An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles includes a microfluidic flow focusing device, which includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

An apparatus for preparing a cosmetic composition containing an emulsion substance formed by instant emulsification through a microfluidic channel is provided. The apparatus includes a housing defining the appearance of the apparatus and installed with a pump on one side, the pump being operated by a user; an external-phase chamber provided in the housing, and storing an external-phase fluid forming the external phase of the emulsion substance; a dispersed-phase chamber provided in the housing, and storing a dispersed-phase fluid forming the dispersed phase of the emulsion substance. The apparatus further includes a microfluidic channel providing a path for the external-phase fluid and the dispersed-phase fluid to flow for forming the emulsion substance by combining the external-phase fluid with the dispersed-phase fluid; and a tube for discharging the emulsion substance from the microfluidic channel.

A microdroplet/bubble-generating device comprising a slit and a row of a plurality of microflow paths is constructed, in such a manner that either a continuous phase or dispersion phase is supplied to the slit, and so that the end of the slit, the other supply port for the continuous phase or dispersion phase and the liquid recovery port are connected. The plurality of microflow paths each have a narrow part where the cross-sectional area of the flow channel is locally narrowed adjacent to or near the connection point between the slit and the microflow path. The continuous phase and dispersion phase that have met at the connection points flow into the narrow parts, and the dispersion phase is sheared at the narrow parts with the continuous phase flow as the driving force, forming droplets or gas bubbles of the dispersion phase. The product is recovered from the liquid recovery port.

A microfluidic device having hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and a method of manufacture thereof are provided. The microfluidic device may include one or more channels formed using a short-pulse laser that are configured for separation or mixing of fluids. The microfluidic device may further include hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces configured to aid in the separation or mixture of fluids. The short-pulse laser may be a femtosecond laser.

The present invention relates to the use of surfaces that exhibit different surface energies wherein the difference in surface energies is configured to disrupt capillary laminar flow of a fluid travelling between the two surfaces. The invention further relates to the use of such surfaces in assay methods including a device utilising same.

An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles contains a microfluidic flow focusing device. The microfluidic flow focusing device includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

A control method and related apparatus are disclosed for controlling actuation voltages applied to array elements of an element array on an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device, wherein test metrics are determined and employed for optimizing subsequent droplet manipulation operations. The control method includes the steps of: receiving a liquid droplet onto the element array; applying an electrowetting actuation pattern of actuation voltages to actuate the droplet to modify a footprint of the droplet from a first state having an initial footprint to a second state having a modified footprint; sensing the modified footprint with a sensor; determining a test metric from sensing the modified footprint indicative of one or more droplet properties based on a droplet response of the liquid droplet to the electrowetting actuation pattern; and controlling actuation voltages applied to the array elements based on the test metric. The test metrics may include a transition rate and/or conformance to an actuation pattern.

A method of digital quantification of a species in an EWOD device includes inputting a sample volume and a diluent volume into the EWOD device; performing an electrowetting operation to generate a first sample droplet from the sample volume; performing an amplification process on the first sample droplet and measuring a turn-on value for the sample droplet; comparing the measured turn-on value to a target turn-on value for digital quantification; calculating a dilution factor based on the comparison of the measured and target turn-on values; performing an electrowetting operation to extract a second sample droplet from the sample volume; performing an electrowetting operation to dilute the second sample droplet with the diluent volume by the dilution factor to form a diluted second sample droplet; and performing a digital quantification on the diluted second sample droplet to quantify an initial concentration of the species in the sample volume.

A microfluidic synthesis platform includes a microfluidic chip holder that has a computer controlled heating element and cooling element therein. A microfluidic chip is mountable in the microfluidic chip holder. The microfluidic chip is formed by a hydrophobic substrate having patterned thereon a hydrophilic reaction site and a plurality of hydrophilic channels or pathways extending outward from the hydrophilic reaction site and terminating at respective loading sites on the substrate, wherein the hydrophilic channels or pathways are tapered with an increasing width in an inward direction toward the hydrophilic reaction site. A fixture is provided for holding a plurality of non-contact reagent dispensing devices above the microfluidic chip at locations corresponding to the loading sites of the plurality of hydrophilic channels or pathways, the fixture further holding a moveable collection tube disposed above the hydrophilic reaction site of the microfluidic chip for removing droplets containing reaction products.

A microfluidic device, a method for manufacturing a microfluidic device, and a method for provision of double emulsion droplets using a microfluidic device. Furthermore, an assembly configured to supply pressure to the microfluidic device for provision of double emulsion droplets. Furthermore, a kit comprising a plurality of microfluidic devices and a plurality of fluids configured for use with the microfluidic device for provision of double emulsion droplets.