Methods for on-demand printing discrete entities including, e.g., cells, media or reagents to substrates are provided. In certain aspects, the methods include manipulating qualities of the entities or biological components thereof. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to create arrays of microenvironments and/or for two and three-dimensional printing of tissues or structures and/or for in situ printing for microsurgeries. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

A cartridge is for a detection of a sample or a first component, wherein the sample includes the first component and a second component. The cartridge includes a first injection chamber, a second injection chamber, a separation chamber, a collection chamber and a first detection chamber. The first injection chamber and the second injection chamber are adapted for injecting the sample or the first component. The separation chamber is connected to the first injection chamber, and the sample injected from the first injection chamber is adapted to be separated into the first component and the second component in the separation chamber. The collection chamber is connected to the separation chamber and the second injection chamber. The first detection chamber is connected to the collection chamber. A biological detection system is further provided.

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 reaction processing apparatus includes: a reaction processing vessel; a first fluorescence detection device that irradiates a sample with first excitation light and detects first fluorescence produced from the sample; and a second fluorescence detection device that irradiates a sample with second excitation light and detects second fluorescence produced from the sample. The wavelength range of the first fluorescence and the wavelength range of the second excitation light overlap at least partially. The first excitation light and the second excitation light flash at a predetermined duty ratio d. The phase difference between the flashing of the first excitation light and the flashing of the second excitation light is set within a range of 2π(pm−Δpm) (rad) to 2π(pm+Δpm) (rad) or within a range of 2π[(1−pm)−Δpm] (rad) to 2π[(1−pm)+Δpm] (rad), where pm=d−d2 and Δpm =0.01*pm.

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.

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.

A system or method for detecting an immune system activation state in a patient can include a sample preparation system configured to isolate white blood cells from a sample of the patient, a cytometry module configured to determine biophysical properties of the white blood cells of the sample, and an analysis module configured to analyze the biophysical properties.

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.

Systems and methods for conducting designated reactions utilizing a base instrument and a removable cartridge. The removable cartridge includes a fluidic network that receives and fluidically directs a biological sample to conduct the designated reactions. The removable cartridge also includes a flow-control valve that is operably coupled to the fluidic network and is movable relative to the fluidic network to control flow of the biological sample therethrough. The removable cartridge is configured to separably engage a base instrument. The base instrument includes a valve actuator that engages the flow-control valve of the removable cartridge. A detection assembly held by at least one of the removable cartridge or the base instrument may be used to detect the designated reactions.

Continuous microfluidic dilatometry devices and methods are provided for activity monitoring with ultra-high sensitivity. Corner flow in capillary channels is used to detect the resistance change in microfluidic circuits filled with ionic liquids. The conversion of mechanical input (e.g. strain) to an intermediary domain, namely liquid displacement, allows a large enhancement in sensor performance. Embodiments are suitable for tracking skin deformations that occur as a result of human movements.