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.

The present disclosure provides microfluidic flow channel structure, detection system and method for using detection system, aiming at improving uniformity of liquid introduction of microfluidic detection system. Microfluidic flow channel structure includes liquid inlet section (1), main chamber (3) and liquid outlet section (2), main chamber (3) includes liquid inlet end (31), chamber middle part (33) and liquid outlet end (32); liquid inlet section (1), liquid inlet end (31), chamber middle part (33), liquid outlet end (32) and liquid outlet section (2) are sequentially connected together; width of liquid inlet end (31) is gradually increased in direction from liquid inlet section (1) to chamber middle part (33); thinning flow guidance region (310) is provided at edge of liquid inlet end (31) formed as width of liquid inlet end varies, and has thickness less than that of remaining region except thinning flow guidance region (310) of main chamber (3).

A single disposable cartridge for performing a process on a particle, such as particle sorting, encapsulates all fluid contact surfaces in the cartridge for use with microfluidic particle processing technology. The cartridge interfaces with an operating system for effecting particle processing. The encapsulation of the fluid contact surfaces insures, improves or promotes operator isolation and/or product isolation. The cartridge may employ any suitable technique for processing particles.

A microchannel for processing cells by compression of the cells including an inlet, ridges and an outlet. Each ridge including a compressive surface and a cell adhesion entity. The outlet configured to remove at least one of a first portion of the cells and a second portion of the cells from the microchannel. Each ridge oriented at an angle of from 25 degrees to 70 degrees relative to a center axis of the microchannel. The cell adhesion entity configured such that the first portion of the cells has a first adhesion property relative to the cell adhesion entity to follow a first trajectory through the microchannel. The cell adhesion entity further configured such that the second portion of the cells has a second adhesion property relative to the cell adhesion entity to follow a second trajectory through the microchannel. The first trajectory is different from the second trajectory.

The present disclosure provides methods, microfluidic devices, and systems for isolating target particles from a sample containing or suspected of containing the target particles. The methods, microfluidic devices, and systems disclosed herein facilitate affinity-based isolation of target particles in a microfluidic channel by translating the target particles to the side walls of the microfluidic channel where capture agents that bind to the target particles are immobilized.

Methods, devices, and systems for performing nebulization of a sample from a fluid channel of a microfluidic device are described. The systems or devices disclosed herein may comprise microfluidic devices that comprise a gas channel used for nebulization of the sample at a fluid outlet of the microfluidic device. In some instances, the disclosed devices may be designed to perform isoelectric focusing followed by further characterization of the separated analytes using electrospray ionization coupled with nebulization to introduce the samples into a mass spectrometer. The disclosed methods, devices, and systems provide for fast, accurate separation and characterization of protein analyte mixtures or other biological molecules by isoelectric point.

A fluid delivery method for delivering a liquid sample to a flow cell including a taper section including a first and a second inner walls opposing the first inner wall, which is inclined to the second inner wall so that a distance between the first and the second inner walls at a downstream side of the taper section is shorter than a distance at an upstream side of the taper section, and including measurement flow path provided downstream of the taper section, through which a liquid sample flows together with a sheath fluid. The fluid delivery method includes sample introduction of delivering the liquid sample into the taper section along the second inner wall until the liquid sample reaches the measurement flow path, and sample pressing by delivering the sheath fluid into the taper section along the first inner wall after the liquid sample reaches the measurement flow path.

A spiral inertial filtration device is capable of high-throughput (1 mL/min), high-purity particle separation while concentrating recovered target particles by more than an order of magnitude. Large fractions of sample fluid are removed from a microchannel without disruption of concentrated particle streams by taking advantage of particle focusing in inertial spiral microfluidics, which is achieved by balancing inertial lift forces and Dean drag forces. To enable the calculation of channel geometries in the device for specific concentration factors, an equivalent circuit model was developed and experimentally validated. Large particle concentration factors were achieved by maintaining either average fluid velocity or Dean number throughout the entire length of the channel during the incremental removal of sample fluid. Also provided is the ability to simultaneously separate more than one particle from the same sample.

Provided herein is a hydrodynamic focusing device, and a related method, that enables sample flow focusing in three-dimensions for detection, isolation and sorting of target species. The device includes a multi-channel inlet and multi-channel outlet structure either side of a detection chamber. Independent control of the flow in these multiple inlets and outlets creates a sheath flow that can be controlled and steered at will.

A microfluidic device includes an integrated circuit and a first substrate layer having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the first substrate layer is connected to the integrated circuit. The first substrate layer is in fluid communication with the integrated circuit. The microfluidic device also includes a second substrate layer having a surface area substantially larger than that of the first substrate layer. The second substrate layer includes a first and second surface. The first surface of the second substrate layer is connected to the second surface of the first substrate layer. The second substrate layer includes a first fluid inlet. The second substrate layer is in fluid communication with the integrated circuit through the first substrate layer.