Disclosed is a sample processing method for processing a target component in a sample by use of a sample processing chip having a storage portion and a droplet forming flow path, the sample processing method including: storing, in the storage portion, a mixture of the target component and a predetermined amount of a diluent for causing the target component to be encapsulated by one molecule or by one particle into a droplet; heating the mixture in the storage portion to cause thermal convection in the storage portion thereby to mix the target component and the diluent together; and in the droplet forming flow path, forming droplets in a dispersion medium, each droplet containing the diluted target component and a reagent that reacts with the target component.

A system and method for isolating and analyzing single cells, comprising: a substrate having a broad surface; a set of wells defined at the broad surface of the substrate, and a set of channels, defined by the wall, that fluidly couple each well to at least one adjacent well in the set of wells; and fluid delivery module defining an inlet and comprising a plate, removably coupled to the substrate, the plate defining a recessed region fluidly connected to the inlet and facing the broad surface of the substrate, the fluid delivery module comprising a cell capture mode.

A system and method for isolating and analyzing single cells, comprising: a substrate having a broad surface; a set of wells defined at the broad surface of the substrate, and a set of channels, defined by the wall, that fluidly couple each well to at least one adjacent well in the set of wells; and fluid delivery module defining an inlet and comprising a plate, removably coupled to the substrate, the plate defining a recessed region fluidly connected to the inlet and facing the broad surface of the substrate, the fluid delivery module comprising a cell capture mode.

The present invention relates to a detection mechanism for polymerase chain reaction and a polymerase chain reaction device, wherein the detection mechanism comprises at least one excitation module group, each of the excitation module groups comprising two excitation modules for providing excitation light with two wavelengths; an excitation optical fiber, connected to the excitation modules, the excitation optical fiber transmitting the excitation light to at least one reaction tube, each of the reaction tubes receiving excitation light with two wavelengths; a receiving optical fiber, for collecting and transmitting a fluorescent signal from the reaction tube; at least one receiving module group, connected to the receiving optical fiber, each of the receiving module groups comprising two receiving modules, to respectively receive the fluorescent signal of two wavelengths from the same said reaction tube, and convert the fluorescent signal into an electrical signal for output; the detection mechanism is configured to detect the reaction tube in a time division manner, and multiplex the receiving module group to obtain an output result.

Disclosed is a multi-stage thermal convection apparatus and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the invention features a three-stage thermal convection apparatus that includes a temperature shaping element for assisting a thermal convection mediated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The invention has a wide variety of applications including amplifying nucleic acid without cumbersome and expensive hardware associated with many prior devices. In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can fit in the palm of a user's hand for use as a portable, simple to operate, and low cost PCR amplification device.

Disclosed is a multi-stage thermal convection apparatus such as a two-stage thermal convection apparatus and uses thereof. In one embodiment, the two-stage thermal convection apparatus includes a temperature shaping element that assists a thermal convection mediated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The invention has a wide variety of applications including amplifying nucleic acid without cumbersome and expensive hardware associated with many prior devices. In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can fit in the palm of a user's hand for use as a portable, simple to operate, and low cost PCR amplification device.

Embodiments of the current disclosure are directed towards apparatus, methods and systems configured for dynamic flux amplification of samples in reaction vessels. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprising a reaction vessel and a heat source is disclosed. The reaction vessel may include a first wall and an opposing second wall positioned so as to define a sample chamber therebetween, a width of the sample chamber being less than about 2 mm. The heat source may be configured to vary a first temperature of the first wall and a second temperature of the second wall such that a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature induces thermal cycling in a solution contained within the sample chamber of the reaction vessel.

Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating thermal gradients in channels and uses thereof. In particular, provided herein are system, methods, and devices employing first and second thermal layers positioned around a channel in order to create a thermal gradient across a cross-section of the channel having, for example, a nucleic acid denaturation zone, a nucleic acid annealing zone, and a nucleic acid polymerization zone. Such devices find use in, for example, nucleic acid amplification procedures, including digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to temperature cycle droplets for amplification of nucleic acid templates within the droplets.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for performing PCR by thermal convection. The device includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a temperature sensing device, a power supplying device, a processor and an accommodation space. The device uses transparent conductive film to replace conventional thermostat metal stock to perform a heat process required in the PCR or RT-PCR process. The device further uses a reagent container whose bottom portion contacts the transparent conductive film and being heated by the transparent conductive film to establish a thermal circulation in the reagent container. The device can qualify or quantify the product of PCR or RT-PCR process by further incorporating specific probes, fluorescence material, light source, light receiver and light regulator.

An automated method for performing an assay of the present disclosure can be performed in a microfluidic device that is a lateral flow device having numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. Each chamber can have a reagent recess proximal to an inlet end of the chamber. A reagent pellet formed in a reagent recess can be effectively mixed with a sample as the sample flows into the chamber. A flexible circuit with patterned metallic electrical components disposed on a heat stable material can be in direct contact with fluid in the chambers and has resistive heating elements aligned with, for example, a chamber for performing an amplification reaction. A lateral flow detection chamber can include a capillary pool proximal to a sample receiving end of a lateral flow strip, providing effective mixing and dispersion of a sample with detection particles, as well as enhancing, uniformity of particle migration on the detection strip. The microfluidic device can be configured to be hermetically sealed, thereby preventing contamination of a testing environment.