Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitization of surfaces, such as hands, are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a system including a housing having an active agent receptacle in fluid communication with at least one nozzle, and an air pump in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. The system also includes a control module configured to control the delivery of an active agent as an aerosol spray through the at least one nozzle in a delivery dose. The delivery dose is expelled onto the surface as a thin uniform layer and dried such that the entire surface sanitization process is completed in less than or equal to 5 seconds. The active agent receptacle can be configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge carrying the active agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitization of surfaces, such as hands, are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a system including a housing having an active agent receptacle in fluid communication with at least one nozzle, and an air pump in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. The system also includes a control module configured to control the delivery of an active agent as an aerosol spray through the at least one nozzle in a delivery dose. The delivery dose is expelled onto the surface as a thin uniform layer and dried such that the entire surface sanitization process is completed in less than or equal to 5 seconds. The active agent receptacle can be configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge carrying the active agent.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitization of surfaces, such as hands, are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a system including a housing having an active agent receptacle in fluid communication with at least one nozzle, and an air pump in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. The system also includes a control module configured to control the delivery of an active agent as an aerosol spray through the at least one nozzle in a delivery dose. The delivery dose is expelled onto the surface as a thin uniform layer and dried such that the entire surface sanitization process is completed in less than or equal to 5 seconds. The active agent receptacle can be configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge carrying the active agent.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitization of surfaces, such as hands, are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a system including a housing having an active agent receptacle in fluid communication with at least one nozzle, and an air pump in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. The system also includes a control module configured to control the delivery of an active agent as an aerosol spray through the at least one nozzle in a delivery dose. The delivery dose is expelled onto the surface as a thin uniform layer and dried such that the entire surface sanitization process is completed in less than or equal to 5 seconds. The active agent receptacle can be configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge carrying the active agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitization of surfaces, such as hands, are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a system including a housing having an active agent receptacle in fluid communication with at least one nozzle, and an air pump in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. The system also includes a control module configured to control the delivery of an active agent as an aerosol spray through the at least one nozzle in a delivery dose. The delivery dose is expelled onto the surface as a thin uniform layer and dried such that the entire surface sanitization process is completed in less than or equal to 5 seconds. The active agent receptacle can be configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge carrying the active agent.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and methods for forming polymeric devices, especially fluidic or microfluidic devices used as conduits for controlling fluid flow. Such devices have important applications in chemistry and biology including immunoassays, enzyme assays and cell separation processes. The invention claims the use of fixed-temperature heating of thermoplastic resin in combination with vacuum and low pressure on the tool in order to rapidly produce good quality devices. The combination of features claimed in the invention is important because it enables simple, lightweight, economical equipment to be constructed to fabricate useful polymeric devices.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for warming a patient are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a patient warming device may include a heater layer comprising a plurality of heater cells disposed on a flexible substrate; and a thermal conduction layer disposed on a patient side of the heater layer to transfer heat generated by the heater layer to a patient. The heater cells may comprise an electrical circuit to generate heat by Joule heating. The patient warming device is flexible to facilitate conforming the patient warming device to a patient during use.

Abstract: The present invention features a new and useful magnetic device and methods of its use for isolation, enrichment, and purification of cells, proteins, DNA, and other molecules. In general the device includes magnetic regions or obstacles to which magnetic particles can bind. The chemical groups, i.e., capture moieties, on the surface of the magnetic particles may then be used to bind particles, e.g., cells, or molecules of interest from complex samples, and the bound species may then be selectively released for downstream collection or further analysis.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing microanalytic and microsynthetic analyses and procedures. The invention provides a microsystem platform and a micromanipulation device for manipulating the platform that utilizes the centripetal force resulting from rotation of the platform to motivate fluid movement through microchannels. The microsystem platforms of the invention are provided having arrays of thermal control regions, wherein fluid applied to the platform can be placed at a temperature and maintained at that temperature for a time that is dependent on the path length of the channel in the region, the cross-section dimension of the channel, and the rotational speed of the platform. Methods specific for the apparatus of the invention for performing any of a wide variety of microanalytical or microsynthetic processes are provided.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting and quantifying particulate matter suspended in a fluid. Specifically, the invention provides an integrated, affinity-binding based, analytical system comprising a platform for performing an affinity-binding based assay for specifically binding particulates including microbial cells, and a detection means for detecting the particulates specifically bound to a defined surface or chamber comprising the platform. Methods for using the analytical systems of the invention are also provided.