Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nucleic acid analysis apparatus using a cartridge which can simplify the nucleic acid extraction and applicable to a molecular diagnostic POCT equipment. The nucleic acid analysis device includes a stage on which a cartridge is mountable, a nucleic acid extraction unit, and a control unit. The nucleic acid extraction unit performs a nucleic acid extraction through crushing of the sample, the cell disruption, and the nucleic acid purification as well as a nucleic acid amplification. The control unit controls the stage and the nucleic acid extraction unit so that the nucleic acid extraction through the crushing of the sample, the cell disruption, and the nucleic acid purification as well as the nucleic acid amplification are collectively performed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cartridge for use in nucleic acid extraction and a nucleic acid extraction method which can simplify a nucleic acid extraction process and can be applicable to a point-of-care testing (POCT). The cartridge includes a chamber module, an air valve module, and a liquid valve module. The chamber module includes a plurality of chambers for extracting nucleic acids from a sample including a pretreatment chamber in which the sample is crushed and homogenization, cell disruption, and purification are performed. The air valve module is installed on the chamber module to control a pressure required to move a fluid between the plurality of chambers. The liquid valve module is installed below the chamber module to move the fluid between the plurality of chambers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nucleic acid analysis apparatus using a cartridge which can simplify the nucleic acid extraction and applicable to a molecular diagnostic POCT equipment. The nucleic acid analysis device includes a stage on which a cartridge is mountable, a nucleic acid extraction unit, and a control unit. The nucleic acid extraction unit performs a nucleic acid extraction through crushing of the sample, the cell disruption, and the nucleic acid purification as well as a nucleic acid amplification. The control unit controls the stage and the nucleic acid extraction unit so that the nucleic acid extraction through the crushing of the sample, the cell disruption, and the nucleic acid purification as well as the nucleic acid amplification are collectively performed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cartridge for use in nucleic acid extraction and a nucleic acid extraction method which can simplify a nucleic acid extraction process and can be applicable to a point-of-care testing (POCT). The cartridge includes a chamber module, an air valve module, and a liquid valve module. The chamber module includes a plurality of chambers for extracting nucleic acids from a sample including a pretreatment chamber in which the sample is crushed and homogenization, cell disruption, and purification are performed. The air valve module is installed on the chamber module to control a pressure required to move a fluid between the plurality of chambers. The liquid valve module is installed below the chamber module to move the fluid between the plurality of chambers.

Abstract: A bio-sample pretreatment device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of magnetism appliers disposed to be provided outside a prepared vessel and applying magnetism to the vessel, wherein magnetic poles of the magnetism appliers change.

Abstract: A microfluidic system for analyzing nucleic acid, the microfluidic system including a reagent supply device including a sample chamber into which a sample can be injected, one or more reagent chambers for containing one or more reagents for extracting nucleic acid from the sample, and a waste chamber in which the used reagent can be discarded; a binding-lysis chamber in which cells are captured from the sample and lysed to form a cell lysate containing nucleic acid; plurality of particles for cell binding disposed in the binding-lysis chamber; a plurality of rehydration chambers into which the cell lysate formed in the binding-lysis chamber can be distributed and mixed with a nucleic acid amplification reagent to form an amplification reaction mixture; a plurality of amplification chambers in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction is performed on the amplification reaction mixture introduced from the plurality of rehydration chambers; and a flow channel system including an outlet and a plurality of inlet

Abstract: A reagent supply device includes a plurality of chambers which are separated from each other such that different reagents may be injected, the plurality of chambers having bottom surfaces made of a membrane, the membrane comprising a destruction pattern which is formed at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of chambers and breachable by an external impact to discharge the injected reagent from the chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including an asymmetric electrode arrangement in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged asymmetrically in a vertical or horizontal direction.

Abstract: A microvalve device comprises: a first substrate having a first surface, where at least one fluidic channel is formed into the first surface of the first substrate; and at least one valve seat is formed in the fluidic channel; a second substrate having a second surface, the second substrate comprising at least one air channel and at least one air chamber formed on the second surface of the second substrate, where the air chamber is connected to the air channel; and an elastic film interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, where an upper portion of the valve seat is lower than the first surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: Provided are a multi-channel fluorescence detecting module and a nucleic acid analysis system including the multi-channel fluorescence detecting module. The nucleic acid analysis system includes: a plurality of loaders configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges respectively, the cartridges comprising microfluidic devices; a transfer module including a linear actuator, the linear actuator including a movable unit configured to move linearly; and a fluorescence detecting module fixed to the movable unit, the fluorescence detecting module being configured to emit excitation light to the cartridges and detect fluorescence emitted from samples on the cartridges. The loaders are arranged in a row in a linearly moving direction of the movable unit.

