An open microfluidic system is provided. The open microfluidic system including the extreme wettability of exclusive liquid repellency (ELR), open microchannels with high lateral resolution and low profile, various valve arrangements, capable of a broad range flow rates, and capable of spatially and temporally trapping particles in open fluid.

Digital microfluidic (DMF) methods and apparatuses (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF readers, etc.), and in particular DMF apparatuses and methods adapted for large volume. For example, described herein are methods and apparatuses for DMF using an air gap having a width of the gap that may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. Also described herein are DMF readers for use with a DMF cartridges, including those adapted for use with large air gap/large volume, although smaller volumes may be used as well.

Aniosotropic Ratchet Conveyor (“ARC”)-based biomolecule processing devices and related methods are described. The ARC-based biomolecule processing devices include (i) a substrate having an ARC track defined on or within the substrate and including a biomolecule receiving area, which is designed to receive biomolecule, and a reconstituting area, which is designed to contain dry reagents and is designed to receive a transport solution such that at the reconstituting area, dry reagents are reconstituted with transport solution; and (ii) a microheater area disposed at or near the biomolecule receiving area, fitted with a microheater, which is designed to heat biomolecule that is received through the biomolecule receiving area and designed to process heated biomolecule and dry reagents reconstituted with transport solution. The ARC track includes an arrangement of a plurality of hydrophilic rungs disposed on a hydrophobic region such that between consecutive hydrophobic rungs, a portion of the hydrophobic region is exposed.

Described herein are cartridges and devices for operating said cartridges for analyzing a biological sample, such as a blood or saliva sample. Also described herein is an impedance sensor for analyzing a biological sample. Further described herein are methods of determining a cell count or detecting an analyte in a biological sample, which can include transporting the biological sample through a sensor comprising a channel or pore; applying an electrical current or voltage to the channel or pore; detecting an impedance within the channel or pore; and determining a cell count or detecting the analyte based on the detected impedance. Also described herein is an electrowetting electrode array that is configured to transport aqueous solutions using low voltage, such as about 50 volts or less. Further described herein are methods of transporting an aqueous liquid using electrowetting electrodes.

A digital microfluidic device including a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate includes a top plate substrate, a top plate common electrode, and a first hydrophobic layer covering the top plate common electrode. A plurality of wells are present in the top plate, and the surface of at least one of the wells is more hydrophilic than the surface of the first hydrophobic layer. The bottom plate includes a bottom electrode array comprising a plurality of digital microfluidic propulsion electrodes, and a second hydrophobic layer covering the bottom electrode array. The top plate and the bottom plate are provided in a spaced relationship defining a microfluidic region therebetween to permit droplet motion within the microfluidic region under application of propulsion voltages between the bottom electrode array and the common top electrode.

Digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatuses, systems, devices and associated fluid manipulation and extraction devices, and methods of using them are presented. The devices may be useful for analysis of clinical, laboratory, chemical, or biological samples. A fluid application and extraction interface device may include a waste reservoir with a fluid trap and a transfer conduit extending through the waste reservoir so that fluid may pass from the transfer conduit into the waste reservoir and be trapped within the waste chamber. A transfer conduit may be configured to double back on itself and to hold a fluid sample. A DMF apparatus may be configured to hold and process large sample volumes.

A method for assaying analytes in a blood sample by loading a blood sample onto a microfluidic device; combining the blood sample with a buffer reagent comprising a surfactant to provide a diluted blood sample and conduct an assay. The surfactant is selected to permit the use of electrowetting to conduct droplet operations using the blood sample and to permit the use of a fluorescence-based droplet operation. The assay may be an unbound bilirubin assay.

A microfluidic device and a detection method for the microfluidic device are provided. The microfluidic device includes a driving substrate configured to drive a movement of a droplet; and a position detector configured to detect a position of the droplet on the driving substrate.

The present disclosure relates to digital microfluidic systems having an electrode bus controlled by a single actuation input, and methods for droplet manipulation using the electrode bus. Particularly, aspects are directed to a digital microfluidic system including a first group of droplet actuation electrodes formed in a substrate, a first wiring bus formed in the substrate and connected to each electrode in the first group of droplet actuation electrodes, and a first single point of actuation connected to the first wiring bus; and a second group of droplet actuation electrodes formed in the substrate, a second wiring bus formed in the substrate and connected to each electrode in the second group of droplet actuation electrodes, and a second single point of actuation connected to the second wiring bus.

A driving method for a digital microfluidic chip, the digital microfluidic chip including a first electrode and a second electrode that are adjacent, the driving method including: applying a first driving signal to the first electrode and a second driving signal to the second electrode, wherein an applying period of the first driving signal and an applying period of the second driving signal are mutually staggered, and a total time length of the applying period of the first driving signal is less than a total time length of the applying period of the second driving signal.