In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to study cells in isolation so that cells having unique and desirable properties can be identified within a heterogenous mixture of cells. Processes and methods disclosed herein provide for encapsulating cells within a microfluidic device and assaying the encapsulated cells. Encapsulation can, among other benefits, facilitate analyses of cells that generate secretions of interest which would otherwise rapidly diffuse away or mix with the secretions of other cells.

The present disclosure provides a digital microfluidic (DMF) cartridge for performing a self-test for a target analyte, including a DMF cartridge comprising a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated by a droplet operations gap, wherein the bottom substrate comprises a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured for performing droplet operations on a liquid droplet in the droplet operations gap; one or more reaction chambers or reaction zones on the bottom substrate that are supplied by an arrangement of the droplet operations electrodes, wherein each reaction chamber or reaction zone comprises at least one detection spot and is configured for performing a plasmonic particle-assisted ELISA (pELISA) for detection and quantification of a target analyte in a sample droplet. The device may include downloadable software for a self-test and be operable using a smart device.

A microfluidic device includes a support and a non-contact charge depositing unit to selectively emit airborne charges of a selectable polarity. The support is to releasably support a consumable microfluidic receptacle in spaced relation to the charge depositing unit to receive the airborne charges on a portion of the consumable microfluidic receptacle to cause an electric field within the consumable microfluidic receptacle to control electrowetting movement of a liquid droplet within the consumable microfluidic receptacle.

To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

In one embodiment, a diagnostic system includes an instrument coupled to a client device and having at least one sample processing bay. The diagnostic system has a software architecture including instrument software (ISW) associated with the instrument. The ISW receives an assay definition file (ADF) that has a control file and an assay analysis module (AAM) file. The processing bay prepares and senses the sample according to parameters in the OPUS file and then generates sensor scan data. The diagnostic system then analyzes the sensor scan data and prepares a report according to the AAM file.

There is provided a heating device to independently and/or effectively heat the micro objects manipulated by a micro apparatus/system, for example the droplets of fluids in an electrowetting on dielectric EWOD device of a microfluidic apparatus. The heating device may include a plurality of micro heaters arranged in an array of rows and columns, and the micro heaters of the heating device may be disposed in relative to the electrode elements of the EWOD device, respectively. Therefore, the micro heaters of the heating device may heat one of the electrode elements of the EWOD device, thereby preventing thermal effect of the micro object on the other electrode elements.

A device for dispensing one or more microdroplets is provided. The device comprising a microfluidic chip having an oEWOD structure configured to create an optically-mediated electrowetting (oEWOD) force, the microfluidic chip includes a first region and a second region, wherein said first and second regions are separated by a constriction; wherein the first region is adapted to receive and manipulate one or more microdroplets dispersed in a carrier fluid at first flow rate; and wherein the second region is configured to receive the microdroplet via the constriction from the first region and transfer said microdroplet to an outlet port of the microfluidic chip in a second flow rate; wherein the second region is configured to receive said microdroplet via the constriction from the first region by application of an optically -mediated electrowetting (oEWOD) force; and wherein the second flow rate in the second region is higher than the first flow rate in the first flow region. A method and apparatus for dispensing one or more microdroplets are also provided.

An example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a plurality of power supplies connected to the pillars. Another example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a power supply. The pillars are grouped into at least two groups of pillars, each group of pillars including at least two pillars, and all pillars of at least one group of pillars are connected to the power supply. In another example, a sensing system for detecting bioparticles includes a micro-fluidic device, wherein a surface of each pillar comprises functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles or functionalized SERS nanoparticles, a radiation source for radiating the micro-fluidic device, and a detector for detecting SERS signals or surface plasmon resonance.

A pattern electrode structure for an electrowetting apparatus, which is laminated between a base material and a dielectric layer of the electrowetting apparatus, includes a first electrode portion including a first electrode connection portion, a first basal pattern electrode connected to the first electrode connection portion, and a plurality of first upper branch electrodes connected to the first basal pattern electrode, and a second electrode portion including a second electrode connection portion, a second basal pattern electrode connected to the second electrode connection portion, and a plurality of second upper branch electrodes connected to the second basal pattern electrode, the second electrode portion having a different polarity from the first electrode portion, in which the second basal pattern electrode extends and traverses in a width direction of a plane of the pattern electrode structure.

Methods and systems for driving an active matrix electrowetting on dielectric device including thin-film-transistors to increase the switching frequency of the propulsion electrodes beyond what is typical for line-by-line active matrix driving. By using a latching circuit, it is possible to selectively switch specific propulsion (pixel) electrodes between an “on” and an “off” state, wherein a propulsion electrode in an “on” state can be driven by a time varying drive voltage on the top electrode that is a much higher frequency than is typically possible with amorphous silicon thin-film-transistor arrays. The faster drive frequency improves the performance of electrowetting devices, especially when used with aqueous droplets having a high ionic strength.