Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for determining the absolute configuration of D/L-cysteine and/or the enantiomeric composition of cysteine and/or the concentration of total cysteine in a sample. Uses of the composition and method are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for manipulating objects in a cavity including a liquid, the method including providing in at least one region of the cavity objects capable of absorbing light in a given wavelength range, forming an aggregate of the objects by submitting them to an acoustic field, and disrupting the aggregate by submitting the aggregate to a light beam emitting at the given wavelength range. Also provided is a device for manipulating objects.

Abstract: A liquid handling device includes a plurality of first wells configured for a first sample; a first channel connected to the plurality of first wells; a plurality of second wells configured for a second sample; a second channel connected to the plurality of second wells; a plurality of processing agent wells configured for a processing agent configured to process the first sample and the second sample; a processing agent channel connected to the plurality of processing agent wells; and a common channel connected to the first channel, the second channel and the processing agent channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for quantifying analytes in a desired complex solution with minimal inter-sample variability. The invention includes methods and diagnostic tools for quantifying analytes in aqueous solutions or biological fluid samples with sample-specific calibration and colorimetric or detectable output.

Abstract: A container comprising: a first panel; a second panel opposing the first panel; a first side; a second side opposing the first side; a third side; a fourth side opposing the third side; wherein each of the sides joins the first panel and the second panel; a chamber defined by the four sides, the first panel, and the second panel, wherein the chamber is configured to receive a biological specimen; a port defined in the first side; a plug inserted into the port; an opening defined in the second side; and a closure element coupled to the opening, wherein the chamber is leak proof.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a measurement system capable of rapid spectroscopic and calorimetric analysis of the chemical makeup of a test sample. Systems in accordance with the present disclosure include a low-thermal-mass sample holder having a substrate whose surface has been engineered to create a large-area sample-collection surface. The sample holder includes an integrated temperature controller that can rapidly heat or cool the test sample. As a result, the sample holder enables differential scanning calorimetry Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (DSC-FTIR) that can be performed in minutes rather than hours, as required in the prior art.

Abstract: A composition and method for the photometric determination of a film-forming amine in liquid by adding an indicator reagent to an aqueous system that is pH dependent, combining a water soluble non-ionic polymer to modify the physical properties of the aqueous system, and adding an acidic buffer to said aqueous system to lower pH and activate said indicator, said water soluble polymer keeping the filming amine/indicator complex in solution despite the acidic buffer and preventing it from precipitating out.

Abstract: A microfluidic sample chip to test biological samples, especially for a PCR-type and/or fluorescence assay. The chip being in the shape of a hollow block having at least one chamber delimited by an upper wall, a lower wall and at least one side wall, into which a sample can be introduced for testing. The lower wall of the block is made of a material with a high thermal conductivity and the upper wall is made of a material with a low thermal conductivity. Preferably, the upper wall is preferably permeable to radiation in the visible spectrum between 400 and 700 nm. The block having at least two openings through which the sample can be introduced into at least one of the chambers and through which the air present in the chamber can be evacuated when the sample is introduced.

Abstract: Described herein are systems relating to a continuous-flow instrument that includes all necessary components for digital droplet quantification without the need to introduce key reagents or collect and transfer droplets between stages of instrument operation. Digital quantification can proceed without any additional fluid or consumable handling and without exposing fluids to risk of external contamination.

Abstract: A portable device for measuring the concentration of at least one component in a gas exhaled by a breath fluid, including a first chamber located upstream of a measuring vessel and including an inlet through which the exhaled breath fluid enters the first chamber, a second chamber located upstream of the measuring vessel, the second chamber including an inlet leading into the first chamber, an outlet in communication with the measuring vessel and through which some of the exhaled breath fluid passes, and an outlet leading to the ambient air, through which some of the exhaled breath fluid is expelled into the ambient air. Further, the second chamber is located inside or adjacent the first chamber and the outlet to the ambient air leads to the first chamber so some of the exhaled breath fluid enters the second chamber through the inlet of the second chamber.

Abstract: A single junction sorter for a microfluidic particle sorter, the single-junction sorter comprising: an input channel, configured to receive a fluid containing particles; an output sort channel and an output waste channel, each connected to the input channel for receiving the fluid therefrom; a bubble generator, operable to selectively displace the fluid around a particle to be sorted and thereby to create a transient flow of the fluid in the input channel; and a vortex element, configured to cause a vortex in the transient flow in order to direct the particle to be sorted into the output sort channel.

