Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to sample tubes comprising a cylindrical elongate tube having a gripping section with at least one discontinuity extending radially about the outside surface of the elongate tube. Methods of making sample tubes and their use in sample handlers are also described.

Abstract: A microfluidic device meters liquids into a network of channels or chambers partly formed by a film partly attached to and above a substrate, the network permitting flow of fluid above the substrate. To form a channel or chamber, the edge zone between unattached and attached portions of the film forms a wedge of material by viscous flow of film material as the film is laminated to the substrate, this wedge forming a transition between the chamber wall and the substrate, raising the wall above the plane of the substrate. Film is laminated with a mask having an opening, the mask pressed onto the film under pressure and/or with heat. The film is brought to a temperature to produce a viscous flow of film and/or substrate medium into the region of the opening, forming a wedge of material as the film bulges up at the opening to form a chamber.

Abstract: An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.

Abstract: A microchannel structure including a dispersed-phase introduction channel which communicates with a dispersed-phase introduction inlet; a continuous-phase introduction channel which communicates with a continuous-phase introduction inlet; a discharge channel which communicates with a discharge outlet; a fine-particle formation channel; and a plurality of branch channels for dispersed-phase introduction which are microchannels; wherein one end of the fine-particle formation channel in a fluid traveling direction communicates with the continuous-phase introduction channel whereas the other end thereof communicates with the discharge channel; and wherein a side part of the dispersed-phase introduction channel and side part of the fine-particle formation channel communicate via the plurality of branch channel for dispersed-phase introduction.

Abstract: A device is made by forming sacrificial fibers on a substrate mold. The fibers and mold are covered with a first material. The substrate mold is removed, and the covered fibers are then removed to form channels in the first material.

Abstract: Provided is a sample packing device for packing a sample with respect to a microchip for performing reaction of a micro component contained in the sample, the microchip at least including: a sample reservoir; a reaction reservoir; and a channel connected between the sample reservoir and the reaction reservoir, in which a package including a sample chamber packed in advance with the sample is mounted on the microchip so as to pack the sample in the sample chamber into the sample reservoir.

Abstract: Microfluidic apparatus including integrated porous substrate/sensors that may be used for detecting targeted biological and chemical molecules and compounds. In one aspect, upper and lower microfluidic channels are defined in respective halves of a substrate, which are sandwiched around a porous membrane upon assembly. In other aspect, the upper and lower channels are formed such that a portion of the lower channel passes beneath a portion of the upper channel to form a cross-channel area, wherein the membrane is disposed between the two channels. In various embodiments, one or more porous membranes are disposed proximate to corresponding cross-channel areas defined by one or more upper and lower channels. The porous membrane may also have sensing characteristics, such that it produces a change in an optical and/or electronic characteristic.

Abstract: An analytical device including an optically opaque cladding, a sequencing layer including a substrate disposed below the cladding, and a waveguide assembly for receiving optical illumination and introducing illumination into the device. The illumination may be received from a top, a side edge, and a bottom of the device. The waveguide assembly may include a nanoscale aperture disposed in the substrate and extending through the cladding. The aperture defines a reaction cell for receiving a set of reactants. In various aspects, the device includes a sensor element and the illumination pathway is through the sensor element. Waveguides and illumination devices, such as plasmonic illumination devices, are also disclosed. Methods for forming and operating the devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a flow channel comprising a hydrophobic membrane to improve control of flow and control of processing conditions in the flow channel, and to improve the removal of gas bubbles from the flow channel of the microfluidic device. In addition, the invention enables the process controls of the microfluidic device to know when gas bubbles have been removed, so that the next step in the process can be carried out.

Abstract: Described is a method for analyzing the metabolites of a biological sample which comprises quantitatively determining one or more metabolites in said sample in a way that said quantitative determination resolves isotopic mass differences within one metabolite, said method being characterized in that the sample comprises or is derived from a cell which has been maintained under conditions allowing the uptake of an isotopically labeled metabolizable compound so that the metabolites in said cell are saturated with the isotope with which said metabolizable compound is labeled. This method may further comprise, prior to quantitative determining the metabolites, combining the biological sample (i.e. the first biological sample) with a second biological sample in which the metabolites are not isotopically labeled or are isotopically labeled differently from the first biological sample; and determining in said biological samples the relative quantity of metabolites which differ by their isotopical label.

Abstract: The oxalic acid aqueous solution filled in an electrolytic tank is electrolyzed with an electrolyzer to produce carbonic acid gas, while ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic generator is applied to the produced carbonic acid gas bubbles, to form micro bubbles, which is dissolved in said oxalic acid aqueous solution, so as to easily produce carbonic acid gas solution with micro carbonic acid gas bubbles dissolved at a low cost; said carbonic acid gas solution can substitute carbonated spring.

