Abstract: A terminal position assurance device includes a housing and a matrix body. The housing having a parallelepiped configuration and defining a housing cavity has a forwardly-projecting U-shaped member that defines a U-shaped recess portion of the housing cavity. The U-shaped member has an opposing pair of free end latch portions. Respective ones of the free end latch portions and respective top and bottom walls are separated from one other by a slot formed therebetween. The matrix body disposed in the housing cavity has a plurality of matrix tubes. Each matrix tube defines a matrix passageway. The U-shaped member is disposed forward of the matrix body in the longitudinal direction. The matrix tubes are formed by a series of horizontal wall sections and vertical wall sections. Each one of the vertical wall sections includes a terminal retainer tab projecting laterally into respective ones of the matrix passageways.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel system of extracting and purifying nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, etc.) from cellular material like blood. Such a system of extraction and purification relies on novel monolithic microfluidic devices and methods of using these devices. Such devices comprise numerous components, monolithically-incorporated on an single chip, and further comprising novel nucleic acid binding materials. The present invention is also directed to method of preparing such novel nucleic binding materials.