Abstract: An improved microfluidics device and system for sample loading and injection are disclosed. The device includes three main channels—a separation channel, supply channel, and drain channel—for use in loading and injecting a sample from the supply channel. Pairs of peripheral channels connecting the supply channel with upstream and downstream regions of the separation channel, and connecting supply and drain channels to a downstream region of the separation channel promote fluid flow and/or ion in the channel network to effect (i) sample shaping in the separation channel, when an electrokinetic or pneumatic force is applied between the supply and drain channels, and (ii) sample pullback in the supply and drain channels, when an electrokinetic or pneumatic force is applied between opposite ends of the separation channel. The system incorporates the device, electrodes that interact with reservoirs in the device, and a control unit.

Abstract: Multilevel microfluidic structures and their use are provided for performing operations using electrokinetic or pneumatic force for moving sample components through and between levels. The devices have flow systems comprising microstructures including reservoirs, channels and vias, where each of the levels or lamina has a plurality of microstructures, and where the microstructures may communicate between levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a plurality of small-volume reactions simultaneously with components in a bulk-phase medium are disclosed. The apparatus includes a device having an elongate or planar channel providing a plurality of discrete small-volume reaction regions within the channel, each communicating with supply and hold reservoirs from which material can be introduced into the regions, and to which material can be transferred from the reaction regions. A reaction-specific reagent is carried on a wall portion of each reaction region, or in a reservoir associated with a reaction region, for reacting in solution with one or more components in the bulk-phase medium, to effect a selected solution-phase reaction in each region or in a region-specific reservoir associated therewith.

Abstract: A microchannel apparatus and method for processing a sample are disclosed. The apparatus include a multisite reaction channel, one or more sample-preparation stations upstream of the reaction channel, for carrying out one or more selected sample-preparation steps effective to convert a sample to the bulk-phase medium, and one or more product-processing stations downstream of the reaction channel, for processing products generated in one or more of the reaction regions. Also included is structure for transferring solvent or solvent components between one of the sample-preparation stations and one or more selected reaction regions in the reaction channel, and between one or more selected reaction regions in the reaction channel and one of said product-processing stations, under the control of a control unit.

Abstract: Multilevel microfluidic structures and their use are provided for performing operations using electrokinetic or pneumatic force for moving sample components through and between levels. The devices have flow systems comprising microstructures including reservoirs, channels and vias, where each of the levels or lamina has a plurality of microstructures, and where the microstructures may communicate between levels.

Abstract: An improved microfluidics device and system for sample loading and injection are disclosed. The device includes three main channels—a separation channel, supply channel, and drain channel—for use in loading and injecting a sample from the supply channel. Pairs of peripheral channels connecting the supply channel with upstream and downstream regions of the separation channel, and connecting supply and drain channels to a downstream region of the separation channel promote fluid flow and/or ion in the channel network to effect (i) sample shaping in the separation channel, when an electrokinetic or pneumatic force is applied between the supply and drain channels, and (ii) sample pullback in the supply and drain channels, when an electrokinetic or pneumatic force is applied between opposite ends of the separation channel. The system incorporates the device, electrodes that interact with reservoirs in the device, and a control unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming on-site tinted and coated optical elements from a mold having a polymer release layer; an optical coating, such as an anti-reflective coating; a coupling agent layer to bind to the optical coating and having unreacted chemical groups; and a hard coat layer having unreacted chemical groups. The hard coat may be tinted with dyes that are standard in the art. The mold can be shipped to a lab that prepares optical elements, such as ophthalmic lenses, after the coupling agent layer is added or after the hard coat layer, optionally tinted, is added. When using the mold with a lens resin having unreacted chemical groups, the coupling agent layer, hard coat layer, optionally tinted, and optical element all crosslink as the optical element is cured to form, on-site, a durable and stable lens with chemically bound optical coatings.