Abstract: A digital microfluidic device, comprising a bottom plate and a top plate. The bottom plate comprises a bottom electrode array comprising a plurality of digital microfluidic propulsion electrodes. The top plate comprises a segmented top electrode array comprising a plurality of separately voltage addressable top electrode segments. Each top electrode segment and at least two of the propulsion electrodes of the bottom electrode array form a zone within the device. A controller is operatively coupled to the top electrode array and to the bottom electrode array and is configured to provide propulsion voltages between the top plate segment and the bottom plate propulsion electrodes of at least one of the zones. The top plate and the bottom plate are provided in a spaced relationship defining a microfluidic region therebetween.

Abstract: A microfluidic test device has a body, a first chamber having an outlet provided with a first valve and holding a first buffer having a first buffer volume, a primary reaction chamber, a sample inlet for receiving and feeding a sample having a sample volume, into the microfluidic test device, a first fluid path connecting the outlet of the first chamber and the sample inlet, a second fluid path connecting the sample inlet and the primary reaction chamber, a primary test part having a primary test chamber, a third primary fluid path connecting the primary reaction chamber and the primary test part, a primary valve arranged in the third primary fluid path, a flow driving device configured to move fluid from the primary reaction chamber to the primary test part, and a heating assembly configured to heat a reaction fluid in the primary reaction chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a microfluidic device for reversing a flow through a microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device comprises a first microfluidic channel extending between a first inlet and a first outlet, a second microfluidic channel which fluidically connects a first point of the first microfluidic channel to a second outlet via a first valve, a third microfluidic channel which fluidically connects a second point of the first microfluidic channel to a second inlet via a second valve, the second point being located between the first point and the first outlet, and at least one circuit for opening the first valve and the second valve. The first and the second valves are arranged to be initially closed, Upon opening of the first and the second valve during use, the flow direction through the first microfluidic channel between the first point and the second point is reversed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and device for determining sex of an embryo utilizing a non-invasive grading of early stage embryos (pre-hatching) based upon specific gravity, density and/or estimated weight. The device comprises a drop chamber having a lumen, capable of assessing characteristics of at least one embryo while descending. The system allows 100% recovery of embryos. A processor is further capable of performing assessment of the embryos. The disclosed system supports a wide variety of scenarios for human and animal reproductive technologies and related products and services.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluidic coupler including an opening. A first port is in fluid communication with the opening and is to interface with an inlet of a flow cell of a sensor device. A second port is to interface with an outlet of the flow cell of the sensor device. A third port is in fluidic communication with the second port. The apparatus further includes a mechanical assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The fluidic coupler is secured to the flow cell of the sensor device in the first position. The fluidic coupler is disengaged from the flow cell of the sensor device in the second position.

Abstract: There is provided a connecting interface for fluidically interconnecting microfluidic channels. The connecting interface comprises one or more substrates which collectively define a first microfluidic channel which includes a connecting region for fluidically connecting the first microfluidic channel to a second microfluidic channel. The connecting interface further comprises at least one slit in an outer surface of one of the one or more substrates, wherein the at least one slit provides a fluid passage from the outer surface to the connecting region of the first microfluidic channel, and the at least one slit has at least one dimension extending beyond the connecting region along a direction parallel to the outer surface.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system includes a compartment-generating device, a compartment detector, and electronic computing circuitry. The device is configured to generate compartments of a digital assay, at least one of the compartments having a respective volume that is different from a respective volume of each of at least another one of the compartments. The detector is configured to determine a number of the compartments each having a respective number of a target that is greater than a threshold number of the target. And the electronic circuitry is configured to determine a bulk concentration of the target in a source of the sample in response to the determined number of compartments. Because such a system can be configured to estimate a bulk concentration of a target in a source from a polydisperse digital assay, the system can be portable, and lower-cost and faster, than conventional systems.

Abstract: A liquid storage and controlled-release device and a biological detection chip. The liquid storage and controlled-release device comprises a liquid storage capsule with a liquid storage body which is deformable under a pressure, and a sealing layer for sealing the liquid storage body. A support platform is provided right below the liquid storage capsule and tightly connected with the liquid storage capsule, wherein, a directional release chamber is provided at the middle of the support platform, and the directional release chamber is provided with a guiding chamber for collecting the liquid and a sharp edge for inducing break. Compared with the conventional technology, the opening for liquid release is at the end far away from the rotation center, so that the liquid can be released completely by the centrifugal force, ensuring the quantitative release of stored liquid and reducing the influence on the accuracy of the subsequent detection.

Abstract: The present application is directed to the processing of a biological sample into its constituent components for use in ART and includes introducing a sample into a first volume disposed adjacent a second volume including buffer solution, wherein the first and second volumes are adapted for fluid communication therebetween, selectively separating the first volume from the second volume with a movable closure member disposed therebetween, wherein the step of selectively separating the first volume from the second volume includes moving the closure member so that a fluid communication aperture is formed by one or a combination of the closure member or the closure member in combination with the first and second volumes to allow fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume such that motile cells migrate from the sample in the first volume to the buffer solution in the second volume.