Abstract: The present disclosure discusses a system and method that includes a microfluidic device that can be used in either an extracorporeal or implantable configuration. The device supports efficient and safe removal of carbon dioxide from the blood of patients suffering from respiratory disease or injury. The microfluidic device can be a multilayer device that includes gas channels and fluid channels. Distensible membranes within the device can affect a cross-sectional area of the blood channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting assays on tissue fragment samples including providing a suspension maintaining pump, and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, wherein the fluid reservoirs are configured to hold a volume of fluid. The fluid reservoirs are fluidically coupled to a microfluidic assay chip, wherein the microfluidic assay chip includes a plurality of parallel assay channels, a first inlet port for introduction of a tissue fragment sample into the microfluidic assay ship, and a second inlet port coupled to the fluid reservoir. Each channel of the microfluidic assay chip also includes a retention barrier configured to trap the tissue fragment sample such that the fluid perfuses through the tissue sample, as well as an outlet port fluidically coupled to a waste receptacle.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for modeling a tumor-immune microenvironment can include a multiwell plate defining a plurality of microenvironment units fluidically coupled with a plurality of wells. Each microenvironment unit of the plurality of microenvironment units can include one or more compartments. Each microenvironment unit can include a trapping feature positioned within the one or more compartments. The trapping feature can be defined by a portion of at least one of a sidewall or a floor of the one or more compartments. The trapping feature can restrict movement of a tissue sample introduced into the one or more compartments and to allow fluid to flow past the tissue sample. The microfluidic device can include a plurality of micropumps each coupled with a respective well and configured to control movement of a respective fluid sample through each respective well.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth. A negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures is defined in a surface of the first cavity. The mold includes at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures. The at least one second cavity defines a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale structure. A fabric retaining frame is disposed in the first cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure discusses a system and method that includes a microfluidic device that can be used in either an extracorporeal or implantable configuration. The device supports efficient and safe removal of carbon dioxide from the blood of patients suffering from respiratory disease or injury. The microfluidic device can be a multilayer device that includes gas channels and fluid channels. Distensible membranes within the device can affect a cross-sectional area of the blood channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting assays on tissue fragment samples including providing a suspension maintaining pump, and a plurality of fluid reservoirs, wherein the fluid reservoirs are configured to hold a volume of fluid. The fluid reservoirs are fluidically coupled to a microfluidic assay chip, wherein the microfluidic assay chip includes a plurality of parallel assay channels, a first inlet port for introduction of a tissue fragment sample into the microfluidic assay ship, and a second inlet port coupled to the fluid reservoir. Each channel of the microfluidic assay chip also includes a retention barrier configured to trap the tissue fragment sample such that the fluid perfuses through the tissue sample, as well as an outlet port fluidically coupled to a waste receptacle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for culturing and monitoring, ex vivo, pharmacologic and metabolic response in a biological sample, including receiving at a fluidic apparatus the biological sample retrieved from the patient, retaining the biological sample within a channel of the fluidic apparatus, providing for the culture of the biological sample within the channel of the fluidic apparatus, flowing a fluid past the biological sample, retrieving and analyzing the fluid to determine a pharmacologic and/or metabolic response of the sample.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth. A negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures is defined in a surface of the first cavity. The mold includes at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures. The at least one second cavity defines a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale structure. A fabric retaining frame is disposed in the first cavity.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale dry adhesive structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth, a negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures defined in a surface of the first cavity, and at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures, the at least one second cavity defining a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale dry adhesive structure.