Abstract: There is set forth herein a device comprising structure defining a detector surface configured for supporting biological or chemical substances, and a sensor array comprising light sensors and circuitry to transmit data signals using photons detected by the light sensors. The device can include one or more features for reducing fluorescence range noise in a detection band of the sensor array.

Abstract: A system writes input data to a storage device as machine-written polynucleotides; and reads machine written polynucleotides from the storage device as output data. The storage device includes a flow cell including a plurality of storage wells in which machine written polynucleotides may be stored. The storage device may include a set of electrodes corresponding to the storage wells that allow for selective interactions with wells across the surface of a flow cell. Operation of the storage device may include receiving a read request associated with a particular location in the storage device, creating a copy of a nucleotide sequence located at the particular location in the storage device, transferring the copy of the nucleotide sequence to a read location, and reading the copy of the nucleotide sequence at the read location.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: A flow cell including inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with each other through a flow channel that extends therebetween. The flow channel includes a diffuser region and a field region that is located downstream from the diffuser region. The field region of the flow channel directs fluid along reaction sites where desired reactions occur. The fluid flows through the diffuser region in a first flow direction and through the field region in a second flow direction. The first and second flow directions being substantially perpendicular.

Abstract: Flow cells and corresponding methods are provided. The flow cells may include a support frame with top and back sides, and at least one cavity extending from the top side. The flow cells may include at least one light detection device with an active area disposed within the at least one cavity. The flow cells may include a support material disposed within the at least one cavity between the support frame and the periphery of the at least one light detection device coupling them together. The flow cells may include a lid extending over the at least one light detection device and coupled to the support frame about the periphery of the at least one light detection device. The lid and at least a top surface of the at least one light detection device form a flow channel therebetween.

Abstract: In one example, a flow cell includes a plurality of inlet ports sized to receive a flow of reagent from one of a plurality of reagents into the flow cell. An outlet port of the flow cell is sized to pass each flow of reagent out of the flow cell. A flow channel of the flow cell is positioned between, and in fluid communication with, each inlet port and the outlet port. The flow channel includes a manifold section and a detection section. The manifold section has a plurality of manifold branches in fluid communication with a common line, wherein each branch is connected to one of each inlet port. The detection section is in fluid communication with the common line and the outlet port. The detection section is operable to perform a plurality of different chemical reactions between the plurality of reagents and analytes positioned in the detection section.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments herein a method for capturing cells of interest in a digital microfluidic system is provided, comprising utilizing a droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device. The microwell device includes a substrate having a plurality of microwells that open onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device. The sample droplet includes cells of interest that enter the microwells. The method introduces capture beads to the microwells, and the capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads. The method utilizes the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device. Portions of the cell lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte that is captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.

Abstract: Actuation systems and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a system including a flow cell receptacle and a valve drive assembly including a shape memory alloy actuator including a pair of shape memory alloy wires and a flow cell disposable within the flow cell receptacle and having a membrane valve. The system actuates the membrane valve, via the shape memory alloy actuator, by causing a voltage to be applied to a first one of the shape memory alloy wires and the system not applying the voltage to a second one of the shape memory alloy wires.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a device comprising structure defining a detector surface configured for supporting biological or chemical substances, and a sensor array comprising light sensors and circuitry to transmit data signals using photons detected by the light sensors. The device can include one or more features for reducing fluorescence range noise in a detection band of the sensor array.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herewith are directed to self-assembled methods of preparing a patterned surface for sequencing applications including, for example, a patterned flow cell or a patterned surface for digital fluidic devices. The methods utilize photolithography to create a patterned surface with a plurality of microscale or nanoscale contours, separated by hydrophobic interstitial regions, without the need of oxygen plasma treatment during the photolithography process. In addition, the methods avoid the use of any chemical or mechanical polishing steps after the deposition of a gel material to the contours.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an integrated circuit, and an imaging assembly. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells. Each flow channel is configured to receive a flow of fluid. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. Each well is configured to contain at least one polynucleotide. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are operable to effect writing of polynucleotides in the corresponding wells. The integrated circuit is operable to drive selective deposition or activation of selected nucleotides to attach to polynucleotides in the wells to thereby generate polynucleotides representing machine-written data in the wells. The imaging assembly is operable to capture images indicative of one or more nucleotides in a polynucleotide.

Abstract: A system writes input data to a storage device as machine-written polynucleotides; and reads machine written polynucleotides from the storage device as output data. The storage device includes a flow cell including a plurality of storage wells in which machine written polynucleotides may be stored. The storage device may include a set of electrodes corresponding to the storage wells that allow for selective interactions with wells across the surface of a flow cell. Operation of the storage device may include receiving a read request associated with a particular location in the storage device, creating a copy of a nucleotide sequence located at the particular location in the storage device, transferring the copy of the nucleotide sequence to a read location, and reading the copy of the nucleotide sequence at the read location.

