Methods of ejecting droplets containing a non-Newtonian fluid by an acoustic droplet ejector can include applying a tone burst of focused acoustic energy to a fluid reservoir containing a non-Newtonian fluid at sufficient amplitude to effect droplet ejection according to a tone burst pattern. The tone burst pattern may include three discrete tone burst segments, the first tone burst segment having greater duration than the second and third segments, and third segment having greater duration than the second segment. The exact durations and amplitudes of the tone burst segments can be tuned to influence the ejection properties.

A system and method are provided for loading a sample into an analytical instrument using acoustic droplet ejection (“ADE”) in combination with a continuous flow sampling probe. An acoustic droplet ejector is used to eject small droplets of a fluid sample containing an analyte into the sampling tip of a continuous flow sampling probe, where the acoustically ejected droplet combines with a continuous, circulating flow stream of solvent within the flow probe. Fluid circulation within the probe transports the sample through a sample transport capillary to an outlet that directs the analyte away from the probe to an analytical instrument, e.g., a device that detects the presence, concentration quantity, and/or identity of the analyte. When the analytical instrument is a mass spectrometer or other type of device requiring the analyte to be in ionized form, the exiting droplets pass through an ionization region, e.g., an electrospray ion source, prior to entering the mass spectrometer or other analytical instrument. The method employs active flow control and enables real-time kinetic measurements.

A system and method for determining a trajectory parameter of particles, comprising receiving a plurality of particles at a microfluidic channel, applying a force to each particle of the microfluidic channel, acquiring a dataset of each particle, measuring a trajectory of the particle, and determining a trajectory parameter of the particles.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for washing and concentrating microparticles encapsulated in microscale droplets using an acoustic radiation force. The apparatus includes: a piezoelectric substrate; a slanted finger interdigital transducer (SIDT) electrode deposited on the piezoelectric substrate and configured to generate surface acoustic waves under an AC signal applied thereto; and a microfluidic chip which is adhered to the piezoelectric substrate with being spaced apart from the SIDT electrode, has a microscale channel section formed therein, in which a single continuous phase and a plurality of dispersed phases are injected, respectively, and includes a plurality of inlet ports into which continuous and dispersed phases are injected, and a discharge port from which a plurality of droplets composed of the continuous and dispersed phases and generated by the intersection thereof are discharged.

Methods of fabricating a bulk acoustic wave resonator structure for a fluidic device. The methods can include a first step of disposing a first conductive material over a portion of a first surface of a substrate to form at least a portion of a first electrode, the substrate having a second surface opposite the first surface. Then, a piezoelectric material may be disposed over the first electrode. Next, a second conductive material can be disposed over the piezoelectric material to form at least a portion of a second electrode. The second conductive material extends substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate and the second conductive material at least partially extends over the first conductive material. The overlapping region of the first conductive material, the piezoelectric material, and the second conductive material form a bulk acoustic wave resonator, the bulk acoustic wave resonator having a first side and an opposing second side. An acoustic energy management structure is then disposed over a first side of the bulk acoustic wave resonator. Next a third conductive material is disposed over a portion of the second conductive material that extends beyond the bulk acoustic wave resonator, wherein the third conductive material forms an interconnect extending above the acoustic energy management structure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the substrate. Finally a portion of the second surface of the substrate is removed to expose a chemical mechanical connection at the first electrode at a second side of the bulk wave acoustic resonator. Devices formed thereby are also included.

The invention concerns a novel acoustofluidic device to separate acoustically active particles from fluids comprising a novel device arrangement for improved acoustic pressure and particle velocity; and a method of separating particles from a fluid comprising use of same.

An cartridge is combined with a smart device which is capable of communicating with a network to perform a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte. A closed microfluidic circuit for mixes the analyte with a buffer with functionalized magnetic beads capable of being specifically combined with the analyte. A detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit in which the mixed analyte, buffer and combined functionalized magnetic beads are sensed. A microcontroller is coupled to detector for controlling the detector and for data processing an output assay signal from the detector. A user interface communicates with the microcontroller for providing user input and for providing user output through the smart device to the network.

A method of performing a separation of a sample of a disperse fluid comprises the steps of: i. providing a sample of a disperse fluid comprising particles dispersed in a fluid, wherein the particles comprises at least a first type of particle and at least a second type of particles, wherein the absolute value of the acoustic contrast of the first type of particle, relative to the fluid, is lower than the absolute value of the acoustic contrast of the second type of particle relative to the fluid, and wherein the first and second type of particle either both have a positive acoustic contrast, or alternatively a negative acoustic contrast, relative to the fluid, ii. positioning the sample in a microfluidic cavity, iii. subjecting the sample, in the microfluidic cavity, to an acoustic standing wave configured for causing the first and second type of particle to congregate in at least one first region of the cavity, thereby causing the fluid to occupy at least one second region of the cavity, and thereby defining at least one interface between the first region and the second region, and iv. collecting at least a portion of the first region adjacent and along the at least one interface to obtain the first type of particles. A system is also disclosed.

There are provided a detection sensor, a detection sensor kit, a sensor device, a method for producing a detection sensor and a detection method which enable measurement by a simple operation. A detection sensor includes a detecting element, a first member and a second member. The detecting element detects a detection object contained in a sample. The first member includes a first channel portion, and the first channel portion includes a first storage section which stores a reagent which is fed to the detecting element. The second member is movable relative to the first member and includes a second channel portion. In the detection sensor, the first member and the second member are joined with each other and form a joined channel in which the first channel portion and the second channel portion communicate with each other.

The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads.