Abstract: There is provided a method of measuring a sedimentation parameter of suspensions or precipitants in a fluid medium sample, said method compromising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterize a response of the micro-cantilever during sedimentation in the fluid medium sample, and determining a value of the sedimentation parameter from the characterized response. There is also provided an apparatus arranged to carry out the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering one or more fluids. Fluids may be delivered from a common vessel to a chemical, biological or biochemical process.

Abstract: An immunochromatographic method for detecting a specific substance contained in milk, which comprises (1) the step of contacting the milk with a test strip having a first part retaining a labeled first antibody directed to the specific substance or the specific substance that is labeled, a second part disposed downstream from the first part, on which a second antibody directed to the specific substance is immobilized, and a third part disposed upstream from the first part or the second part and having voids enabling removal of milk fat globules contained in the milk, at the third part or a further upstream part, and (2) the step of flowing the milk up to the second part or a further downstream part to obtain a detectable signal of the label at the second part or a further downstream part.

Abstract: A biosensor disk includes a detection substrate with an upper side surface, a reflection substrate with a lower side surface facing oppositely toward the upper side surface, and fluidic channels reaching between the opposed side surfaces. The upper side surface has binding sites, and has non-binding sites adjoining the binding sites. The detection substrate is transparent at the non-binding sites. The lower side surface has non-reflective areas, and has reflective areas adjoining the non-reflective areas. The reflective areas are located opposite the non-binding sites and have discrete polygonal configurations of equal size and shape.

Abstract: An immunochromatography for multi-item detection is provided which contains detecting and measuring fluorescence and light absorption respectively at once with a detection device. The immunochromatography contains using fluorescent particles and light absorbing particles, wherein the fluorescence excitation wavelength of the fluorescent particles and the absorption wavelength of the light absorbing particles are in the same wavelength region; and detecting and measuring, at once, the intensity of reflected light from a test area, the intensity of reflected light from another test area, and the intensity of reflected light from a non-test area other than the test areas.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatus and methods for detecting substances of abuse or other analytes in liquids. For example, the apparatus and methods described herein can be used for real-time detection of analytes, such as substances of abuse. The methods comprise providing a detection area comprising a chromatographic membrane capable of receiving the liquid and allowing for migration of the liquid, the chromatographic membrane comprising an anti-analyte antibody-particle conjugate, an analyte-conjugate protein at a test line; exposing at least the first location of the apparatus to the liquid; and determining whether an interaction between the analyte-conjugate protein and the liquid occurs to detect the presence of the analyte. The chromatographic membrane may further comprise an anti-species antibody at a control line.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include methods for conducting agglutination assays using sedimentation. Aggregates may be exposed to sedimentation forces and travel through a density medium to a detection area. Microfluidic devices, such as microfluidic disks, are described for conducting the agglutination assays, as are systems for conducting the assays.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid. The reservoir chamber has a fluid outlet. The cartridge further comprises a controllable dispenser component for dispensing a dispensing volume of the fluid from the reservoir chamber. The dispenser component is connected to the fluid outlet of the reservoir. The cartridge further comprises a single compressible fluid pump with a single elastic pumping element and a conduit extending from the fluid pump towards the fluid outlet. The fluid pump discharges a mixing volume of the fluid from the conduit into the reservoir chamber upon compression of the elastic pumping element. The mixing volume depends on the degree of compression of the elastic pumping element. The fluid pump sucks in the mixing volume from the reservoir into the conduit upon decompression of the elastic pumping element.

Abstract: A system and method provide for high through put determination of agglutination states. The system includes a rotating table and multiple plate tilting stations. The system also includes one or more optical paths positioned to image entire plate arrays in tilted and/or untilted configurations. The system preferably includes image analysis software to analyze an image of an array of test wells and determine an agglutination state of each well based on the image analysis.

Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a work-flow, which may be in an IVD environment. A plurality of workcells can be used to perform tasks, while vessels can be automatically transported between the workcells using bulk transport trays along an inter-cell track, allowing each workcell to be independently adapted to one or more tasks in the work-flow.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for performing high throughput analysis of conformational change in biological molecules or other biological entities using surface-selective nonlinear optical detection techniques.

