Fluid storage containers and analysis cartridges for use in assay processes are presented. In addition, systems comprising such storage containers and analysis cartridges and methods of using such containers and cartridges are presented as well. In specific embodiments, fluid storage containers are configured to be coupled to analysis cartridges in a first stage and a second stage.

The device comprises a nib (12) having a working surface (16) exposed or exposable for acquiring a biological sample and a porous structure to absorb the sample thus acquired. A reservoir (28) provides fluid under pressure to the nib via a valve (29), conveying and dispensing the sample into a reaction chamber (14), where it reconstitutes a dried-down reagent (43) to perform an analytic reaction on the sample, for example, an isothermal amplification of nucleic acid released from the sample by a membrane-disrupting agent pre-functionalised in the porous nib. The nib may be initially mounted (A) in the outlet of the reservoir or (B) in the inlet to the reaction chamber, in either case with its working surface (16) initially exposed to acquire the sample before the components of the device are assembled for performing the analytical procedure.

A dielectrophoretic detection device including a chip, with a flow channel having at least one inlet and one outlet, and at least a detection area configured to detect analytes trapped on functionalised beads flowing within the flow channel, first and second electrode assemblies shaped as rows of parallel pillars extending a the height of the flow channel, and configured to generate under electric tension an electric field to form an electrical barrier, and preventing the beads to cross the barrier and drawing the beads to the detection area by dielectrophoretic forces where they are clustered and concentrated. The device may be provided with multiple rows of parallel pillars of electrode assemblies extending over the height of the flow channel, forming multiple concentration lines. The flow channel may be provided with further rows of parallel pillars of electrode assemblies crossing the flow channel in a transverse direction, forming further incubation lines.

The invention provides sample cartridges for processing samples. The sample cartridges comprise at least one fluidic channel. Each fluidic channel comprises a sample chamber, a lysis chamber, a binding chamber, a pre-amplification region, and an amplification region. The sample cartridges also comprise a waste line that is in fluidic connectivity with each fluidic channel. The sample cartridges can interface with a plurality of plungers that are capable of occluding at least one fluidic channel, waste line, and/or optional assay line to limit the transport of fluids into, out of, and/or along at least one fluidic channel by plunging. The invention also provides multi-channel sample cartridges, which are sample cartridges that comprise at least two fluidic channels. In addition, the sample cartridges can house fluids on the cartridge, off the cartridge, or some on the cartridge and some fluids off the cartridge.

The present invention relates to monolithic bodies, uses thereof and processes for the preparation thereof. Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of a monolithic body in the preparation of a radioactive substance, for example a radiopharmaceutical, as part of a microfluidic flow system and a process for the preparation of such a monolithic body.

The present invention describes an integrated apparatus that enables identification of migratory cells directly from a specimen. The apparatus only requires a small number of cells to perform an assay and includes novel topographic features which can reliably differentiate between migratory and non-migratory cell populations in a sample. Both the spontaneous and chemotactic migration of cancer cells may be measured to distinguish between subpopulations within a tumor sample. The migratory cells identified using the apparatus and methods of the present invention may be separated and further analyzed to distinguish factors promoting metastasis within the population. Cells in the apparatus can be treated with chemotherapeutic or other agents to determine drug strategies to most strongly inhibit migration. The use of optically transparent materials in some embodiments allows a wide range of imaging techniques to be used for in situ imaging of migratory and non-migratory cells in the apparatus. The apparatus and methods of the present invention are useful for predicting the metastatic propensity of tumor cells and selecting optimal drugs for personalized therapies.

A test container includes an inlet, a first storage portion, a second storage portion, a first flow channel that connects the first storage portion to the second storage portion, a first cylinder of which one end is connected to the first storage portion via a second flow channel and the other end is open to an outside, a second cylinder of which one end is connected to the second storage portion via a third flow channel and the other end is open to an outside, a first plug provided in the first cylinder, and a second plug provided in the second cylinder. An internal space including the first storage portion, the second storage portion, the first flow channel, the second flow channel, and the third flow channel is capable of being pressurized in a case where the first plug and the second plug are pressed and moved from the outside.

A microfluidic chip configuration wherein injection occurs in an upwards vertical direction, and fluid vessels are located below the chip in order to minimize particle settling before and at the analysis portion of the chip's channels. The input and fluid flow up through the bottom of the chip, in one aspect using a manifold, which avoids orthogonal re-orientation of fluid dynamics. The contents of the vial are located below the chip and pumped upwards and vertically directly into the first channel of the chip. A long channel extends from the bottom of the chip to near the top of the chip. Then the channel takes a short horizontal turn that nearly negates any influence of cell settling due to gravity and zero flow velocity at the walls. The fluid is pumped up to a horizontal analysis portion that is the highest channel/fluidic point in the chip and thus close to the top of the chip, which results in clearer imaging. A laser may also suspend cells or particles in this channel during analysis which prevents them from settling.

A method includes mounting an integrated electro-microfluidic probe card to a device area on a bio-sensor device wafer, wherein the electro-microfluidic probe card has a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The method further includes electrically connecting at least one electronic probe tip extending from the first major surface to a corresponding conductive area of the device area. The method further includes stamping a test fluid onto the device area. The method further includes measuring via the at least one electronic probe tip a first electrical property of one or more bio-FETs of the device area based on the test fluid.

The present invention provides self-contained systems for performing an assay for determining a chemical state, the system including a stationary cartridge for performing the assay therein, at least one reagent adapted to react with a sample; and at least one reporter functionality adapted to report a reaction of the at least one reagent with said sample to report a result of the assay, wherein the at least one reagent, the sample and the at least one reporter functionality are contained within the cartridge.