Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to method of fabrication of a microfluidic chip (1), comprising: providing (S1-S7) a substrate (10), a face (F) of which is covered by an electrically insulating layer (30); obtaining (S8) a resist layer (40) covering one or more selected portions (P1) of the electrically insulating layer (30), at least a remaining portion (P2) of said electrically insulating layer (30) not being covered by the resist layer; partially etching (S9) with a wet etchant (E) a surface of the remaining portion (P2) of the electrically insulating layer (30) to create a recess (40r) and/or an undercut (40u) under the resist layer (40); depositing (S10) the electrically conductive layer (50) on the etched surface (35), such that the electrically conductive layer reaches the created recess (40r) and/or undercut (40u); and removing (S11) the resist layer (40) to expose a portion (P1) of the electrically insulating layer adjoining a contiguous portion (P2) of the electrically conductive layer (50

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a microfluidic chip (1, 1a) comprising: a flow path (22) defined by a hydrophilic surface; a liquid input (24, 24a, 24b) on one side of the flow path; at least one electrical circuit (62), hereafter DEP circuit, comprising at least one pair of dielectrophoretic electrodes (E21, E22), hereafter DEP electrodes, wherein: each of the DEP electrodes extends transverse to the flow path; and the DEP circuit is configured to generate a dielectrophoretic force, hereafter DEP force, at the level of the DEP electrodes. The chip may further include one or more electroosmotic circuits. The present invention is further directed to methods of operation of such a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to methods of fabrication of a microfluidic chip package or assembly (1), comprising: providing (S1) a substrate (10, 30) having at least one block (14, 14a) comprising one or more microfluidic structures on a face (F) of the substrate; partially cutting (S2) into the substrate to obtain partial cuts (10c), such that a residual thickness of the substrate at the level of the partial cuts (10c) enables singulation of said at least one block (14, 14a); cleaning (S4) said at least one block; and applying (S5-S7) a cover-film (62) to cover said at least one block (14, 14a), whereby at least one covered block is obtained, the applied cover film still enabling singulation of each covered block, wherein each covered block corresponds to a microfluidic chip after singulation. The present invention is further directed to microfluidic chips, packing or assembly, obtainable with such methods.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method. A device includes one or more microchannels. Each microchannel comprising: a microchannel portion with a longitudinal liquid barrier that defines first and second regions. The device includes one or more first liquid passages at the level of the longitudinal barrier. A liquid inlet allows liquid to enter the first region and a liquid outlet allows liquid to leave the microchannel portion. A transverse liquid barrier between the microchannel portion and the liquid outlet holds liquid in the first region. The device includes one or more second liquid passages at the level of the transverse liquid barrier. A liquid pump displaces liquid through a microchannel portion. The first liquid passages allow excess liquid in the first region to flow into the second region, transversally to the longitudinal barrier. The second liquid passages allow excess liquid in the longitudinal portion to be discharged via the liquid outlet.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for fabrication includes a microfluidic channel that has a closed portion, which comprises: a liquid pathway formed by a wetting area; and an anti-wetting area extending along and contiguously with the liquid pathway. The anti-wetting area is configured so as to provide a vent to evacuate gas along the anti-wetting area.

Abstract: Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers. The microfluidic probe head includes: an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. The present invention also provides a microfluidic probe and method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided. The microfluidic device has: a flow inlet and a flow outlet; a bypass channel defining a first flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet; and an auxiliary channel defining a second flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet, wherein the auxiliary channel defines a reagent area adapted to receive a reagent, and wherein the auxiliary channel joins the bypass channel at a primary junction downstream from the reagent area and upstream from the flow outlet.

Abstract: A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.

Abstract: The present invention is notably directed to a method of fabrication of a microfluidic chip (1). comprising: providing (S10-S20) a wafer (10, 12) of semiconductor material having a diamond cubic crystal structure, exhibiting two opposite main surfaces (S1, S2), one on each side of the wafer, and having, each, a normal in the <100> or <110> direction; and performing (S30) self-limited, anisotropic wet etching steps on each of the two main surfaces on each side of the wafer, to create a via (20, 20a) extending transversely through the thickness of the wafer, at a location such that the resulting via connects an in-plane microchannel (31) on a first one (51) of the two main surfaces to a second one (S2) of the two main surfaces, the via exhibiting slanted sidewalls (20s) as a result of the self-limited wet etching. The invention further concerns microfluidic chips accordingly obtained.

