Abstract: The invention provides methods to detect or determine the presence or amount of a pathogen, such as a virus or bacterium, in a sample or the amount of cells based on the detection of their genomic DNA. The method employs magnetic substrates and subjects the sample and the magnetic substrate to forms of energy so as to induce aggregate formation and detects the aggregates.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to detect or determine the presence or amount of a polymeric analyte in a sample, which employ magnetic substrates and subjects the sample and the magnetic substrate to forms of energy so as to induce aggregate formation.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a microfluidic assembly, can include or can include using a channel including a valve seat, a valve film configured to adjust position with respect to the valve seat, and a first electrode configured to actuate the valve film electrostatically to adjust the position of the valve film to control a flow of a fluid in the channel laterally across the valve seat, the flow in a direction substantially parallel to the film.

Abstract: The invention relates to sensors for detecting chemical and biological material and for chemical actuation. In particular, the sensors of the present invention incorporates membranes or beams that are deformable in the presence of chemical adsorption on its surface. The sensor of the present invention contains a polymeric membrane or beam (102) that is clamped at least at two opposing ends (104) and (106).

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for controlling the flow of fluid using passive components engineered into the microchannels. These passive flow components include fluidic diodes, fluidic capacitors, and fluidic inductors. Various fluidic circuits are provided to control fluid flow including fluid rectifiers, fluid band pass filters, and fluid timers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for controlling the flow of fluid using passive components engineered into the microchannels. These passive flow components include fluidic diodes, fluidic capacitors, and fluidic inductors. Various fluidic circuits are provided to control fluid flow including fluid rectifiers, fluid band pass filters, and fluid timers.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to detect or quantify cells such as nucleated cells in a sample such as a physiological sample, which employ magnetic substrates and subjects the sample and the magnetic substrate to forms of energy so as to induce aggregate formation.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a microfluidic assembly, can include or can include using a channel including a valve seat, a valve film configured to adjust position with respect to the valve seat, and a first electrode configured to actuate the valve film electrostatically to adjust the position of the valve film to control a flow of a fluid in the channel laterally across the valve seat, the flow in a direction substantially parallel to the film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices, and in particular, flow management in such devices. In particular, the present invention provides an electrostatic valve for flow manipulation in a microfluidic device. The valve of the present invention sits on a valve seat in a microchannel and deflects away from the valve seat by electrostatic actuation to assume an opened configuration to allow fluid flow.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip to facilitate DNA analysis. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, a dilution domain coupled to the first domain to dilute a PCR mixture received from the first domain, and a second domain that is coupled to the dilution domain so as to receive the amplified DNA fragments. The second domain includes a separation channel that is configured to perform electrophoretic separation of the amplified DNA fragments. In addition, the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to act on the microfluidic chip to perform an integrated single chip DNA analysis.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to facilitate an integrated single-chip DNA analysis. The DNA analyzer includes an interface for coupling a microfluidic chip to the DNA analyzer. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain fluidically coupled to the first domain to receive the DNA fragments and perform electrophoretic separation of the DNA fragments. The DNA fragments are tagged with fluorescent labels. The DNA analyzer includes a detection module to excite the fluorescent labels to emit fluorescence and detect the emitted fluorescence. The detection module includes a laser source, a set of optical elements, a filter module and a photo-detector.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain for electrophoretic separation. The first domain includes at least a first reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a first sample, and a second reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a second sample. The second domain includes at least a first separation unit coupled to the first reaction reservoir to received first amplified DNA fragments based on the first sample, and a second separation unit coupled to the second reaction reservoir to received second amplified DNA fragments based on the second sample. The first separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the first amplified DNA fragments, and the second separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the second amplified DNA fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of a grafted, UV photo-polymerized silica-based monolithic column and the use of such column for the extraction of DNA. In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating a silica-based monolithic column, wherein a vessel is filled with a polymerization mixture that is formed into monolithic solid phase for DNA extraction through in situ photo-polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting polymeric analytes, especially biopolymers, and sensors for detecting the polymeric analytes. The present invention uses magnetic beads in a rotating magnetic field to provide a visual detection of the presence of a polymeric analyte, such as nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, etc. When a polymeric analyte binds to the magnetic beads, application of a rotating magnetic field to the beads results in unique pinwheel formations. Without the presence of the polymeric analyte, the movement of the magnetic beads induced by the rotating magnetic field differs significantly from the pinwheel formations. The pinwheel, therefore, is used to detect the presence of polymeric analytes.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip to facilitate DNA analysis. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, a dilution domain coupled to the first domain to dilute a PCR mixture received from the first domain, and a second domain that is coupled to the dilution domain so as to receive the amplified DNA fragments. The second domain includes a separation channel that is configured to perform electrophoretic separation of the amplified DNA fragments. In addition, the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to act on the microfluidic chip to perform an integrated single chip DNA analysis.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain for electrophoretic separation. The first domain includes at least a first reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a first sample, and a second reaction reservoir designated for PCR amplification based on a second sample. The second domain includes at least a first separation unit coupled to the first reaction reservoir to received first amplified DNA fragments based on the first sample, and a second separation unit coupled to the second reaction reservoir to received second amplified DNA fragments based on the second sample. The first separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the first amplified DNA fragments, and the second separation unit is configured to perform electrophoretic separation for the second amplified DNA fragments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating by size a mixture of different size particles using ultrasound. The apparatus contains a microchannel having an acoustic transducer thereon. As a mixture of cells having different sizes flows down the microchannel, the ultrasonic radiation traps cells of desired sizes focused at nodes of a standing pressure wave in the microchannel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of a grafted, UV photo-polymerized silica-based monolithic column and the use of such column for the extraction of DNA. In one embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating a silica-based monolithic column, wherein a vessel is filled with a polymerization mixture that is formed into monolithic solid phase for DNA extraction through in situ photo-polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to sensors for detecting chemical and biological material and for chemical actuation. In particular, the sensors of the present invention incorporates membranes or beams that are deformable in the presence of chemical adsorption on its surface. The sensor of the present invention contains a polymeric membrane or beam (102) that is clamped at least at two opposing ends (104) and (106).

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic systems and methods for controlling the flow of fluid using passive components engineered into the microchannels. These passive flow components include fluidic diodes, fluidic capacitors, and fluidic inductors. Various fluidic circuits are provided to control fluid flow including fluid rectifiers, fluid band pass filters, and fluid timers.