A cartridge for use with chemical or biological analysis systems is provided. The cartridge may include a floating microfluidic plate that is held in the cartridge using one or more floating support brackets that incorporate gaskets that may seal against fluidic ports on the microfluidic plate. The floating support brackets may include indexing features that may align the microfluidic plate with the seals.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor (GMR sensor) for detecting analytes in the sample. The assembly is pneumatically and electronically mated with the reader unit via a pneumatic interface and an electronic interface such that the parameters may be implemented via the control unit. The pneumatic system is contained within the unit and has pump(s) and valve(s) for selectively applying fluid pressure to the pneumatic interface of the assembly, and thus through the communication channels, to move the sample and mixing material(s) through and to sensor. The control unit activates the pneumatic system to prepare the sample and provide it to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also processes measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

A microfluidic device comprises upper and lower spaced apart substrates defining a fluid chamber therebetween; an aperture for introducing fluid into the fluid chamber; and a fluid input structure disposed over the upper substrate and having a fluid well for receiving fluid from a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The fluid well communicates with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid input structure, the fluid exit being adjacent the aperture. The fluid well comprises first, second and third portions, with the first portion of the well forming a reservoir for a filler fluid; and the second portion of the well being configured to sealingly engage against an outer surface of a fluid applicator inserted into the fluid well. The third portion of the well communicates with the fluid exit and has a diameter at the interface between the third portion and the second portion that is greater than the diameter of the second portion at the interface between the third portion and the second portion.

Disclosed herein is a system to detect and characterize individual particles and cells using at least either optic or electric detection as the particle or cell flows through a microfluidic channel. The system also provides for sorting particles and cells or isolating individual particles and cells.

A hand-held applicator (10) for collecting, mixing, diluting and discharging a sample liquid, comprising a main body (20) having an inlet-aperture (24), an outlet-aperture (26) and a chamber (22) for storing a liquid solution, wherein the chamber is connected to the inlet-aperture and the outlet-aperture, a lid (12) for covering the inlet-aperture and a tube (40), moveably supported in the inlet-aperture when the lid is covering the upper portion of the main body, wherein the tube (40) is moveable between a predetermined position outside the chamber and a position, in which the tube is at least partly located in the chamber.

The present invention relates to a contact-less priming system for loading a solution in a microfluidic device comprising: at least one microfluidic device, a pressure chamber configured to enclose said at least one microfluidic device, a pressurization unit fluidly connected to the pressure chamber and at least one closing member. The present invention also relates to a contact-less priming method for loading a solution in a microfluidic device.

The present inventive concept relates to a microfluidic arrangement (1) for capillary driven fluidic connection between capillary flow channels (8, 16). The microfluidic arrangement (1) comprises: a first microfluidic system (4) comprising a first surface (5), and a first capillary flow channel (8), wherein the first capillary flow channel (8) has an elongation in a first plane, and the first surface comprises an outlet opening (9) in a plane different from the first plane, the outlet opening defining an outlet area (35) in the first surface and being adapted to allow fluidic communication with the first capillary flow channel thereby forming a flow outlet (12) of the first capillary flow channel, and a second microfluidic system (6) comprising a second surface (7) and a second capillary flow channel (16), wherein the second capillary flow channel (16) has an elongation in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and a portion of the second surface (7) comprises an inlet opening (13) in a plane different from the second plane, the inlet opening defining an inlet area (33) in the second surface and being adapted to allow fluidic communication with the second capillary flow channel thereby forming a flow inlet (20) of the second capillary flow channel, wherein the first microfluidic system (4) and the second microfluidic system (6) are arranged with the first and the second surfaces in contact such that the flow outlet (12) and the flow inlet (20) are interfaced, thereby allowing capillary driven fluidic connection between the first and the second capillary flow channels (8, 16), wherein the outlet area (35) overlaps at least a portion of the inlet area (33), said at least a portion of the inlet area (33) overlapped by the outlet area (35) being smaller than the outlet area (35).

Methods and devices for testing a biological sample are provided. A tape includes multiple channels or reservoirs having inlet and outlet ports. One tape having biological sample disposed in its channels is temporarily mated with another tape having reagents disposed in its channels via a serpentine belt and compression roller assembly. Pulsed fluidic operations combine the reagents and the biological sample for subsequent observation, detection, storage and/or disposal. Fluidic transfer is provided in a uniform operation or in conjunction with a sensory feedback assembly.

Reaction vessels, cartridges, devices and methods for facilitating high-level multiplexing are described herein. Such reaction vessels can include a planar frame defining a fluidic path between a first planar substrate and a second planar substrate, a fluidic interface is located at one end of the planar frame with a pair of fluidic ports, a well chamber and a pre-amplification chamber. Devices for spotting reagents in wells of high-level multiplexing reaction vessels and improved reagent solutions are also described herein.

This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting and analyzing blood cells in biological samples. A small measured quantity of a biological sample, such as whole blood, is placed in a mixing bowl on the disposable test cartridge after being inserted into the cell analyzer. The analayzer also deposits a known amount of diluent/stain in the mixing bowl and mixes it with the blood. The analyzer takes a measured amount of the mixture and dispenses in a sample cup on the cartridge in fluid communication with an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping as it is transferred into the imaging chamber by the analyzer. Images of all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are counted and analyzed to obtain a complete blood count.