A cartridge for analyzing a biological sample, wherein the cartridge includes a fluid system having a plurality of channels and at least one valve, wherein the valve is covered on the outside by a cover, and wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by deforming a wall of the valve.

A microfluidic device includes an input source characterized by a source pressure, an input channel in fluid communication with the input source, and an output channel. The microfluidic device also includes a normally closed valve having a closed state and an open state. The normally closed valve is disposed between the input channel and the output channel. The microfluidic device further includes one or more release chambers coupled to a pressure source. Activation of the pressure source deforms the one or more release chambers, placing the normally closed valve in the open state.

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable about a rotational axis, has fluid and aliquoting chambers, a metering chamber connected to a vent that is nearer to the rotational axis than the metering chamber, first and second ducts connecting the fluid and aliquoting chambers, and the metering and aliquoting chambers, respectively. Metering chamber side walls taper away from a central region, wherein capillary action next to the walls is greater than in the central region. Fluid flows to the metering chamber using capillary action via the second duct that has an entrance and exit in the aliquoting and metering chambers, respectively; the exit being closer to the rotational axis than the entrance. A downstream fluidic element connects to the metering chamber via a valve. A fluidic structure receives and processes a biological sample into the processed biological sample and has a measurement structure that enables measurement of the processed biological sample.

A cartridge for analyzing a biological sample, wherein the cartridge includes a fluid system having a plurality of channels and at least one valve, wherein the valve is covered on the outside by a cover, and wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by deforming a wall of the valve.

A microfluidic system includes a substrate, a set of input ports coupled to the substrate, and a set of output ports coupled to the substrate. The microfluidic system also includes a microfluidic processing system coupled to the substrate and including a plurality of processing sites. The microfluidic processing system is coupled to the set of input ports and the set of output ports. The microfluidic system further includes one or more microfluidic logic devices coupled to the substrate and operable to control at least a portion of the microfluidic processing system.

The present disclosure provides an automatic microfluidic system for rapid personalized drug screening including a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a fluid storage unit, a fluid driving unit, a reaction unit and a plurality of valve units. The fluid driving unit includes two mixing pumps. Each of the mixing pumps includes two pneumatic micro-pumps, a mixing chamber and a blocking structure. The blocking structure is disposed in the mixing chamber and is connected between the two pneumatic micro-pumps. When the two pneumatic micro-pumps are started alternately, the blocking structure is deflected alone with the operation of the two pneumatic micro-pumps.

An analysis container comprises a main body; a first chamber that is provided inside the main body and holds a liquid sample; a second chamber; a liquid passage; and an air passage. The liquid passage connects the first chamber and the second chamber, and moves the liquid sample from the first chamber to the second chamber. The air flow chamber connects the first chamber and the second chamber, and moves air from the second chamber to the first chamber.

A disclosed system uses modulations of ionic current across a nanopore in a membrane to detect target molecules passing through the nanopore. This principle has been applied mainly to nucleic acid sequencing, but can also be used to detect other molecular targets such as proteins and small molecules. In addition, the system delivers target molecules to a nanopore to provide label-free single molecule analysis using a chip-based system. Target molecules are concentrated on microscale carrier beads, and the beads are delivered and optically trapped in an area within the capture radius of the nanopore. The target molecules are released from the beads and detected using nanopore current modulation. In addition, the disclosed system combines sample preparation (e.g. purification, extraction, and pre-concentration) with nanopore-based readout on a microfluidic chip. Finally, target molecules can be specifically bound to carrier beads and particles are positioned within the capture volume of a nanopore using a chip-based microfluidic platform proven to handle specific detection of molecular targets from milliliters of raw sample.

The present disclosure provides an automatic microfluidic system for rapid personalized drug screening including a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a fluid storage unit, a fluid driving unit, a reaction unit and a plurality of valve units. The fluid driving unit includes two mixing pumps. Each of the mixing pumps includes two pneumatic micro-pumps, a mixing chamber and a blocking structure. The blocking structure is disposed in the mixing chamber and is connected between the two pneumatic micro-pumps. When the two pneumatic micro-pumps are started alternately, the blocking structure is deflected alone with the operation of the two pneumatic micro-pumps.

A thin film valve includes at least one chamber for storing a fluid required for biological/chemical analysis, a plurality of chamber for performing a biological/biochemical reaction, or connecting, at least one chamber performing the biological or biochemical reaction to enable a movement of the fluid flow, a flow path arranged to communicate with the hole on the flow path, a thin film closing membrane for closing the fluid hole, a thin film valve including the hole and the fluid hole closing membrane, a multilayered plurality of substrates forming the fluid path, the fluid hole and the chamber, a rotatable disk forming the fluid path, fluid hole, the plurality of chambers, a heat generator, laser beam generator heating the thin film valves, a light detector for detecting amount of light passing through the membrane and closing the fluid hole, and a feedback controller for controlling the focusing actuator.