The present disclosure relates to a fluid system for a sample processor and a sample processor including the fluid system. The fluid system includes a sample line, a processing fluid line, a vacuum line, and an air pump. The sample line communicates a sample container with a sample port of a flow cell unit. The processing fluid line communicates a sheath fluid container with a processing fluid port of the flow cell unit. The vacuum line is in communication with the flow cell unit. The air pump includes a first output port and a second output port. Pressurized gas is generated at the first output port, and the first output port is in communication with the sample container and the sheath fluid container. A vacuum is generated at the second output port, and the second output port is in communication with a vacuum port of the flow cell unit through the vacuum line.

Electrochemical sensing devices and methods of using thereof employs a set of one or more sensor-integrated sampling wells or containers that operates with a pressure differential micro-valve to move controlled volume of sampled fluid within a controlled cell-growing environment. The differential micro-valve can be integrated into an instrumented well having one or more sensors to provide a high-throughput smart well plate platform for use in automation operation in diagnostics and drug discovery.

The microfluidic device capable of initiating sequential flow according to the present invention includes: a main flow path in which a suction port for sucking the fluid with a negative pressure is formed at one end; a plurality of reservoirs that supply a fluid stored therein to the main flow path through an outlet by the negative pressure applied to the suction port, and are connected to a plurality of different points of the main flow path; and a blocking element that blocks the inflow of external air to the main flow path through the outlet when all the fluid in the reservoir flows out, wherein the fluid stored in a plurality of the reservoirs may flow sequentially.

Multivolume liquid pipettes with nested plunger and vacuum chamber configurations and methods of using such pipettes are disclosed herein. These pipettes typically include a body and a fluid displacement assembly with a small plunger element slideably received within a larger plunger element, each movable within a vacuum chamber for the precise and accurate control of the displacement of fluid, such as air. In turn, this allows for a single device to aspirate and dispense a broad range of liquids in a dynamic, accurate, and precise manner. In addition, the devices disclosed herein may also include a multi-tiered spring-loaded ejection mechanism to allow the user to use and eject pipette tips of different sizes.

Disclosed herein are microfluidic devices and methods to deliver concentration gradients to biological material such as oocytes and embryos for the purpose of cryopreparation, cryopreservation, or thawing. Cryopreservation methods, such as vitrification, involve the use of cryoprotectants to reduce formation of damaging ice crystals in cells during freezing. Microfluidic devices and methods described herein improve cell viability and efficiency during handling and cryopreservation of biological materials.

A microfluidic assembly may include a microfluidic chip operably coupled to a device source pressure port and a device relief pressure port, first and second input reservoirs, an output reservoir, and a reservoir interface. The microfluidic chip may include a microfluidic circuit configured to support a fluid flow that includes a gas flow and a liquid flow within the microfluidic circuit. The reservoir interface may be configured to operably couple the first and second input reservoirs to the microfluidic circuit. The device source pressure port may be configured to receive a source pressure to generate the fluid flow through the microfluidic circuit and cause a mixing of liquids to form an output liquid for delivery to the output reservoir via the fluid flow. The first liquid, the second liquid, and the output liquid need not contact the device source pressure port or the device relief pressure port during the mixing.

Collection of target analytes from complex samples is performed in detection microwell which includes a size exclusion filter and allows incubating the target analyte with affinity agents for a target analyte for capture and removal of non-target molecules. Detection of the target analytes by collection of the complexes in close proximity to a working electrode and a reference electrode facilitates the detection electrochemical labels produced.

An extraction device includes an extraction container including a discharge port and capable of storing a biological sample and an extractant, a discharge accelerator configured to discharge the biological sample extracted into the extractant in the extraction container from the discharge port, and a controller configured to instruct the discharge accelerator to discharge the biological sample from the discharge port.

A transfer container for a fluid includes a tube, the tube including a conical portion at one end, the tube defining an interior space and one or more fluid passages configured to allow flow of fluid into or out of the interior space of the tube. The transfer container also includes a connector configured to seal the end of the conical portion when the connector is joined only to the conical portion and a pressure control mechanism configured to increase or decrease a pressure in the interior space of the tube. The transfer container can be used in a method including connecting fluid lines to the fluid passages, adding a fluid including cryoprotectant and cells, centrifuging the transfer container, and then connecting the transfer container to a second fluid transfer container containing another fluid. This allows the sterile transfer of fluids and separation of cells from cryoprotectant.

A tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic system includes a tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip; a valve control system connected to the tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip; a vacuum system fluidly connected to the tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip; and a droplet formation pressure system fluidly connected to the tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip. A microfluidic chip for a tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic system includes a tubing-free, sample-to-droplet interface section; a droplet mixing section in fluid connection with the tubing-free, sample-to-droplet interface section to received droplets therefrom; an incubation section in fluid connection with the droplet mixing section to receive droplets therefrom; and a detection section in fluid connection with the incubation section to receive droplets therefrom.