A method of operating an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device performs microfluidic diffusion separation. The method includes the steps of: inputting a sample droplet into the EWOD device, wherein the sample droplet includes a mixture of particles including first particles and second particles that are different from each other; inputting a collection droplet into the EWOD device; performing an electrowetting operation to bring the sample droplet into contact with the collection droplet; at an initial time, initiating a process of particle separation by which a portion of the sample droplet is introduced into the collection droplet, wherein the first particles move through the collection droplet at a rate different from the second particles; and after a time interval from the initial time, performing an electrowetting operation to segment a leaving droplet from the collection droplet, wherein the leaving droplet has a higher concentration of the first particles relative to the second particles as compared to a concentration of the first particles relative to the second particles in the sample droplet at the initial time. The method may be performed by an AM-EWOD control system executing program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium.

The present invention relates to the field of microfluidics and in particular to devices and methods for sorting objects in microfluidic channels. These devices and methods allow for fast and robust sorting in two-way and multi-way setups. They also enable sorting over extended periods of time.

Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.

Microfluidic devices having a circuit substrate with a control unit, a switching mechanism associated with a dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrode, and a memory unit are described. Switching instructions may be received, stored, and retrieved by the control unit and used to control the DEP electrode via the switching mechanism. Systems comprising the described microfluidic devices and methods of controlling the described microfluidic devices are included herein.

Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.

The invention relates to a method for operating a fluidic microsystem (100) for the dielectrophoretic manipulation of suspended particles (1) having a particle diameter in a suspension liquid (2), wherein the microsystem (100) comprises: —a channel (10) having a longitudinal direction; —an electrode device (20) having an electrode (21), the longitudinal extent of which deviates from the longitudinal direction of the channel (10) and which has individually controllable electrode segments (22) for producing dielectrophoretic forces which act on the particles (1), each electrode segment (22) having a deflection angle α, relative to the longitudinal direction of the channel (10), and a segment length (s.sub.i), which determine a segment offset (D.sub.i) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the channel (10); and—a control device (30). The method comprises: —producing a flow of the suspension liquid (2) with a flow velocity so that the particles (1) successively pass through an interaction region of the electrode (21), which interaction region is spanned by the electrode segments (22); and—activating the electrode segments (22) in order to deflect the particles (1) onto predetermined motion paths (4, 5), which are determined by a superposition of flow forces in the flow of the suspension liquid (2) and of the dielectrophoretic forces at the electrode segments (22). During the passage of each particle, each of the electrode segments (22) which are passed by the particle (1) is activated in a clocked manner for a predetermined activation duration, according to the desired motion path (4, 5), the activation duration of each electrode segment (22) being determined by the quotient of the segment length (s.sub.i) of the electrode segment (22) and the flow velocity. The electrode segments (22) are dimensioned such that the segment offset (D.sub.i) of each electrode segment (22) is less than the particle diameter. For the deflection of each particle (1), at least two successive electrode segments (22) cooperate.

This disclosure presents a docking station into which a test card can be inserted for rapid analyte detection and reporting. This docking station has portable capability and can include wire or wireless transmission to a local server or cloud-based server. A test card that has a test structure located on the test structure that includes a modified waveguide can be inserted into the and a docking station that includes a laser and interferometer provides for accurate and rapid detection of a test sample.

In situ-generated microfluidic isolation structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. The ability to introduce in real time, a variety of isolating structures including pens and barriers offers improved methods of micro-object manipulation in microfluidic devices. The in situ-generated isolation structures may be permanently or temporarily installed.

An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Disclosed herein include methods, devices, kits, and systems for nucleic acid sequencing, for example, to determine cell-cell interaction using a dielectrophoresis microfluidic device.