Abstract: A method, apparatus and system that illuminates one face of a lateral flow assay test strip or test strip assembly with light of selected wavelengths and intensities and measures the resulting light intensities at the opposite face at the test stain line region and adjacent regions, in order to determine the value of analyte concentration over an extremely wide range, including values too small to produce a visible test stain line.

Abstract: A diagnostic analyzer includes a rotating device, a first optical reader, and a second optical reader. The rotating device includes a first darkened compartment, a second darkened compartment, and an optical path along which the first darkened compartment and the second darkened compartment travel. The first optical reader is operable to read the first darkened compartment and the second optical reader is operable to read the second darkened compartment.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a signal of a detection substrate exposed to a sample containing a target substance; determining that the detection substrate is in a testable state; and generating an assessment of the presence of the target substance in the sample.

Abstract: A method for aggregating a cluster of particles having a target cluster constitution in a channel comprising a retention section comprises the steps of establishing a fluid stream comprising a fluid carrier medium and particles of at least one type through said channel; controlling a supply of said particles of at least one type into the fluid stream; operating a retention mechanism to aggregate at least part of said particles in an aggregation region within said retention section, to thereby form said cluster of particles; monitoring, while operating said retention mechanism, the particles in at least part of said channel for obtaining a monitoring signal associated with the cluster and/or with the particles moving in the fluid stream; determining a current cluster constitution from the monitoring signal; comparing said current cluster constitution with said target cluster constitution; and controlling at least one of said particle retention mechanism and said supply of said particles of at least one type, s

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas sensor device that detects gases with large molecules (e.g., a gas with a molecular weight between 150 g/mol and 450 g/mol), such as siloxanes. The gas sensor device includes a thin film gas sensor and a bulk film gas sensor. The thin film gas sensor and the bulk film gas sensor each include a semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) film, a heater, and a temperature sensor. The SMO film of the thin film gas sensor is an thin film (e.g., between 90 nanometers and 110 nanometers thick), and the SMO film of the bulk film gas sensor is an thick film (e.g., between 5 micrometers and 20 micrometers thick). The gas sensor device detects gases with large molecules based on a variation between resistances of the SMO thin film and the SMO thick film.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a process and system are provided for generating a user interface for classification of a sample image of a cell that includes receiving a sample image of a sample particle from a biological sample and selecting reference images that each portray a reference particle of a biological sample. The reference images can be ordered based on similarity and the reference images can be selected based on the order. The first selected reference image can be aligned with the sample image and expanded such that the adjacent edges of the reference image and sample image are the same. The expanded image can be dynamically filled. The sample image and the expanded reference image can be displayed in a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of microfluidics and in particular to devices and methods for sorting objects in microfluidic channels. These devices and methods allow for fast and robust sorting in two-way and multi-way setups. They also enable sorting over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A microfluidic sequencing device for multiplying and separating molecular chains, and which is designed to receive biochemical material, includes at least one supply opening for supplying biochemical material into the sequencing device. The sequencing device additionally has at least one microfluidic separation unit, which has at least one separation channel with at least one amplification cavity for multiplying molecular chains supplied via the supply opening as the biochemical material and with at least one separating unit which is connected or can be connected to the amplification cavity microfluidically and includes a multi-porous material. The separating unit is designed to separate nucleic acids from other macromolecular components and/or to separate nucleic acids. Furthermore, the sequencing device has at least one discharge opening for discharging nucleic acids separated in the separation unit as biochemical material out of the sequencing device.

Abstract: A holder for a microfluidic chip includes a base having an outward facing surface, a seat defined in the outward facing surface for receiving a microfluidic chip, and a first circular wall extending around the seat and having a first screw thread. A cover is mountable to the base over the seat for retaining the microfluidic chip on the seat. The cover has a window and a second circular wall extending around the window. The second circular wall has a second screw thread. The second screw thread is engageable with the first screw thread to screw the cover to the base with the window overlying the seat.

