The present invention relates to a sensor assembly (1) for body fluids. The sensor assembly (1) comprises: a measurement chamber (2) extending in an axial direction from an inlet end (3) to an outlet end (4), the measurement chamber having a transverse cross-section with side walls (5, 6) defining a chamber width in a horizontal direction, and with top and bottom walls (8, 7) defining a chamber height in a vertical direction, each of the side walls (5, 6), top wall (8) and bottom wall (7) having a respective wall wettability for aqueous solutions; a first sensor (10a-h) adapted to measure a first parameter of body fluids, the first sensor (10 a-h) having a first sensor surface (11a-h) exposed to the inside of the measurement chamber at a first axial position, the first sensor surface (11a-h) having a first wettability for aqueous solutions; and a second sensor (20) adapted to measure a second parameter of body fluids, the second sensor (20) having a second sensor surface (21) exposed to the inside of the measurement chamber (2) at a second axial position upstream or downstream from the first axial position, the second sensor surface (21) having a second wettability for aqueous solutions higher than the first wettability. At the second axial position, the chamber width exceeds the width of the second sensor surface (21), and the measurement chamber has a widening (22) in a horizontal direction as compared to the first axial position.

A microfluidic device comprising: (a) a plate comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a first layer of hydrophobic material applied over the plurality of electrodes; (b) a processing unit operably programmed to perform a method of pinning an aqueous droplet within the microfluidic device; and (c) a controller operably connected to a power source, the processing unit, and the plurality of electrodes. The method of pinning an aqueous droplet comprises: applying an electric field of a first polarity to an aqueous droplet located on the surface of the layer of hydrophobic material and having a first contact angle, to cause the droplet to maintain a second contact angle in the absence of the electric field, wherein the aqueous droplet contains a surfactant and the second contact angle is less than the first contact angle.

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.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for assaying a sample. A microfluidic device to perform an assay of a sample (e.g., biological sample) is described having a sample application site, a porous component and a flow channel. The porous component provides for uniform dissolution of a reagent and mixing of the sample and reagent without filtering the sample.

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.

Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.

A microfluidic device is disclosed which comprises a main flow channel and a partition chamber connected to a portion of same by a chamber inlet and chamber outlet. The device utilizes select cross sections to advantage capillary effects during filling and partitioning steps to isolate biological or other samples in the partition chamber for analysis and can be employed in a digital array.

Microscale and/or mesoscale condenser arrays that can facilitate microfluidic separation and/or purification of mesoscale and/or nanoscale particles and methods of operation are described herein. An apparatus comprises a condenser array comprising pillars arranged in a plurality of columns, wherein a pillar gap greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers is located between a first pillar of the pillars in a first column of the columns and a second pillar of the plurality of pillars in the first column, and wherein the first pillar is adjacent to the second pillar. The first ratio can be characterized by D.sub.x/D.sub.y is less than or equal to a first defined value, wherein D.sub.x represents a first distance across the lattice in a first direction, wherein D.sub.y represents a second distance across the lattice in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus for analysing fluid samples. The apparatus is sized and shaped so that it can fit into an input port of an electronic device. The input port could be an existing port of the electronic device such as an input port for a memory card or a charger. The electronic device can be configured with a heat transfer means so that, when the apparatus is inserted into the electronic device, heat from the electronic device can be used to control the temperature of a fluid sample within the apparatus. This can enable the reaction conditions within the apparatus to be controlled.

Disclosed herein is a device for synthesizing ribonucleic acids (RNAs). According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the device comprises an in vitro transcription (IVT) module, a digestion module, and a processor. Optionally, the present device further comprises an IVT reaction monitoring means, a digestion reaction monitoring means, and/or a purifying means. Also disclosed herein are the methods of synthesizing RNA by use of the present device.