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.

Disclosed herein are finished products, methods, compositions and kits for derivatizing plastic (e.g., “polymer”) surfaces in a manner that renders the surfaces appropriate for various downstream applications. For example, flow cells incorporating modified plastic surfaces provide greatly enhanced stability for retention of attached chemical species such as polypeptides and nucleic acids.

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).

The present disclosure is directed to automated systems including a microfluidic chip having one or more independently operable processing conduits. In some embodiments, the automated systems are suitable for use in sample cleanup and/or target enrichment processes, such as sample cleanup and/or target enrichment processes conducted prior to sequencing.

Flow cell assemblies and related reagent selector valves. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus includes a system including a reagent cartridge receptacle. The apparatus includes a flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a reagent cartridge receivable within the reagent cartridge receptacle. The reagent cartridge including a plurality of reagent reservoirs. The apparatus includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly including a reagent selector valve adapted to be fluidically coupled to the reagent reservoirs and to selectively flow reagent from a corresponding reagent reservoir to the flow cell assembly. At least a surface of the manifold assembly associated with the reagent selector valve is coupled to a portion of the flow cell assembly.

Aspects relate to systems and methods for fluid sensing using passive flow. An exemplary system includes a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including at least a reservoir configured to contain at least a fluid and at least a passive flow component in fluidic communication with the at least a reservoir and configured to flow the at least a fluid with predetermined flow properties, at least an sensor device configured to be in sensed communication with the at least a fluid and detect at least a sensed property; and at least an sensor interface configured to wet at least a surface of the at least a sensor device with the at least a fluid.

Devices and methods for characterization of analyte mixtures are provided. Some methods described herein include performing enrichment steps on a device before expelling enriched analyte fractions from the device for subsequent analysis. Also included are devices for performing these enrichment steps.

An embodiment provides an apparatus, including: a cartridge including a base and a lid; at least one fluid line located between the base and the lid of the cartridge; at least one heating element located either on the base or the lid and aligned in intimate contact with the at least one fluid line; at least one heat sensing element in intimate contact with the at least one fluid line, where the at least one heat sensing element is spaced downstream from the at least one heating element; a supply of power to the cartridge; and a processor in electrical communication with the cartridge that executes a program of instructions to: operate the at least one heating element to produce heating of the at least one fluid line at a first position; and operate the at least one heat sensing element to detect the heat of a fluid within the at least one fluid line at a position downstream of the first position. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Systems and methods for measuring dynamic hydraulic conductivity and permeability associated with a cell layer are disclosed. Some systems include a microfluidic device, one or more working-fluid reservoirs, and one or more fluid-resistance element. The microfluidic device includes a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a barrier therebetween. The barrier includes a cell layer adhered thereto. The working fluids are delivered to the microfluidic device. The fluid-resistance elements are coupled to one or more of the fluid paths and provide fluidic resistance to cause a pressure drop across the fluid-resistance elements. Mass transfer occurs between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, which is indicative of the hydraulic conductivity and/or dynamic permeability associated with the cells.