Abstract: A method including steps of (a) providing an array of sites, wherein each site comprises a mixture of different nucleic acid templates; (b) extending primers hybridized to the different nucleic acid templates at each of the sites with different nucleotide analogs having different reversible blocking moieties, respectively, thereby producing different primer extension products at each site; (c) detecting the different primer extension products to distinguish the different nucleotide analogs at each site; and (d) removing the different reversible blocking moieties from the primer extension products at each of the sites using a first treatment that is selective for a first of the different reversible blocking moieties and a second treatment that is selective for a second of the different reversible blocking moieties.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an integrated circuit, and an imaging assembly. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells. Each flow channel is configured to receive a flow of fluid. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. Each well is configured to contain at least one polynucleotide. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are operable to effect writing of polynucleotides in the corresponding wells. The integrated circuit is operable to drive selective deposition or activation of selected nucleotides to attach to polynucleotides in the wells to thereby generate polynucleotides representing machine-written data in the wells. The imaging assembly is operable to capture images indicative of one or more nucleotides in a polynucleotide.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flow cell body, a plurality of electrodes, an imaging assembly, and one or more barrier features. The flow cell body defines one or more flow channels and a plurality of wells defined as recesses in the floor of each flow channel. Each well is fluidically coupled with the corresponding flow channel. The flow cell body further defines interstitial surfaces between adjacent wells. Each well defines a corresponding depth. Each electrode is positioned in a corresponding well of the plurality of wells. The electrodes are to effect writing of polynucleotides in the wells. The imaging assembly is to capture images of polynucleotides written in the wells. The one or more barrier features are positioned in the wells, between the wells, or above the wells. The one or more barrier features contain reactions in each well, reduce diffusion between the wells, or reduce optical cross-talk between the wells.

Abstract: Methods are used for obtaining, cataloguing, and/or storing data derived from a biological source using a flow cell body, electrodes, and an imaging assembly. The data may include DNA and/or RNA obtained from a biological source, such as from the cells of an organism. The methods may be used to obtain, catalog, and/or store data such as DNA or RNA sequence from a pathogen such as a virus and/or a bacteria, human health data over time, and immune system information from an individual. The data obtained using the disclosed methods may be used for a variety of different purposes, including the manufacture of vaccine compositions, and for restoring the immune system of an individual who has undergone an immune system depleting event. The methods may be used for storage of biological cells, which may be used for the screening of compounds, such as small molecules with potential for therapeutic indications.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments herein a method for capturing cells of interest in a digital microfluidic system is provided, comprising utilizing a droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device. The microwell device includes a substrate having a plurality of microwells that open onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device. The sample droplet includes cells of interest that enter the microwells. The method introduces capture beads to the microwells, and the capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads. The method utilizes the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device. Portions of the cell lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte that is captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.

Abstract: A stack of fluidics layers of a microfluidic cartridge for sequencing nucleic acid molecules includes a sequencing chamber layer having a sequencing chamber area configured for carrying out clustering and sequencing reactions, and a sequencing chamber bottom layer disposed under the sequencing chamber layer. The sequencing chamber bottom layer has an opening configured to hold an image sensor with the image sensor having an active area disposed under the sequencing chamber area. The sequencing chamber area spans substantially all of the active area of the image sensor. The stack of fluidics layers includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) layer under the sequencing chamber bottom layer, and a fluidics channels layer disposed under the flexible PCB layer. The fluidics channels layer includes fluidics channels that are configured to deliver reactants to the sequencing chamber area. The fluidics channels do not substantially overlap with the active area of the image sensor.

Abstract: A method including steps of (a) providing an array of sites, wherein each site comprises a mixture of different nucleic acid templates; (b) extending primers hybridized to the different nucleic acid templates at each of the sites with different nucleotide analogs having different reversible blocking moieties, respectively, thereby producing different primer extension products at each site; (c) detecting the different primer extension products to distinguish the different nucleotide analogs at each site; and (d) removing the different reversible blocking moieties from the primer extension products at each of the sites using a first treatment that is selective for a first of the different reversible blocking moieties and a second treatment that is selective for a second of the different reversible blocking moieties.

Abstract: A biosensor is provided including a detection device and a flow cell mounted to the detection device. The detection device has a detector surface with a plurality of reaction sites. The detection device also includes a filter layer that is configured to at least one of (a) filter unwanted excitation light signals; (b) direct emission signals from a designated reaction site toward one or more associated light detectors that are configured to detect the emission signals from the designated reaction site; or (c) block or prevent detection of crosstalk emission signals from adjacent reaction sites.