Abstract: A microchip which comprises: a resinous base having a plurality of fine channels formed on one side thereof, one or more cylindrical parts disposed so as to protrude from the other side, and a through-hole which pierces each cylindrical part along the axis thereof and communicates with the fine channel so that the diameter of the inner wall of the through-hole gradually decreases from the tip end of the cylindrical part toward the fine channel at a first inclination angle; and a resinous covering member bonded to that side of the resinous base on which the fine channels have been formed. The microchip has been configured so that a liquid sample can be introduced from the tip end of each cylindrical part through the through-hole. The wall thickness of the cylindrical part on the end side where a liquid sample is to be introduced has been made smaller than the wall thickness thereof on the base side where the cylindrical part has been formed, by forming a step therebetween.

Abstract: A microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid, an outlet for outputting the flow of liquid, a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that the flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus, a movable member for contacting the liquid, and, a thermal expansion actuator for displacing the movable member to generate a pulse in the liquid to dislodge the meniscus such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.

Abstract: A microchannel 4 for transporting a specimen S using capillary phenomenon includes an analysis chamber 6 having a cross-sectional area larger than those of portions located in front of and behind the analysis chamber 6 in the direction of flow, an inflow opening 5 through which the specimen S flows into the analysis chamber 6, and a discharge portion 7 through which the specimen S is discharged from the analysis chamber 6. The discharge portion 7 includes a pair of discharge openings 71a and 71b located opposite to each other with respect to the inflow opening 5. With this structure, impairment of transport of the specimen S due to the presence of a residual air bubble is avoided.

Abstract: In a capillary pump unit, a capillary pump including a plurality of through portions making a first point and a second point of an approximately flat-plate-shaped base communicable with each other are formed in the base, and a sample liquid is transferred from the first point to the second point by capillary force by the through portions.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device having a supporting substrate, a sample inlet for receiving a fluid sample, an incubation section in fluid communication with the sample inlet, the incubation section having at least one heater, and, CMOS circuitry between the supporting substrate and the incubation section, wherein, the CMOS circuitry is connected to the at least one heater for maintaining the fluid sample at an incubation temperature for an incubation period.

Abstract: A test module for performing a genetic diagnostic assay, the test module having an outer casing dimensioned for hand-held portability, the outer casing having a receptacle for a biological sample containing target nucleic acid sequences, an array of chambers containing probes for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequences to form probe-target hybrids, a flow-path extending from the inlet to the probes, and, a reagent reservoir containing a reagent for addition to the sample in the flow-path upstream of the probes, wherein, each of the chambers contains less than 270 picograms of probe and the reagent reservoir has a volume less than 1000,000,000 cubic microns.

Abstract: A blood specimen processor by means of which blood specimens are collected into a collection tube containing an anticoagulant and a molded buoy of predetermined density between 1.045 and 1.084 with an embedded water swellable o-ring that expands to form a robust seal in a leucocyte density gradient between the buoy's outer surface and tube's inner surface. The buoy is made of a first resin and a second resin, the first resin having a lower density than the second resin, the first resin and the second resin being present in such amounts and relative proportions so that the body has an overall density between 1.045 and 1.084 and preferably, a center of gravity below a geometric center of the body. When the blood specimen contained in the processor is centrifuged, the buoy is thrust through the separating blood and the developing interface of erythrocytes, leucocytes, and plasma.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are surfaces exhibiting anisotropic wetting, microfluidic devices and microreactors including the surfaces and methods of controlling anisotropic wetting behavior of the surfaces. The exemplary surface can include a substrate and a plurality of rectangular shaped structures arranged to form a macroscopic pattern over the substrate, wherein the plurality of rectangular shaped structures delineate a top surface of the rectangular structures from a surface of the substrate, the rectangular shaped structures including substantially vertical walls having a height of about 100 nm to about 10 ?m and wherein the shape of the macroscopic pattern, the height of the substantially vertical walls, and a surface chemistry of the top surface controls anisotropic wetting at the top surface of the rectangular structures.

Abstract: A rotatable microfluidic device that comprises a hydrophilic microchannel structure in which there is a) an upstream microcavity I with a liquid outlet I, b) a microconduit I connected to liquid outlet I, and c) a capillary valve I associated with microconduit I. The inlet end of the microconduit is closer to the spin axis than the outlet end of the microconduit. The difference in radial distance between the inlet end and the outlet end of microconduit I is typically ?5%, such as ?10% or ?100% or ?500%, of the difference in radial distance between the uppermost part of the upstream microcavity and liquid outlet I.