Abstract: Provided is a reagent container that can maintain stability of a reagent for a long period of time, a method of preparing the reagent container, a method of storing the reagent, and microfluidic systems for conducting cell binding, lysis, nucleic acid extraction, and amplification.

Abstract: A fluid receiving chamber including a fluid inlet hole through which a fluid flows from outside, an inner space which contains the fluid, a fluid supply hole through which the fluid flows from the fluid inlet hole to the inner space, and a fluid outlet hole through which the fluid contained in the inner space is discharged to the outside, where the fluid supply hole is disposed above the fluid outlet hole, and the fluid is supplied to the inner space through the fluid supply hole by gravity.

Abstract: A fluid control apparatus including a detecting unit including a light source for irradiating light toward a microfluidic device, and a photodetector for detecting light reflected from the microfluidic device, a transporting unit for moving the detecting unit; and a determining unit for controlling a transporting operation by the transporting unit, where determining a state of a fluid at a particular position relative to the microfluidic device is based on light reflected from the microfluidic device, and method of using same.

Abstract: A micro-fluid supplying device having a gas bubble trapping function. The micro-fluid supplying device includes: a fluid supplier including a fluid having a biomaterial; a trap chamber in which a gas bubble is removed from the fluid supplied from the fluid supplier; and a fluid discharger which externally discharges a material supplied from the trap chamber. Material properties of a side wall and a bottom of an inside of the trap chamber are different from each other. The side wall has a better property of wetting with respect to the fluid supplied from the fluid supplier than the bottom.

Abstract: A gene analysis apparatus includes a sample preparation chip in which a polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) sample is prepared, a PCR chip in which a PCR is performed on the PCR sample, and a package layer on which the sample preparation chip and the PCR chip are mounted. The package layer includes a channel through which a material flows from the sample preparation chip to the PCR chip. The sample preparation chip and the PCR chip are on a same side or on opposing sides of the package layer.

Abstract: A gene analysis device including an illumination optical system radiating exciting light onto a sample solution; a microfluidic device for forming a bio-reaction space of the sample solution and including at least one micro-chamber in which a reflection pattern is formed; and a detection optical system for detecting a fluorescence signal generated by a bio-reaction in the micro-chamber and comprising a photodetector.

Abstract: A method of lysing at least one of a cell and a virus, the method including: contacting a sample, which includes at least one of a cell and a virus, with a plurality of beads which are disposed in a first chamber to obtain a combination of the sample and the beads; and agitating the combination of the sample and the beads to lyse the at least one of the cell and the virus, wherein in the first chamber a liquid volume fraction is 0.6 or less, and wherein the liquid volume fraction is a value obtained by dividing a liquid volume of the first chamber by a pure void volume equivalent to a sum of the liquid volume of the first chamber and a void volume of the first chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including an asymmetric electrode arrangement in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged asymmetrically in a vertical or horizontal direction.

Abstract: Provided are a multi-channel fluorescence detecting module and a nucleic acid analysis system including the multi-channel fluorescence detecting module. The nucleic acid analysis system includes: a plurality of loaders configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges respectively, the cartridges comprising microfluidic devices; a transfer module including a linear actuator, the linear actuator including a movable unit configured to move linearly; and a fluorescence detecting module fixed to the movable unit, the fluorescence detecting module being configured to emit excitation light to the cartridges and detect fluorescence emitted from samples on the cartridges. The loaders are arranged in a row in a linearly moving direction of the movable unit.

Abstract: A microfluidic device including at least one microvalve which controls a flow of a fluid, where the at least one microvalve includes: a pneumatic layer, a fluidic layer disposed opposite to the pneumatic layer; an elastomer membrane disposed between the pneumatic layer and the fluidic layer; and an asymmetric valve seat protruding from a surface of the fluidic layer toward a surface of the elastomer membrane and asymmetrically dividing a space between the fluidic layer and the elastomer membrane.