Abstract: A magnetic shape memory (MSM) microfluidic device may include a flexible membrane positioned between a channel and an MSM element. The MSM element may engage the flexible membrane to deform the channel at portions of the flexible membrane that are adjacent to non-contracted portions of the MSM element. The flexible membrane may prevent contact between a fluid within the channel and the MSM element. Magnetic field components may be applied to the MSM element and moved along the MSM element enable fluidic flow within the channel while. The device may include an upper portion including the flexible membrane and a lower portion including the MSM element. The upper portion may be interchangeable with additional upper portions.

Abstract: A system includes a fluid transfer device and a lateral flow assay device. The fluid transfer device has an inlet fluidically coupleable to a bodily fluid source, an outlet fluidically coupleable to a sample reservoir, and a sequestration chamber configured to receive an initial volume of bodily fluid. The fluid transfer device can be transitioned between (1) a first state with the sequestration chamber in fluid communication with the inlet to receive the initial volume, (2) a second state with the outlet in fluid communication with the inlet to receive a subsequent flow of bodily fluid, and (3) a third state with the lateral flow assay device in fluid communication with the sequestration chamber to receive a portion of the initial volume of bodily fluid. The lateral flow assay device configured to provide an indication associated with a presence of a target analyte in the bodily fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a real-time method for detecting copper and silver in water in parts per billion. Total silver is detected by adding a nitric acid solution to the sample; after the silver is digested, adding a buffer solution comprising water, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and EDTA to the sample; adding an indicator comprising Cadion 2B, EtOH, and Triton X-100 to the sample; then reading the absorbance of the sample after light with an approximate target peak of 515 nm is sent through the sample; and determining the silver concentration by comparing the absorbance of the sample to the absorbances of known silver standards.

Abstract: This invention provides a UV spectroscopy apparatus and method for controlled drug waste diversion detection. The spectroscopy apparatus employs sample cells which have optimized optical path length such that the measured maximum absorbance of the drug is less than the detection limit of the system. Hence the full unsaturated absorption spectrum of the drug is revealed in the UV wavelength region from 230 nm (or even down to 195 nm) to 400 nm. This full spectrum analysis improves the specificity for drug identification and the accuracy for drug concentration verification. The spectral library of the apparatus comprises the spectra of preservative-free controlled drugs, common excipients, as well as typical diluents, which enables the identification of controlled drugs from different manufacturers and/or diluted with different types of diluents.

Abstract: The method involves drying down dye-conjugated reagents in separate locations in a reaction vessel so that the dyes don't non-specifically interact with each other during drying. This invention thus improves multiplex binding assays by eliminating erroneous results caused by dyes' being non-specifically attached to each other when dried down together.

Abstract: Methods of detecting diagnostic biomarkers on cancer-derived extracellular vesicles such as exosomes by mid-infrared spectroscopy are provided. In particular, methods of detecting ovarian cancer by spectral fingerprint analysis of molecular vibrational spectroscopic markers on individual or subpopulations of extracellular vesicles are disclosed.

Abstract: A reagent container is disclosed that is installed in an analyzer for use and stores a reagent supplied to the analyzer via an aspiration tube. The reagent container includes a container body. The container body includes a tubular member with an opening into which the aspiration tube is inserted from above, and a bag-shaped member joined to the tubular member and storing the reagent. The container body comprises a penetration prevention member that prevents a tip of the aspiration tube 90 inserted through the opening from penetrating the container body.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for collecting and analyzing breath samples to detect one or more target analytes are disclosed.

Abstract: A microphysiological system (MPS) includes at least one first inlet for receiving a fluid medium. The MPS includes a brain module comprising brain tissue. The MPS includes a blood-brain-barrier (BBB) module comprising BBB tissue, the BBB module configured to receive the fluid medium. The MPS includes a crosstalk channel between the brain module and the BBB module, the crosstalk channel configured to promote a bidirectional crosstalk between the brain tissue and the BBB tissue in response to receiving the fluid medium at the BBB module. The MPS is configured for treating the brain tissue and the BBB tissue with a drug or a combination of drugs to determine a phenotypic effect and a transcriptomic effect of the drug. A drug perturbation is related to the phenotypic effect and the transcriptomic effect based on kinetic optimization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microchannel structure loaded with a bead having a particle size for detecting whether a biological substance exists in a sample. The microchannel structure includes a structure body for passing a sample through the microchannel structure to have a test or a treatment. The structure body includes a sample entrance having a first aperture to allow the sample passing therethrough, a resistance-increasing section connected with the sample entrance, and having a second aperture being smaller than the first aperture, a detecting section connecting with the resistance-increasing section, and a bead mooring structure coupled to the second end for mooring the bead in the detecting section. The present invention can be used to capture rare cells in a biological system, such as human blood.