Abstract: A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.

Abstract: A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.

Abstract: A microfluidic device with interconnects. The device includes a first layer; a second layer, the first layer and the second layer assembled such as to face each other; a microchannel in said second layer; a tapered conduit having a tapered portion, wherein the tapered portion is inserted in a correspondingly shaped via formed in the first layer at the level of an end of the microchannel such that fluid communication is enabled between the microchannel and the conduit, and blocked in the via by way of the assembled first layer and second layer.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a valve comprising at least an input port and an output port, the ports respectively connected to the first microchannel and the second microchannel, the valve designed to control a flow of a liquid along a flow direction (z) defined by the ports; wherein the valve further comprises one or more walls joining the ports and defining a hollow chamber that is wider than each of the microchannels in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, the walls at least partly deformable along a deformation direction (?y) intersecting the flow direction, such that the walls can be given at least a first deformation state and a second deformation state, such that the liquid can be pulled along the flow direction substantially more in the second deformation state than in the first deformation state.

Abstract: A biosensor comprising surface treated with a method for producing a monolayer of molecules on a surface, the method comprising loading a stamp with seed molecules, transferring seed molecules from the stamp to the surface, wherein transferring comprises transferring a fraction of the seed molecules loaded on the stamp to the surface and adsorbing the seed molecules to the stamp and adsorbing the seed molecules to the surface, the adsorption of the seed molecules to the stamp being stronger than the adsorption of the seed molecules to the surface, self-completing amplification of the seed molecules via an amplifying reaction to produce the monolayer on a flat surface, wherein self-completing amplification comprises producing a homogeneous area, wherein the homogeneous area comprises a monolayer of molecules on the surface, and wherein the monolayer of molecules on the surface has no diffusive component that can relocate and destroy amplification accuracy.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for the detection of an analyte in a sample. The mechanisms utilize at least a first measurement channel comprising a detection reactant corresponding to the analyte to be detected, and at least a microstructure associated with the first measurement channel. When the mechanisms are in use, the sample is introduced into the first measurement channel and propagated by way of the first measurement channel towards the microstructure. If the analyte is present in the sample, the analyte interacts with the detection reactant to form a networked product, and the microstructure is configured to filter the networked product.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for the detection of an analyte in a sample. The mechanisms utilize at least a first measurement channel comprising a detection reactant corresponding to the analyte to be detected, and at least a microstructure associated with the first measurement channel. When the mechanisms are in use, the sample is introduced into the first measurement channel and propagated by way of the first measurement channel towards the microstructure. If the analyte is present in the sample, the analyte interacts with the detection reactant to form a networked product, and the microstructure is configured to filter the networked product.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for the detection of an analyte in a sample. The mechanisms utilize at least a first measurement channel comprising a detection reactant corresponding to the analyte to be detected, and at least a microstructure associated with the first measurement channel. When the mechanisms are in use, the sample is introduced into the first measurement channel and propagated by way of the first measurement channel towards the microstructure. If the analyte is present in the sample, the analyte interacts with the detection reactant to form a networked product, and the microstructure is configured to filter the networked product.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for determining the osmolarity of a fluid. The apparatus includes at least one micro-fluidic circuit and at least one electrical circuit disposed in communication with the micro-fluidic circuit for determining a property of a fluid contained within the at least one micro-fluidic circuit.

Abstract: A method for processing a surface involves depositing at least one class of enzymes (2) onto the surface (1); introducing at least a reactant (3) into an environment of the surface (1), and causing interaction between the enzymes (2) and the reactant (3), thereby to cause processing of a region of the surface (1), the processed region of the surface (1) being defined with respect to a region thereof that is proximate (4) to where the enzymes (3) have been deposited.

Abstract: A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface.