Abstract: A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for making and methods of using a hand-held nucleic acid amplification device, comprising a disposable biochip with a series of sample wells, each sample well having a novel optical arrangement that includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a single light capturing element (e.g. a photodiode) for quickly measuring light emissions from biological samples such as nucleic acid amplification reactions. Such a device can utilize isothermal amplification for obtaining detectable yields of amplified nucleic acid product in short time periods, for example, within seconds.

Abstract: The present invention describes microfluidic devices that provide novel fluidic structures to facilitate the separation of fluids into isolated, pico-liter sized compartments for performing multiplexing chemical and biological reactions. Applications of the novel devices including biomolecule synthesis, polynucleotide amplification, and binding assays are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.

Abstract: A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention describes microfluidic devices that provide novel fluidic structures to facilitate the separation of fluids into isolated, pico-liter sized compartments for performing multiplexing chemical and biological reactions. Applications of the novel devices including biomolecule synthesis, polynucleotide amplification, and binding assays are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for selectively converting photogenerated reagent precursors to photogenerated reagents comprising a substrate comprising at least one solid surface containing a plurality of isolated reaction sites; and an optical system operably linked to the substrate comprising a light source and a computer-controlled spatial optical modulator to form an irradiation pattern, wherein the irradiation pattern selectively irradiates a plurality of reaction sites without use of a photolithographic mask. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions providing and methods using fluorescence detection device, comprising an electroluminescent light (EL) source, for measuring fluorescence in biological samples. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides an economical, battery powered and Hand-held device for detecting fluorescent light emitted from reporter molecules incorporated into DNA, RNA, proteins or other biological samples, such as a fluorescence emitting biological sample on a microarray chip. Further, a real-time hand-held PCR Analyzer device comprising an EL light source for measuring fluorescence emissions from amplified DNA is provided.

Abstract: A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for generating a photogenerated reaction in solution on a substrate comprising generating a light beam using an optical device system comprising a light source and a computer-controlled spatial optical modulator comprising a digital micromirror device and using the spatial optical modulator to direct light to fluidly isolated reaction sites under conditions such that a photogenerated reaction takes place. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods and devices for generating one or more selected multimers at specific reaction sites on a substrate comprising contacting the substrate with a liquid solution comprising photo-reagent precursors, isolating the reaction sites, selectively irradiating the reaction sites with a digital micromirror device, and contacting the substrate with monomers. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for generating a photogenerated reaction in solution on a substrate comprising generating a light beam using an optical device system comprising a light source and a computer-controlled spatial optical modulator comprising a digital micromirror device and using the spatial optical modulator to direct light to fluidly isolated reaction sites under conditions such that a photogenerated reaction takes place. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: A method for forming molecular sequences includes derivatizing an unconfined substrate surface with at least one linker containing a protected reactive group. The substrate is contacted with a solution containing a photogenerated reagent precursor and a buffer and/or a neutralizer. A photogenerated reagent is generated in at least a portion of the solution. The photogenerated reagent is configured to initiate the formation of at least one active region on the substrate surface. A monomer is coupled to the active region.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

Abstract: Fluidic methods and devices for conducting parallel chemical reactions are disclosed. The methods are based on the use of in situ photogenerated reagents such as photogenerated acids, photogenerated bases, or any other suitable chemical compounds that produce active reagents upon light radiation. The present invention describes devices and methods for performing a large number of parallel chemical reactions without the use of a large number of valves, pumps, and other complicated fluidic components. The present invention provides microfluidic devices that contain a plurality of microscopic vessels for carrying out discrete chemical reactions.