Abstract: A drug screening platform simulating hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy including a dielectrophoresis system, a microfluidic chip and a heating system is disclosed. The dielectrophoresis system is used to provide a dielectrophoresis force. The microfluidic chip includes a cell culture array and observation module and a drug mixing module. The cell culture array and observation module are used to arrange the cells into a three-dimensional structure through the dielectrophoresis force to construct a three-dimensional tumor microenvironment. The drug mixing module is coupled to the cell culture array and observation module and used to automatically split and mix the inputted drugs and output the drug combinations into the cell culture array and observation module.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic chip and a droplet separation method, and belongs to the field of biological chip technology. The microfluidic chip includes a first liquid tank and a second liquid tank opposite to each other and a channel layer therebetween. The channel layer includes a plurality of microfluidic channels separated from each other, first ends of the microfluidic channels are communicated with the first liquid tank, and second ends are communicated with the second liquid tank. The first liquid tank contains sample solution to be detected, and the second liquid tank contains encapsulating liquid. The sample solution to be detected entering the first liquid tank may be separated into a plurality of sample droplets through the microfluidic channels, the separated sample droplets enter the second liquid tank, so that the encapsulating liquid is encapsulated on a surface of each of the plurality of sample droplets.

Abstract: A microfluidic device in which microfluidic channels are embedded in a culture medium chamber and have open sides. The microfluidic device is patterned with a fluid moved along a hydrophilic surface due to capillary force, and the fluid may be rapidly and uniformly patterned along an inner corner path and a microfluidic channel. In the microfluidic device, the microfluidic channel is connected to facilitate fluid flow with a culture medium through open sides thereof and openings, and thus may provide a cell culture environment in which high gas saturation is maintained. In addition, several microfluidic devices formed on one common substrate are described. Such microfluidic devices may be manufactured of a hydrophilic engineering plastic by injection molding.

Abstract: A sample holder (10) comprises a sample chamber (33), a gas reservoir (32) and an upper layer (20) covering over the sample chamber (33) and gas reservoir (32), wherein a bottom surface of the upper layer (20) comprises a microstructure array (23) which overlies at least a portion of a top periphery of the sample chamber (33), and wherein the microstructure array (23) is in communication with a gas path which extends to the gas reservoir (32), to allow gas exchange between the sample chamber (33) and the gas reservoir (32).

Abstract: A microfluidic device can include a plurality of channels defined in a substrate and a plurality of rails defined in a substrate. Each channel can comprise a respective channel inlet, a respective channel outlet, and one or more respective non-miscible fluid inlets fluidly coupled to the channel inlet. Each rail can comprise a rail inlet, and each channel outlet can be coupled to a respective rail inlet. One or more fluids introduced via the channel inlets can form first, second, and third droplets, respectively, and the plurality of rails can comprise first, second, and third rails configured such that droplets disposed on the rails form a tripartite droplet interface bilayer (DIB) network.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to mesofluidic devices and methods for eluting and concentrating a plurality of nucleic acid molecules. The mesofluidic device includes a device frame having a bottom surface upon which is defined a first reservoir and the second reservoir. The first reservoir includes a first electrode, and the second reservoir includes a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are configured for electrical connection. The mesofluidic device includes an elongated channel extending between the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The mesofluidic device includes a first slot having a first slot width. The first slot is configured to receive an insert. The first slot intersects the elongated channel. The mesofluidic device includes a second slot having a second slot width. The second slot is configured to receive a separation material having a first porosity. The second slot intersects the elongated channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for flow focusing in a microfluidic device. Flow focusing may be used in detection of objects, for example cells, in a stream of fluid passing through a fluidic device. The systems and devices may comprise a flow channel positioned between two sheath channels configured to direct fluid across the flow channel. Flow focusing microfluidic systems and devices disclosed herein may be robust to alignment errors. Systems and devices of the present disclosure may reduce the displacement of flow from the intended locations due to alignment errors. Also disclosed herein are methods for using such microfluidic systems and devices.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes first and second substrate structures. The first substrate structure has a first substrate surface configured to receive one or more droplets. A plurality of electrodes configured to apply an electric field to the droplets. The second substrate structure has a second substrate surface facing the first substrate surface and spaced apart from the first substrate surface to form a fluid channel. The microfluidic device has a first heating element adjacent to the first substrate structure and disposed on an opposite side of the first substrate surface, and a second heating element adjacent to the second substrate structure and disposed on an opposite side of the second substrate surface. The microfluidic device further includes one or more temperature sensors disposed adjacent to the fluid channel between the first substrate structure and the second substrate structure.

Abstract: A microfluidic assembly may include a microfluidic chip operably coupled to a device source pressure port and a device relief pressure port, first and second input reservoirs, an output reservoir, and a reservoir interface. The microfluidic chip may include a microfluidic circuit configured to support a fluid flow that includes a gas flow and a liquid flow within the microfluidic circuit. The reservoir interface may be configured to operably couple the first and second input reservoirs to the microfluidic circuit. The device source pressure port may be configured to receive a source pressure to generate the fluid flow through the microfluidic circuit and cause a mixing of liquids to form an output liquid for delivery to the output reservoir via the fluid flow. The first liquid, the second liquid, and the output liquid need not contact the device source pressure port or the device relief pressure port during the mixing.