Abstract: Dispersion injection methods for determining biomolecular interaction parameters in label-free biosensing systems are provided. The methods generally relate to the use of a single analyte injection that generates a smoothly-varying concentration gradient via dispersion en route to a sensing region possessing an immobilized binding partner. The present method incorporates the use of an internal standard which provides a reference as to the dispersion conditions present which can then be used to calculate an effective diffusion coefficient for the analyte of interest based on a universal calibration function. The effective diffusion coefficient can then be incorporated into the appropriate dispersion model to provide a calibrated dispersion model. The calibrated dispersion model can then be incorporated into the desired interaction model to provide a reliable representation of the analyte concentration at the sensing region at any time during the injection.

Abstract: Provided herein are cartridges, devices, and methods for carrying out multistep assays on a microfluidic scale. A cartridge includes a block frame comprising a well, wherein the well comprises an outlet, at least one inlet, and a bottom surface; a plurality of containers, wherein each container is connected to the well via a microchannel leading to the at least one inlet; and an openable cover, which cover when closed is configured to enclose an assay surface and form a gap between (i) the assay surface and the bottom surface of the well or (ii) the assay surface and the cover. The gap can be formed by a spacer that extends from the bottom surface of the well or from the outer edge of the cover. Methods include flowing liquid into the gap and/or through an opening adjacent to the assay surface.

Abstract: A microchip includes a reagent placement area to fix an anaerobic antibody therein. An inlet and outlet of the microchip that communicate with a channel having the reagent placement area are closed by thin plate sections and a sealing member. The sealing member is made from a silicone gel and possesses a self-repairing capability. To supply the reagent to the microchip, a fluid releasing unit having an aperture and a fluid recovering unit having an aperture are caused to penetrate the thin plate sections and the self-repairable sealing element, and enter a space including the reagent placement area. The free end of the fluid releasing unit is shaped like an injection needle, and the aperture serves as a fluid release opening. The free end of the fluid recovering unit is shaped like an injection needle, and the aperture serves as a fluid recovery opening.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and devices to count particles of interest, such as cells. The methods include obtaining a fluid sample that may contain particles of interest; counting all types of particles in a portion of the sample using a first electrical differential counter to generate a first total; removing any particles of interest from the portion of the fluid sample; counting any particles remaining in the portion of the fluid sample using a second electrical differential counter after the particles of interest are removed to generate a second total; and calculating a number of particles of interest originally in the fluid sample by subtracting the second total from the first total, wherein the difference is the number of particles of interest in the sample. These methods and related devices can be used, for example, to produce a robust, inexpensive diagnostic kit for CD4+ T cell counting in whole blood samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for molecular sensing are described. Molecular sensors are described which are based on field-effect or bipolar junction transistors. These transistors have a nanopillar with a functionalized layer contacted to either the base or the gate electrode. The functional layer can bind molecules, which causes an electrical signal in the sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for molecular sensing are described. Molecular sensors are described which are based on field-effect or bipolar junction transistors. These transistors have a nanopillar with a functionalized layer contacted to either the base or the gate electrode. The functional layer can bind molecules, which causes an electrical signal in the sensor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microfluidic system (1) comprising: at least one channel (2) for the flow of fluid having an inlet (4), an outlet (5) and a longitudinal axis (7) extending between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), said channel (2) comprising a capture zone (3), and the cross section of the channel (2) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (7) of the channel (2) increasing in size in the capture zone (3), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel (2); and means (6) for applying a magnetic field having a decreasing intensity in the capture zone (3) of the channel (2), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel. The invention also concerns a method for treating a sample that can be implemented with this system.

Abstract: A lateral flow assay detects and differentiates between viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In one preferred embodiment, the bacterial marker is CRP. In another preferred embodiment, the viral marker is MxA. In some embodiments, it is unnecessary to lyse the cells in the sample prior to applying it to the device.