A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid channel of fluidic cartridge can include closing a valve by actuating a mechanical actuator against the valve to force a deformable layer against walls of a valve body, wherein the valve body comprises a valve inlet and a valve outlet and each of the valve inlet and valve outlet are fluidically coupled to a fluidic channel; releasing the valve by retracting the mechanical actuator away from the valve body; and moving liquid through the valve by applying positive or negative pressure to the fluidic channel.

A microfluidic flow rate regulator can precisely control the fluid flow rate. When direct the fluid passing through the length-adjustable annular channel with a very thin gap inside the apparatus, the resistance generated by the fluid viscosity will slowdown the fluid flow rate; by adjusting the length of the length-adjustable annular channel, also changes the sum of the resistance that generated by the fluid viscosity and changed the fluid flow rate.

Adjustable fluidic oscillators are disclosed. A disclosed example oscillator includes a base having a cavity with a cross-sectional profile defining an oscillatory chamber between an inlet and an outlet of the oscillator, and a plunger to be received by the cavity and movable along a depth of the cavity to vary an aspect ratio of the oscillator.

A flow control mechanism and a system comprising the mechanism, specifically relating to a microflow control mechanism and system. The mechanism comprises a base and a constant volume mechanism. The base and the constant volume mechanism are dynamically connected to form two or more relative activity states, comprising a first relative state and a second relative state. A fluid input end and a fluid receiving end are provided on the base. The constant volume mechanism is provided with a constant volume pipeline. In the first relative state, the fluid input end communicates with the constant volume pipeline. In the second relative state, the constant volume pipeline communicates with the fluid receiving end. The microflow control mechanism and system can achieve precise micro-scale fluid flow control, and have a simple structure.

A sequencing manifold for the purpose of supplying control and supply services of pre-determined temporal sequences to fluid processing assemblies is provided. The functioning of this sequencing manifold requires that translation be applied to the sequencing ports. Actuator mechanisms may supply such translation as either continuous motion or as a series of stepwise motions. Actuator mechanism can be obtained that rely on only mechanical means without the need for a source of electricity. With such actuators, it becomes feasible to conduct the operations of fluid processing assemblies in remote and primitive locations that lack a source of electricity. One skilled in the mechanical arts can provide various actuator mechanisms to meet these requirements.

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) are disclosed. A processing region includes one or more surfaces (e.g., particle surfaces) modified with ligands that retain polynucleotides under a first set of conditions (e.g., temperature and pH) and release the polynucleotides under a second set of conditions (e.g., higher temperature and/or more basic pH). The processing region can be used to, for example, concentrate polynucleotides of a sample and/or separate inhibitors of amplification reactions from the polynucleotides. Microfluidic devices with a processing region are disclosed.

Provided is a micro-valve having a laminate structure capable of improving sealing performance when a foreign substance is mixed. The micro-valve 10 has a laminate structure and includes a base layer 20 and a diaphragm layer 30. The base layer is formed with an inlet port 23 for introducing a gas into the micro-valve and an outlet port for allowing the gas to flow outside. The diaphragm layer is arranged to face the base layer. The diaphragm layer switches the flowing and blocking of the gas from the inlet port to the outlet port by elastic deformation thereof. The diaphragm layer has a configuration in which a plurality of deformation regions 33 and a plurality of rigid body regions 34 are alternately formed, the deformation region being elastically deformable in accordance with an inflow of a pneumatic fluid into the micro-valve. The diaphragm layer closes at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port by elastic deformation of at least a part of the plurality of deformation regions.

This fluid handling device has a rotary member that is rotatable around the central axis. In the rotary member, a first protruding part for pressing and closing a valve of a flow channel chip and a recessed part for opening the valve without pressing the valve are disposed on the circumference of a first circle around the central axis. The rotary member further has a second protruding part for, when the recessed part is located at the valve in a state where the rotary member is rotated, pressing the valve so as not to open the valve.

An optical waveguide comprises multiple layers of solid-state material disposed on a substrate. One of the layers is a lifting-gate valve made of a high refractive index material. The device provides for better optical confinement in microfluidic channels, and has the capability to integrate both optical signals and fluid sample processing. The optical paths on the chip are reconfigurable because of the use of a movable microvalve that guides light in one of its positions.

This disclosure provides, among other things, a cartridge comprising: (a) a cartridge body comprising a malleable material and having, disposed on a surface of the body, at least one valve body comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet, each fluidically connected to a fluidic channel; and (b) a layer comprising a deformable material bonded to a surface of the cartridge body and sealing the at least one valve body at points of attachment, thereby forming at least one valve; wherein the at least one valve body is depressed in the cartridge body relative to the points of attachment and wherein the deformable material covering the at least one valve body retains sufficient elasticity after deformation such that in a ground state the valve is open. Also disclosed is an instrument comprising a cartridge interface and a cartridge as described herein engaged with the cartridge interface, wherein (II) the cartridge interface comprises: (A) at least one mechanical actuator, each mechanical actuator positioned to actuate a valve; and (B) at least one motor operatively coupled to actuate a mechanical actuator toward or away from a valve.