A mixer and a reactor including the same are provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the mixer includes a first piping part into which a first fluid flows, an elbow piping part having an inlet connected to the first piping part and an outlet provided at a location rotated by a predetermined angle from the inlet in a flow direction of the first fluid to have a curved flow path, and a second piping part connected to the elbow piping part to have a central axis perpendicular to a central axis of the first piping part so that a second fluid flows in a tangential direction of the elbow piping part when the second fluid flows into the elbow piping part.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

The invention is directed to a method for carrying out a continuous physical or chemical process, in particular crystallization. The method of the invention comprises: comprisingflowing a fluid through a channel comprising an inlet and an outlet for said fluid, wherein said channel is at least in part curved and comprises at least two curvatures,allowing said process to occur at least in part in said fluid in the presence of Dean vortices in said fluid, whilereversing the direction of the flow of said fluid in said channel multiple times, wherein Dean vortices in the fluid in the channel are maintained while the flow is reversed.

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) are disclosed. A processing region includes one or more surfaces (e.g., particle surfaces) modified with ligands that retain polynucleotides under a first set of conditions (e.g., temperature and pH) and release the polynucleotides under a second set of conditions (e.g., higher temperature and/or more basic pH). The processing region can be used to, for example, concentrate polynucleotides of a sample and/or separate inhibitors of amplification reactions from the polynucleotides. Microfluidic devices with a processing region are disclosed.

The exhaust line comprises an injection segment including at least one cup having a large upstream face directly sprayed with the exhaust gases and dividing a circulation passage into an upstream space and a downstream space. The injection segment comprises at least one circumferential conduit fluidically connecting the upstream space to the downstream space. The cup defines at least one injection channel and at least one guiding area laid out so as to guide as far as said injection channel a portion of the exhaust gases spraying the large upstream face. An injection device includes a reagent injector that is oriented to inject the reagent substantially with a co-current or counter-current of the exhaust gases in the injection channel, with the latter extending from the injector as far as the inlet of the conduit.

Varied embodiments of a container/dispenser having a multi-chamber bellows member having a plurality of collapsible bellows chambers allowing more than one substance to be contained within the container and simultaneously dispensed when a sufficient axial force is exerted on a platform to compress the bellows member forcing flowable materials from each chamber. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention discloses a retrofit multi-chambered bellows container, which may be adapted to a standard caulking tube container.

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) are disclosed. A processing region includes one or more surfaces (e.g., particle surfaces) modified with ligands that regain polynucleotides under a first set of conditions (e.g., temperature and pH) and release the polynucleotides under a second set of conditions (e.g., higher temperature and/or more basic pH). The processing region can be used to, for example, concentrate polynucleotides of a sample and/or separate inhibitors of amplification reactions from the polynucleotides. Microfluidic devices with a processing region are disclosed.

This disclosure relates generally to mixing and separating phases of a mixture, and, more particularly, to an integrated apparatus for mixing and separating immiscible fluid phases and method therefor. The apparatus includes an inlet section, a mixing section, a separating section, and an outlet section. The mixing section includes multiple spiral turns for separately introducing the fluid phases of different specific gravity into the mixing section. Each of the spiral turns includes a helical channel followed by a counter-helical channel for enabling mixing of fluid phases. The counter-helical channel changes the direction of flow of fluid phases upon flow of said fluid phases from the helical channel to the counter-helical channel. The separating section extends from the mixing section separates the fluid phases based on specific gravity difference of fluid phases. The outlet section facilitates in separate withdrawal of fluid phases based on the specific gravity of said fluid phases.

The present disclosure describes a method of encapsulating cells in a crosslinked alginate microbead using a microfluidic encapsulation device.

An assay cartridge for mixing a test sample and reagent for diagnostic purposes, and method of using the same. The assay cartridge includes a housing, an injection port for receiving the test sample (whole blood), a filtration membrane for separating plasma from the sample, a section for receipt of reagent, and one or more sets of valves provided in the housing. Each valve is configured for movement between an open position and a closed position. Metering chambers are provided in the housing for receiving separated plasma and the reagent therein. A port is fluidly connected to each metering chamber and uses to draw air from or deliver pressurized fluid into the housing. Mixing channels are provided in the housing and selectively connected to the metering chambers for mixing the separated plasma and reagent into a substantially homogeneous mixture. The homogeneous mixture is delivered out of the housing through output ports.