Abstract: The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.

Abstract: A guard for protecting an implantable port is provided. The guard includes a cover that is structured to protect a user's implantable port by substantially covering the port without the cover coming into contact with a user's skin above the port. The cover can be a rounded, triangular-shaped cover having peripheral edges that bow outwardly from the center to allow the cover to be placed over circular or triangular-shaped ports. The cover can also be releasably coupled to an adhesive base that is structured to adhere to the user's skin around the port, thus allowing the cover to remain in place on the user's skin. The guard may further include a housing to support the cover, the housing being coupled to the adhesive base prior to the adhesive base being adhered to the user's skin around the port. The cover may then be detachably connected to the housing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for concentrating particles may be applied, for example, to concentrating DNA, RNA, proteins and the like. Proteins may be pre-treated to facilitate concentration by scodaphoresis. The pre-treatment may comprise, for example, heating or chemical treatment to denature and/or apply a net charge to the protein, binding handle particles to the protein and combinations thereof. High-conductivity samples may be subjected to a conductivity-reduction step to facilitate electrical injection of target particles into scodaphoresis media. The conductivity-reduction step may comprise a buffer exchange process or a salt extraction process, for example. Methods and apparatus can allow two or more different types of target particles to be extracted from the same sample and separately concentrated. These various aspects may be applied individually or in any combination.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for arraying particles on a surface using dielectrophoresis.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.

Abstract: Described herein are methods to diagnose or prognose cancer in a subject by enriching, detecting, and analyzing individual rare cells, e.g., epithelial cells, in a sample from the subject. Also described are methods for labeling regions of genomic DNA in individual cells in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the method includes detecting the presence of gene mutations in individual rare cells in a subsample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing an animal for a condition by obtaining a fluid sample from the animal, enriching a first analyte having a concentration of less than 1×10?3 analytes/?L from said sample by a factor of at least 10,000 fold; and analyzing one or more enriched first analytes to determine a condition in said animal. Enrichment is preferably performed using one or more size-based separation modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to one or more size-based separation modules adapted to increase a concentration of a first analyte in a sample by at least 10,000 fold, wherein said first analyte has an initial concentration in said sample of less than 1×10?3 analytes/?L, and an analyzer for analyzing said first analytes in an enriched medium.

Abstract: The invention features methods and devices for the delivery of a fluid medium containing analytes, e.g., particles, solutes, or solvents, to an analytical device. The systems are designed to minimize contact with potentially hazardous, fragile, or valuable samples. The systems allow for the dilution, mixing, and introduction of the fluid medium to an analytical device, followed by possible further analysis or sample manipulation.