided along one of the channels for the second liquid to flow toward the fluid-interface region. Additionally, gas pressure is released, via a gas-outflow port, from the fluid-interface region while flow of the first liquid is arrested. Further, the first liquid and the second liquid contact in the fluid-interface region with the capillary barrier holding the first liquid at the fluid-interface region.

A microfluidic product utilizing gradient surface energy coatings for fluid control comprising a plurality of fluid passages wherein at least one fluid passage comprises a coating configured to control liquid flow wherein the coating configured to control liquid flow comprises a gradient surface energy coating from a proximal location to a distal location on a surface of the fluid passage. The product can include uniform regions and surface gradient regions in the same passage. Coating compositions and product dimensions can be selected to provide control over different flow properties including fluid velocity, reduction and acceleration of fluid flow, and starting and stopping fluid flow.

A combination of components in a capillary flow channel use capillary forces to passively control the movement of liquid samples within a microfluidic device. To detect a target, a liquid sample introduced to a proximal portion of capillary channel of a microfluidic device moves by capillary action along the specific components of capillary channel.

Apparatus for processing life-based organic particles, including particles selected from the list comprising cells, cellular spheroids, tissues, eukaryotes, micro-organisms, organs or embryos, comprises a hollow volume (10) that (a) is internally divided into at least first (14), second (16) and third (17) sub-volumes by at least two phaseguides (12, 13) formed inside the volume and (b) includes parts that are relatively upstream and relatively downstream when judged with reference to the movement of a meniscus or a bulk liquid in the volume (10). The apparatus includes at least first, second and third fluid conduits (19, 21, 22) connected to permit fluid communication between the upstream exterior of the volume (10) and a respective said sub-volume (14, 16, 17); and at least one further conduit (24) connected to permit fluid communication between the downstream exterior of the volume (10) and a said sub-volume. The first sub-volume (14) contains one or more life-based particles supported in or by a gel or gel-like substance; and the second sub-volume (16) communicates with the first sub-volume so as to permit transport of substances between the first and second sub-volumes (14, 16) and contains at least one gel or gel-like substance.

A specimen transfer device adapted to receive a blood sample is disclosed. The specimen transfer device includes a housing and an actuation member. A deformable material is disposed within the housing and is deformable from an initial position in which the material is adapted to hold the sample to a deformed position in which at least a portion of the sample is released from the material. A viscoelastic member is disposed within the housing between the material and the housing and between the material and the actuation member. The viscoelastic member is engaged with the actuation member and the material such that movement of the actuation member from a first position to a second position deforms the material from the initial position to the deformed position.

There is provided a master for micro flow path creation, a transfer copy, and a method for producing a master for micro flow path creation by which transfer copies having an area with high hydrophilicity can be easily mass-produced, the master for micro flow path creation including: a base material; a main concave-convex portion provided on a surface of the base material and extending in a planar direction of the base material; and a fine concave-convex portion provided on a surface of the main concave-convex portion and having a narrower pitch than the main concave-convex portion. The fine concave-convex portion has an arithmetic average roughness of 10 nm to 150 nm and has a specific surface area ratio of 1.1 to 3.0.

Methods and systems are described for improved handling and/or culturing and/or assaying of cells, chemically active beads, or similar materials in microfluidic systems and microfluidic culture arrays.