The invention relates to a method of separating biological particles from the liquid containing same for purification, analysis and optionally diagnostic purposes. The inventive method comprises at least one step involving vertical filtration through a filter having a porosity that is adapted to the type of biological particles to be separated, such that said particles are retained by the filter. The invention is characterised in that: (i) the method involves the use of a filter comprising at least one basic filtration zone, whereby each basic filtration zone has a limited surface area; and (ii) the surface area of each basic filtration zone and the number of basic filtration zones are selected as a function of the type of liquid to be filtered, the type of biological particles to be separated and the volume of liquid to be filtered.

The invention relates to a method for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of providing a liquid sample (S) in a barrel (10) of a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, passing the liquid sample (S) through a first filtering membrane (40) such that microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) are retained at a first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40), contacting said first side (41) with a first growth medium (210) capable of supporting growth of microorganisms, incubating the first filtering membrane (40) and the first growth medium (210) at an incubation temperature, arranging a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) in fluid connection with a second side (42) of the first filtering membrane (40), detecting a metabolic gas released by the microorganisms by means of the gas sensor (50). The invention further relates to a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising a barrel (10) enclosing a barrel compartment (13) for receiving a liquid sample (S), a first piston (20) which (20) is movable in said barrel (10), wherein said barrel compartment (13) is configured to be brought in fluid communication via a first filtering membrane (40) with a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) configured to detect a metabolic gas released by microorganisms, wherein the first filtering membrane (40) is configured to retain microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) at the first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40). Furthermore, a sensor cartridge (4) and a kit of parts comprising the device (1) are provided.

A method for manufacturing a microfluidic device can include providing a base component to define a first portion of the microfluidic device. A cap component of the microfluidic device can be fabricated with a sealing lip extending a first distance from a first side of the cap component and a support portion extending a second distance, less than the first distance, from the first side of the cap component. The method can include positioning the cap component and the base component within a mold to bring the sealing lip of the cap component in contact with the base component. The base component, the support portion of the cap component, and the sealing lip of the cap component together can define a cavity. The method can include injecting a polymer material into the mold to cause the polymer material to fill the cavity.

One variation of a system includes a cartridge comprising: a substrate; a sample well integrated into the substrate, defining an upper opening and a lower opening, and configured to receive a test solution comprising a user sample and an amount of a fluorescent probe configured to bind with a target bioparticle to form a target complex; a filter membrane extending across the lower opening and defining a network of pores configured to convey fluid from the sample well and prevent passage of the target complex through the filter membrane. The system further includes a reader comprising: a housing; a cartridge receptacle configured to receive the cartridge; an excitation source configured to illuminate a detection region within the housing; and a detector defining a field of view intersecting the detection region and configured to detect a signal generated by fluid in the sample well and representing presence of the target bioparticle.

A method for screening secretion-producing cells is provided, in which a cell that produces a secretion of interest is subjected to screening from a plurality of cells. The method includes capturing the cell and at least one detection particle that is allowed to capture the secretion of interest in each of a plurality of wells having a bottom section with a through-hole sized such that the cell does not pass through, causing the cell captured in each of the plurality of wells to produce a secretion, detecting the secretion of interest captured by the at least one detection particle, and identifying, based on a result of the detection as an index, a well in which a cell producing the secretion of interest is captured from the plurality of wells. Each of the wells has a size allowing the cell to be captured in one cell unit in a state in which one or more detection particles are captured.

Multiwell devices and methods of filtration using the multiwell devices are disclosed.

The invention(s) cover systems and methods for target detection in a multiplexed and rapid manner. Embodiments of the system can include: a base substrate; and an array of sample processing regions defined at a broad surface of the base substrate, wherein each of the array of sample processing regions includes: a set of microwell subarrays arranged in a gradient by volumetric capacity between an upstream end and a downstream end of each respective sample processing region, and a boundary separating each respective sample processing region from adjacent sample processing regions. The system can support methods, with example implementation by an automated platform, for returning preliminary results from a subset of microwells of the samples processing regions, as well as results pertaining to specific and non-specific amplification, for multiple targets of a sample.

A filter film includes a through-hole and a recessed portion having a size capable of capturing one particle, in which the recessed portion is open to one face of the filter film, the through-hole in the one face has a shape or a size such that the one particle is not capable of passing through the through-hole, and the through-hole and the recessed portion are disposed close to each other.

In a recovery device, a removing target such as a blood cell is removed from a liquid sample in a sample container using a first filter unit, and a microorganism is filtered from the liquid sample using a second filter unit. A controller causes a first switch to block a flow channel in response to a sensor detecting a bubble. A medium flows from a second connection unit of the second filter unit toward a first connection unit. Thus, the microorganism filtered by the second filter unit is recovered by a recovery container together with the medium.

A system, method and device are disclosed for bio-processing a feed stream and providing a constant output by operating a continuous single-pass tangential-flow process. The single-pass process provides high conversion concentration while operating at relatively low feed flow rates, and the process can also be used to provide constant output diafiltration.