Methods and apparatuses for mechanically controlling microfluidic movement using a force applicator and an elastically deformable sheet are described herein. These apparatuses may include a mechanical microfluidics actuator devices and a cartridge. A microfluidic droplet may be moved or displaced within an air gap of the cartridge by applying a compressive force locally and selectively reduce the gap width of the air gap near the microfluidic droplet causing the microfluidic droplet to move toward the reduced gap. Compressive forces may also be used to divide, join, mix or perform other operations on the microfluidic droplets.

An improved biological sample preparation device and method of using the device. The disclosed device provides improved sample volume control, reduces potential contamination in the working environment, increases ease of use, and improves safety for healthcare workers.

A device for determining the amount or concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample and a flow rate of the fluid sample in a channel is provided. The device includes a chamber including a channel and an opening the channel in fluid communication with the opening. The device further includes a wicking component positioned adjacent to the opening configured to receive an amount of fluid from the channel. The device may further include an analyte sensor positioned on the wicking component, the analyte sensor configured to detect an analyte in fluid in contact with the analyte sensor, wherein the wicking component is configured to contact the amount of fluid with the analyte sensor. Alternatively the device may include at least one pair of electrodes configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid in the channel.

Disclosed is a device for moving a liquid in a substantially loss-free operation, the device made of at least a photothermal film; a pyroelectric crystal over the photothermal film; and a superomniphobic surface over the pyroelectric crystal, wherein the device is configured to move the liquid in the substantially loss-free operation with a beam of light.

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip may include a substrate. The substrate may include an electrode layer on a base substrate, a dielectric layer on the electrode layer, and a lyophobic layer on the dielectric layer. The electrode layer may include a plurality of electrode units. Each of the plurality of electrode units may be configured to realize both droplet detection and droplet driving in response to a detection signal and a driving signal respectively.

The present disclosure provides an electrode plate, a microfluidic chip, and a method of manufacturing the electrode plate. In one embodiment, an electrode plate includes: a substrate, an electrode and a surface contact layer stacked in sequence, and a droplet inlet hole passing through the substrate, the electrode and the surface contact layer. The surface contact layer comprises a super-hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region, and the droplet inlet hole is disposed in the hydrophilic region. The microfluidic chip includes: a first electrode plate formed by the abovementioned electrode plate, and a second electrode plate provided on a side of the first electrode plate close to the surface contact layer. The first electrode plate is provided opposite to the second electrode plate and a liquid channel is formed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

A microparticle filling method of the present disclosure is a method of filling at least one or more containers with microparticles, including: sucking a suspension of the microparticles into a nozzle; concentrating the microparticles in the suspension to form a high-concentration suspension having a predetermined microparticle concentration at a tip of the nozzle; bringing the high-concentration suspension in contact with an inner wall of the container; and separating the nozzle from the container after the contact to fill the container with the high-concentration suspension.

Methods and apparatuses for mechanically controlling microfluidic movement using a force applicator and an elastically deformable sheet are described herein. These apparatuses may include a mechanical microfluidics actuator devices and a cartridge. A microfluidic droplet may be moved or displaced within an air gap of the cartridge by applying a compressive force locally and selectively reduce the gap width of the air gap near the microfluidic droplet causing the microfluidic droplet to move toward the reduced gap. Compressive forces may also be used to divide, join, mix or perform other operations on the microfluidic droplets.

An improved biological sample preparation device and method of using the device, the device including a squeezable tube and a tip assembled to the squeezable tube. The tip includes a filter and a wick configured to enable controlled delivery to a diagnostic device by capillary action. The device provides precise and repeatable sample volume dispensing control, reduces potential contamination in the working environment, increases ease of use, and improves safety for healthcare workers.

Fluidic devices and methods for autonomous droplet generation and methods for droplet manipulation are described. In an embodiment, the fluidic device comprises a substrate defining: an inlet reservoir shaped to receive and to carry a carrier liquid; a converging region in fluidic communication with the inlet reservoir and shaped to receive a liquid sample; a constriction adjacent to and in fluidic communication with the converging region, wherein the constriction defines a pathway configured to allow passage of fluid therethrough; a diverging region in fluidic communication with and downstream of the constriction; and an outlet reservoir in fluidic communication with the diverging region, wherein the fluidic device does not comprise a portion covering the outlet reservoir opposite the substrate.