Abstract: Various liquid cells for use in surface acoustic wave-based sensors are disclosed. The sensor can include a substrate, at least one sensor element, and at least one pair of electrical components. The electrical components can be located on opposite ends of the sensor element. The liquid cell can include a top layer that is configured to cover at least a portion of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a fluidic channel. The fluidic channel can be configured to receive a liquid media and is arranged not intersect with any of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a plurality of peripheral walls that are configured to form a plurality of air pockets. Each of the plurality of air pockets are configured to form virtual non-physical walls to prevent the liquid media from contacting the at least one sensor element.

Abstract: Various liquid cells for use in surface acoustic wave-based sensors are disclosed. The sensor can include a substrate, at least one sensor element, and at least one pair of electrical components. The electrical components can be located on opposite ends of the sensor element. The liquid cell can include a top layer that is configured to cover at least a portion of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a fluidic channel. The fluidic channel can be configured to receive a liquid media and is arranged not intersect with any of the pair of electrical components. The liquid cell can also include a plurality of peripheral walls that are configured to form a plurality of air pockets. Each of the plurality of air pockets are configured to form virtual non-physical walls to prevent the liquid media from contacting the at least one sensor element.

Abstract: A multiplexing surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for simultaneous excitation of SAW sensors or simultaneous sensing of multiple analytes, targets or bio-agents. The device includes a plurality of SAW sensors arranged in an array. Each sensor has a delay line and each of the delay lines are different in length. The sensors of the multiplexing SAW device are excited simultaneously to generate an array of surface acoustic waves propagating along the delay lines of each SAW sensor. Because the length of each delay line is different for each SAW sensor, the propagation time of the surface acoustic waves varies in based at least in part on the length variation. A compressed pulse train can be generated with a specific time delay according to the length difference of delay lines. Phase or other information of the compressed pulse can be extracted.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.

Abstract: It is disclosed a microsieve comprising two layers, wherein the first layer is a membrane layer having a plurality of micropores contained therein and a thickness of about 10 ?m to about 100 ?m, and the second layer is a membrane support layer having a plurality of openings contained therein and a thickness of about 100 ?m to about 500 ?m, wherein the openings are larger in diameter than the micropores, and wherein at least one of the membrane layer or membrane support layer is formed of a SU-8 photoresist material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for the one-step synthesis of nucleic acid molecules, wherein the amplification primers used in said methods are designed such that they have two distinct melting temperatures in order to minimize the competition between polymerase cycling assembly (PCA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification in the one-step nucleic acid synthesis and to maximize the emerging full-length amplification, as well as kits for use in such methods.

Abstract: There is provided a method of synthesizing a nucleic acid molecule and in one aspect, the method comprises assembling a full length template nucleic acid molecule by PCR in a PCR reaction mixture comprising a set of assembly oligonucleotides having a first average melting temperature and a set of outer amplification primers having a second average melting temperature that is lower than the first average melting temperature, wherein said assembling comprises subjecting the PCR reaction mixture to a first annealing temperature that is higher than the second average melting temperature and; amplifying the full length template nucleic acid molecule by PCR in the PCR reaction mixture wherein said amplifying comprises subjecting the PCR reaction mixture to a second annealing temperature that permits annealing of the outer amplification primers to the full length template nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a device for separating cells of a defined size from a sample and to a system comprising such devices and further components. Such devices can comprise different components, such as inlet module, intermediate module, outlet module and microsieve. The present invention also refers to methods of operating such devices and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for biopolymer synthesis wherein said apparatus comprises at least one support having a plurality of microwells and wherein said microwells comprise a porous substrate providing a surface area for biopolymer synthesis.

Abstract: There is provided a method of synthesizing a nucleic acid molecule and in one aspect, the method comprises assembling a full length template nucleic acid molecule by PCR in a PCR reaction mixture comprising a set of assembly oligonucleotides having a first average melting temperature and a set of outer amplification primers having a second average melting temperature that is lower than the first average melting temperature, wherein said assembling comprises subjecting the PCR reaction mixture to a first annealing temperature that is higher than the second average melting temperature and; amplifying the full length template nucleic acid molecule by PCR in the PCR reaction mixture wherein said amplifying comprises subjecting the PCR reaction mixture to a second annealing temperature that permits annealing of the outer amplification primers to the full length template nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: We report making an integrated micro-fluidic device for synthesizing double stranded DNA from short oligo-nucleotides. We demonstrate successful synthesis of a 760 bp gene segment from a pool of 39 oligonucleotides on a micro-fluidic device using both the one-step and two-step synthesis processes. We also describe purifying the double stranded DNA PCR product and filtering out sequence errors in the double stranded DNA product, all on the same device.

