Abstract: A point of care testing assay system for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte of interest in a sample, and methods for using such assay system, are disclosed. The system comprises a microfiuidic means capable of performing testing with low sample volume in a sample matrix, and having high sensitivity and substantially a 5-log wide dynamic range and capable of performing an assay in approximately fifteen minutes, and in which the microfiuidic means comprises a microfiuidic testing cartridge with associated electronics, a precision pipettor, a high sensitivity detection module, a motion stage, and an on-board electronics display means that can be read by a user as an indication of the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A method for reading a microfluidic microplate having a plurality of cells is provided. The method includes determining target locations on the microfluidic microplate, each of the target locations being deviated from a center of each of the cells, and directing a beam centered at each of the target locations perpendicular to the microfluidic microplate, the beam having a predetermined diameter. Each of the plurality of cells includes a well structure including a side wall for a loading well, a through hole at a center of a base of the well structure, and a microfluidic channel formed in a spiral pattern configured to start from a first end of the microfluidic channel and end with a second end of the microfluidic channel at the base of the well structure, wherein the first end of the microfluidic channel is connected to the through hole, and the second end of the microfluidic channel includes an outlet hole.

Abstract: A method for reading a microfluidic microplate having a plurality of cells is provided. The method includes determining target locations on the microfluidic microplate, each of the target locations being deviated from a center of each of the cells, and directing a beam centered at each of the target locations perpendicular to the microfluidic microplate, the beam having a predetermined diameter. Each of the plurality of cells includes a well structure including a side wall for a loading well, a through hole at a center of a base of the well structure, and a microfluidic channel formed in a spiral pattern configured to start from a first end of the microfluidic channel and end with a second end of the microfluidic channel at the base of the well structure, wherein the first end of the microfluidic channel is connected to the through hole, and the second end of the microfluidic channel includes an outlet hole.

Abstract: This invention discloses novel improvements to conventional microtiter plates, involving integrating microfluidic channels with such microtiter plates to simplify the assay operation, Increase operational speed and reduce reagent consumption. The present invention can be used in place of a conventional microliter plate and can be easily substituted without any changes to the existing instrumentation systems designed for microtiter plates. The invention also discloses a microfluidic device integrated with sample loading wells wherein the entire flow process is capillary driven.

Abstract: A point of care testing assay system for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte of interest in a sample, and methods for using such assay system, are disclosed. The system comprises a microfluidic means capable of performing testing with low sample volume in a sample matrix, and having high sensitivity and substantially a 5-log wide dynamic range and capable of performing an assay in approximately fifteen minutes, and in which the microfluidic means comprises a microfluidic testing cartridge with associated electronics, a precision pipettor, a high sensitivity detection module, a motion stage, and an on-board electronics display means that can be read by a user as an indication of the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Microfluidic microplate devices and methods for assay systems such as immunoassays, to achieve improvements particularly of higher sensitivity and more repeatable performance, are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, also disclosed are the use of a range of coating buffers for the capture antibody and the use of coating buffers with specific formulations within very narrow ranges to achieve optimal results in the use of the devices and methods.

Abstract: This invention discloses novel improvements to conventional microtiter plates, involving integrating microfluidic channels with such microtiter plates to simplify the assay operation, Increase operational speed and reduce reagent consumption. The present invention can be used in place of a conventional microliter plate and can be easily substituted without any changes to the existing instrumentation systems designed for microtiter plates. The invention also discloses a microfluidic device integrated with sample loading wells wherein the entire flow process is capillary driven.

Abstract: A novel filter-less separation technique for separating suspended particles from a solution is disclosed. More specifically, an on-chip bioparticle separator is disclosed, which relies on the differential force exerted by application of a series of high magnitude, short duration pressure pulses on bioparticles in suspension within microchannels, resulting in separation of suspended bioparticles. The filter-less separation technique is inherently suited to ?TAS (Micro Total Analysis System) since it exploits uniquely microscale phenomena to achieve separation. The on-chip bioparticle separator can be easily integrated with a disposable biochip, can be fabricated using low-cost, rapid manufacturing techniques, and can provide high performance for separation of bioparticles without the use of specialized or expensive equipment.

Abstract: A novel filter-less separation technique for separating suspended particles from a solution is disclosed. More specifically, an on-chip bioparticle separator is disclosed, which relies on the differential force exerted by application of a series of high magnitude, short duration pressure pulses on bioparticles in suspension within microchannels, resulting in separation of suspended bioparticles. The filter-less separation technique is inherently suited to ?TAS (Micro Total Analysis System) since it exploits uniquely microscale phenomena to achieve separation. The on-chip bioparticle separator can be easily integrated with a disposable biochip, can be fabricated using low-cost, rapid manufacturing techniques, and can provide high performance for separation of bioparticles without the use of specialized or expensive equipment.

Abstract: A novel filter-less separation technique for separating suspended particles from a solution is disclosed. More specifically, an on-chip bioparticle separator is disclosed, which relies on the differential force exerted by application of a series of high magnitude, short duration pressure pulses on bioparticles in suspension within microchannels, resulting in separation of suspended bioparticles. The filter-less separation technique is inherently suited to ?TAS (Micro Total Analysis System) since it exploits uniquely microscale phenomena to achieve separation. The on-chip bioparticle separator can be easily integrated with a disposable biochip, can be fabricated using low-cost, rapid manufacturing techniques, and can provide high performance for separation of bioparticles without the use of specialized or expensive equipment.

Abstract: A novel filter-less separation technique for separating suspended particles from a solution is disclosed. More specifically, an on-chip bioparticle separator is disclosed, which relies on the differential force exerted by application of a series of high magnitude, short duration pressure pulses on bioparticles in suspension within microchannels, resulting in separation of suspended bioparticles. The filter-less separation technique is inherently suited to ?TAS (Micro Total Analysis System) since it exploits uniquely microscale phenomena to achieve separation. The on-chip bioparticle separator can be easily integrated with a disposable biochip, can be fabricated using low-cost, rapid manufacturing techniques, and can provide high performance for separation of bioparticles without the use of specialized or expensive equipment.