Abstract: Methods are provided for emulating disease in a microfluidic system with a releasable interfacial film component that allows communication between non-gel aqueous solutions to emulate natural physiological conditions. The systems and methods emulate cellular communication in a disease state in a more accurate aqueous environment and provide data on the interaction between the cells that can be used to develop a treatment for a subject in need. The systems and methods also can be used to assess the effect of a particular treatment, such as a drug therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination thereof, for example. The systems and methods can show how a particular therapy is affected by any of several known factors including, but not limited to, the sex of the subject, the age of the subject, hereditary factors or other genetic predispositions, as well as perhaps other physiological states of the subject, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An instrument includes a fluidic cartridge having a body comprising a malleable material and a layer comprising a deformable material bonded to a surface of the body that seals one or more fluidic channels that communicate with one or more valve bodies formed in a surface of the body. The valve can be closed by applying pressure to the deformable material sufficient to close off a fluidic channel in the body. A cartridge interface is configured to engage the cartridge.

Abstract: A circuit with electrical interconnect for external electronic connection and sensor(s) on a die are combined with a laminated manifold to deliver a liquid reagent over an active surface of the sensor(s). The laminated manifold includes fluidic channel(s), an interface between the die and the fluidic channel(s) being sealed. Also disclosed is a method, the method including assembling a laminated manifold including fluidic channel(s), attaching sensor(s) on a die to a circuit, the circuit including an electrical interconnect, and attaching a planarization layer to the circuit, the planarization layer including a cut out for the die. The method further includes placing sealing adhesive at sides of the die, attaching the laminated manifold to the circuit, and sealing an interface between the die and fluidic channel(s).

Abstract: Various collection devices, systems and methods relating to the use of devices with open microfluidic channels disposed within a housing defining a lumen. These devices make use of microneedles passed through apertures to induce fluid flow into microfluidic channel networks for collection and analysis. The device can be actuated via button when placed on the skin of a patient to collect a fluid sample, such as a blood draw.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a substrate, a semiconductor device disposed over the substrate, the semiconductor device having a surface electrode structure, and a saccharide coating formed over the surface electrode structure. The saccharide coating can be removed prior to use. The semiconductor device can further include a well and optionally a bead disposed in the well.

Abstract: Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

Abstract: An apparatus, vortex generator assembly and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and processing. The vortex generator assembly includes sample holder having a lysis well, at least one wash well, and an elution well. The vortex generator assembly also includes a sample holder cover having a plurality of vibration rods for creating a vortex in the wells of the sample holder. The apparatus includes motor operating a rotating cam to cause the vibration rods to vibrate and create the vortex in a well holding fluid and magnetic beads, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA.

Abstract: A cartridge, in particular a disposable cartridge, for use in an electrowetting sample processing system. The cartridge contains an internal gap with at least one hydrophobic surface for enabling an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet that has magnetic beads and further has a bead accumulation zone, into which the microfluidic droplet is transferable by electrowetting force and the magnetic beads are exposable to a magnetic force of a bead manipulation magnet. The internal gap has a bead extraction opening adjacent to the bead accumulation zone. The bead extraction opening provides a passage from the gap to an exterior space of the cartridge and is configured to removably receive the bead manipulation magnet for enabling an extraction of the magnetic beads from the microfluidic droplet by a removal of the bead manipulation magnet.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biological samples is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a fluid sample into a cartridge device, which comprises: a fluidic chamber; at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber; and a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber; and inserting the cartridge device into a reader device to perform measurements, wherein the cartridge device is positioned in a vertical or tilted position such that at least a portion of the fluid sample inside the fluidic chamber is pulled by gravity in a direction away from the venting port or towards the bottom of the fluidic chamber.

Abstract: Zebrafish are a powerful model for investigating cardiac repair due to their unique regenerative abilities, scalability, and compatibility with many genetic tools. However, characterizing the regeneration process in live adult zebrafish hearts has proved challenging because adult fish are opaque and explanted hearts in conventional culture conditions experience rapid declines in morphology and physiology. To overcome these limitations, we fabricated a fluidic device for culturing explanted adult zebrafish hearts with constant media perfusion that is also compatible with live imaging. Unlike hearts cultured in dishes for one week, the morphology and calcium activity of hearts cultured in the device for one week were largely similar to freshly explanted hearts.

Abstract: A device and method for analyte detection and analytes in a particulate bearing fluid such as whole blood having an instrument for partitioning the panicles from the fluid that is integrated with a detector for analyses of one or more particulate bearing fluid analytes while the particles in the particulate bearing fluid are partitioned.