Abstract: An image locking system for DNA micro-array synthesis provides a feedback system to stabilize or lock the image with respect to an image capture device, such as a camera and/or microscope. The image locking system includes the use of detection or reference marks. When a shift in image position is detected, a correction signal is sent to one of two mirrors, moving the image to correct for the shift in image position. The system comprises a first light beam directed towards a micromirror device that forms an alignment pattern on a reaction cell and a second light beam directed towards the micromirror device that forms a micro-array image on an active surface of the reaction cell. A camera captures the alignment pattern and an alignment mark. A computer calculates a correction signal to realign the alignment pattern with the alignment mark when movement is detected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate, system and method for synthesizing chain molecules in parallel using light-directed chemistry by imaging a selected pattern of light onto a dense array of microwells extending into a substrate surface, wherein the microwells are packed with high-surface-area carrier particles on which the chain molecules are grown in a series of sequential photoinitiated chemical steps.

Abstract: Synthesis of long chain molecules such as DNA is carried out rapidly and efficiently to produce relatively large quantities of the desired product. The synthesis of an entire gene or multiple genes formed of many hundreds or thousands of base pairs can be accomplished rapidly and, if desired, in a fully automated process requiring minimal operator intervention, and in a matter of hours, a day or a few days rather than many days or weeks. Production of a desired gene or set of genes having a specified base pair sequence is initiated by analyzing the specified target sequence and determining an optimal set of subsequences of base pairs that can be assembled to form the desired final target sequence. The set of oligonucleotides are then synthesized utilizing automated oligonucleotide synthesis techniques. The synthesized oligonucleotides are subsequently selectively released from the substrate and used in a sequential assembly process.

Abstract: An image locking system for DNA micro-array synthesis provides a feedback system to stabilize or lock the image with respect to an image capture device, such as a camera and/or microscope. The image locking system includes the use of detection or reference marks. When a shift in image position is detected, a correction signal is sent to one of two mirrors, moving the image to correct for the shift in image position. The system comprises a first light beam directed towards a micromirror device that forms an alignment pattern on a reaction cell and a second light beam directed towards the micromirror device that forms a micro-array image on an active surface of the reaction cell. A camera captures the alignment pattern and an alignment mark. A computer calculates a correction signal to realign the alignment pattern with the alignment mark when movement is detected.

Abstract: An image locking system for DNA micro-array synthesis provides a feedback system to stabilize or lock the image with respect to an image capture device, such as a camera and/or microscope. The image locking system includes the use of detection or reference marks. When a shift in image position is detected, a correction signal is sent to one of two mirrors, moving the image to correct for the shift in image position. The system comprises a first light beam directed towards a micromirror device that forms an alignment pattern on a reaction cell and a second light beam directed towards the micromirror device that forms a micro-array image on an active surface of the reaction cell. A camera captures the alignment pattern and an alignment mark. A computer calculates a correction signal to realign the alignment pattern with the alignment mark when movement is detected.

Abstract: A micromachined thermal probe has a substrate with a surface and an edge, and at least one flexible probe body formed on the substrate that includes a cantilever beam section that extends from a proximal end outwardly to a distal end. A pair of conductors in the probe body extend to a junction at the distal end at which is formed a probe tip. Current passed through the conductors to the junction heats the probe tip, with changes in the effective probe resistance occurring as the probe tip is scanned over a sample with different thermal conductivities at different positions. A second flexible probe body may be mounted to the substrate and constructed similarly to the first probe body to act as a reference probe to allow compensation of the first probe. The probe body may be formed of layers of flexible polymer joined together over pairs of conductors, which is bent back onto itself and secured together at a proximal end of the cantilever beam.

Abstract: A micromachined thermal probe has a substrate with a surface and an edge, and at least one flexible probe body formed on the substrate that includes a cantilever beam section that extends from a proximal end outwardly to a distal end. A pair of conductors in the probe body extend to a junction at the distal end at which is formed a probe tip. Current passed through the conductors to the junction heats the probe tip, with changes in the effective probe resistance occurring as the probe tip is scanned over a sample with different thermal conductivities at different positions. A second flexible probe body may be mounted to the substrate and constructed similarly to the first probe body to act as a reference probe to allow compensation of the first probe. The probe body may be formed of layers of flexible polymer joined together over pairs of conductors, which is bent back onto itself and secured together at a proximal end of the cantilever beam.