Abstract: An example method for measuring deformability of a cell via a pressure field, consistent with the present disclosure, includes flowing a biologic sample containing a plurality of cells along a first fluidic channel and into an intersection between the first fluidic channel and a second fluidic channel of a microfluidic device. The method includes introducing a pressure field at the intersection and into the first fluidic channel via the second fluidic channel and a plurality of apertures in a channel wall disposed in the intersection. The method further includes measuring deformability of a cell among the plurality of cells responsive to the introduction of the pressure field.

Abstract: A method of detecting passage of a particle into a target location includes receiving a sample on a die including a microfluidic chamber, the microfluidic chamber including a microfluidic path coupling a reservoir to a foyer, and moving the sample from the reservoir to the foyer by firing a nozzle fluidically coupled to the foyer. The method further includes detecting passage of a particle of the sample from the reservoir to the foyer via a first sensor disposed within the microfluidic path, and detecting passage of the particle into the target location via a second sensor disposed between the first sensor and the nozzle. The method includes recording in a dispense map, an indication of whether the target location includes a single particle or multiple particles based on signals measured by the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) biological cell constituent concentration reconstruction method may include capturing two-dimensional images of a biological cell at different angles, virtually partitioning the biological cell into a 3D stacks of voxels, assigning cell constituent concentration estimations to respective voxels based upon a plurality of the two-dimensional images and forming a 3D cell constituent concentration model of the biological cell based upon the voxels and respective cell constituent concentration estimations.

Abstract: A microfluidic sensing assembly may include a first structure supporting a sensor array, a second structure joined to the first structure and forming a microfluidic passage and a flat lens to focus light, following reflection of the light back and forth across the microfluidic passage, from the microfluidic passage onto the sensor array.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve may include a first portion of a liquid conduit to contain a gas, a second portion of a liquid conduit to contain a liquid, and a constriction between the first portion and the second portion and across which a capillary meniscus is to form between the gas and the liquid. The microfluidic valve may further include a drop jetting device within the second portion to open the valve by breaking the capillary meniscus across the constriction.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a support and a non-contact charge depositing unit to selectively emit airborne charges of a selectable polarity. The support is to releasably support a consumable microfluidic receptacle in spaced relation to the charge depositing unit to receive the airborne charges on a portion of the consumable microfluidic receptacle to cause an electric field within the consumable microfluidic receptacle to control electrowetting movement of a liquid droplet within the consumable microfluidic receptacle.

Abstract: An example system includes a primary channel having a first end and a second end, at least two reagent reservoirs coupled to the first end, and a controller. Each reservoir contains a reagent in a fluid solution and is associated with an integrated pump to drive a reagent droplet from the corresponding reagent reservoir into the primary channel towards the second end. The controller is coupled to the integrated pumps and operates according to a sequence to actuate the integrated pumps, the sequence being indicative of reagents in the reagent reservoirs. The actuation of the pumps is to drive the reagent droplets from the reagent reservoirs into the primary channel in accordance with the sequence. The example system also includes a shell material reservoir with a shell material and an associated shell material pump to drive the shell material into the primary channel to encapsulate the reagent droplets.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a reagent storage system for a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chamber formed in a microfluidic device. A blister pack to store a reagent includes an electrically conductive membrane barrier adjacent to the chamber. A thinned region is formed in the membrane barrier, and a conductive trace is to supply electric current to heat and melt the thinned region. Melting the thinned region is to cause the membrane barrier to open and release the reagent into the chamber.

Abstract: Examples relate to techniques for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction. The method includes generating a nucleic acid solution comprising a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, and combining the nucleic acid solution with a plurality of chamber particles. Each chamber particle includes a chamber for receiving the nucleic acid solution, wherein the chamber receives, at most, one of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules. Each chamber particle also includes reagents for causing a polymerase chain reaction within the chamber. The method further includes inducing nucleic acid amplification to generate an amplified nucleic acid, and performing a detection process to detect the presence of the amplified nucleic acid within the chamber.

Abstract: In example implementations, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a channel, a reagent chamber, a synthetic jet channel, and an energy source. The channel is to hold a cell. The reagent chamber is coupled to the channel and stores a reagent. The synthetic jet channel is coupled to the channel and the reagent chamber. The energy source is located in the synthetic jet channel to heat a liquid in the synthetic jet channel to create a synthetic jet that carries the reagent through towards the cell to inject the reagent into the cell.

Abstract: An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Abstract: A cell transfection apparatus may include a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip may include a fluid input port, a cell sorter to sort target cells from non-target cells in fluid received through the input port, a cell transfection region comprising a single cell electroporation region to receive the target cells sorted from the nontarget cells and a fluid ejector to dispense a transfected target cell received from the cell transfection region.

Abstract: An example method for measuring deformability of a cell, consistent with the present disclosure, includes detecting a single cell of a biologic sample in a cell probing chamber of a microfluidic device. The method includes isolating the cell in the cell probing chamber of the microfluidic device by terminating the flow of the biologic sample through the microfluidic device. The method further includes causing deformation of the cell by introducing ultrasonic waves into the cell probing chamber, and measuring deformability of the cell responsive to the introduction of the ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A method of alignment and fusion of cells with an electrical field includes firing a first fluid dispenser of an electrofusion device until a first impedance sensor in a first microfluidic channel of the electrofusion device detects a presence of a first cell. The method includes firing a second fluid dispenser of the electrofusion device until a second impedance sensor in a second microfluidic channel of the electrofusion device detects a presence of a second cell. The method includes moving the first cell and the second cell into a merging chamber of the electrofusion device by firing a third fluid dispenser of the electrofusion device, in response to alignment of the first cell in the first microfluidic channel with the second cell in the second microfluidic channel. The method further includes fusing the first cell and the second cell in the merging chamber by creating an electrical field in the merging chamber.

Abstract: An object separator may include a substrate, a fluid channel supported by the substrate, a pair of electrodes along the fluid channel to form a dielectrophoretic force to interact with an object entrained in a fluid, and an inertial pump supported by the substrate and positioned within the fluid channel to move the fluid along the fluid channel.

Abstract: For some examples, an apparatus to effect particle separation may include a dielectrophoretic particle separator that may separate particles within a focused particle stream. The dielectrophoretic particle separator may apply an electric field to the particles. An imaging system may capture images of the particles passing through a separation region of the dielectrophoretic particle separator. An image processing and control system may process the images to obtain information regarding the particles and may adjust an operating parameter of the dielectrophoretic separator based upon the information regarding the particles.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a reagent storage system for a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chamber formed in a microfluidic device. A blister pack to store a reagent includes an electrically conductive membrane barrier adjacent to the chamber. A thinned region is formed in the membrane barrier, and a conductive trace is to supply electric current to heat and melt the thinned region. Melting the thinned region is to cause the membrane barrier to open and release the reagent into the chamber.

Abstract: An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Abstract: An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a cell preparation system is described. The cell preparation system includes a fluidic channel to transport cells in single file past multiple detection devices. The cell preparation system also includes a series of detection devices. Each detection device includes 1) a constriction to deform a cell found therein and 2) a sensor to measure a state within the constriction. The cell preparation system also includes a controller. The controller analyzes outputs from multiple sensors to 1) verify a single file transport of cells through the system and 2) identify a cell that passes through the fluidic channel.