Abstract: A specimen processing apparatus includes a housing having a fluid supply reservoir, a specimen receiving chamber, a specimen collection reservoir, and an actuator coupled to the fluid supply reservoir. A liquid flow path extends from the fluid supply reservoir to the specimen receiving chamber, and to the specimen collection reservoir. The actuator is operable to propel a liquid from the fluid supply reservoir to the chamber. The specimen receiving chamber includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flow guide disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port. In addition, the fluid supply reservoir is fluidly coupled to the inlet port and the outlet port is fluidly coupled to the specimen collection reservoir. The fluid flow guide may be operable to roil a liquid as it flows from the inlet port to the outlet port to facilitate the extraction of a specimen from a collection device.

Abstract: A specimen processing cartridge includes a first fluid source operable to deliver a first liquid to a first flow path and to transmit the first liquid to a testing area. The cartridge also includes a second fluid source operable to deliver a second liquid to a second flow path and a bridging member positioned between the first flow path and second flow path. The bridging member is operable to receive the second liquid from the second fluid source, and to deform from a first position to a second position upon receiving the second liquid. When not deformed, the bridging member does not contact the first flow path. When deformed, however, the bridging member contacts the first flow path and is operable to transmit the second liquid to the first flow path upon contact.

Abstract: Portable systems for processing and analyzing biological or environmental samples as well as different configurations of chip-based flow cytometers are provided. The portable systems include an automated assay preparation module configured to process a sample into a fluid assay with fluorescently tagged particles and a microfluidic analysis module coupled to the fluid assay module, wherein the microfluidic analysis module includes a chip-based flow cytometer.

Abstract: Portable systems for processing and analyzing biological or environmental samples as well as different configurations of chip-based flow cytometers are provided. The portable systems include an automated assay preparation module configured to process a sample into a fluid assay with fluorescently tagged particles and a microfluidic analysis module coupled to the fluid assay module, wherein the microfluidic analysis module includes a chip-based flow cytometer.

Abstract: A specimen processing apparatus includes a housing having a fluid supply reservoir, a specimen receiving chamber, a specimen collection reservoir, and an actuator coupled to the fluid supply reservoir. A liquid flow path extends from the fluid supply reservoir to the specimen receiving chamber, and to the specimen collection reservoir. The actuator is operable to propel a liquid from the fluid supply reservoir to the chamber. The specimen receiving chamber includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flow guide disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port. In addition, the fluid supply reservoir is fluidly coupled to the inlet port and the outlet port is fluidly coupled to the specimen collection reservoir. The fluid flow guide may be operable to roil a liquid as it flows from the inlet port to the outlet port to facilitate the extraction of a specimen from a collection device.

Abstract: A specimen delivery apparatus includes a housing having a backplane. The backplane includes at least one fluid communication port. The housing has an open state and a closed state. A midplane has a cavity for holding a sample. The midplane is sealed within the housing when the housing is in the closed state. A first actuator is disposed to move fluid within the housing when the housing is in a closed state and the first bulb is actuated. Various embodiments provide for caching of the fluid as well as staging to permit further preparation of the specimen prior to delivery. Various features roil the fluid to assist in extraction, mixing, and transport of the sample with the fluid. A destructible seal prevents fluid communication through the fluid communication port while the seal is intact. Communication of fluid through the fluid communication port is enabled only when the destructible seal is not intact.

Abstract: A specimen delivery apparatus includes a housing having a backplane. The backplane includes at least one fluid communication port. The housing has an open state and a closed state. A midplane has a cavity for holding a sample. The midplane is sealed within the housing when the housing is in the closed state. A first actuator is disposed to move fluid within the housing when the housing is in a closed state and the first bulb is actuated. Various embodiments provide for caching of the fluid as well as staging to permit further preparation of the specimen prior to delivery. Various features roil the fluid to assist in extraction, mixing, and transport of the sample with the fluid. A destructible seal prevents fluid communication through the fluid communication port while the seal is intact. Communication of fluid through the fluid communication port is enabled only when the destructible seal is not intact.

Abstract: A specimen delivery apparatus includes a housing having a backplane. The backplane includes at least one fluid communication port. The housing has an open state and a closed state. A midplane has a cavity for holding a sample. The midplane is sealed within the housing when the housing is in the closed state. A first actuator is disposed to move fluid within the housing when the housing is in a closed state and the first bulb is actuated. Various embodiments provide for caching of the fluid as well as staging to permit further preparation of the specimen prior to delivery. Various features roil the fluid to assist in extraction, mixing, and transport of the sample with the fluid. A destructible seal prevents fluid communication through the fluid communication port while the seal is intact. Communication of fluid through the fluid communication port is enabled only when the destructible seal is not intact.

Abstract: A specimen delivery apparatus includes a housing having a backplane. The backplane includes at least one fluid communication port. The housing has an open state and a closed state. A midplane has a cavity for holding a sample. The midplane is sealed within the housing when the housing is in the closed state. A first actuator is disposed to move fluid within the housing when the housing is in a closed state and the first bulb is actuated. Various embodiments provide for caching of the fluid as well as staging to permit further preparation of the specimen prior to delivery. Various features roil the fluid to assist in extraction, mixing, and transport of the sample with the fluid. A destructible seal prevents fluid communication through the fluid communication port while the seal is intact. Communication of fluid through the fluid communication port is enabled only when the destructible seal is not intact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for labeling, isolating, detecting and enumerating biological cells, or other biological analytes of interest present in a sample, where the capturing complex may also serve as a labeling agent. In one embodiment, the capture complex is an encoded magnetic bead coupled to antibodies having a specific affinity for a cell surface protein on a cell of interest. The methods and systems of the present invention can be used for quantitative or qualitative detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for labeling, isolating, detecting and enumerating biological cells, or other biological analytes of interest present in a sample, where the capturing complex may also serve as a labeling agent. In one embodiment, the capture complex is an encoded magnetic bead coupled to antibodies having a specific affinity for a cell surface protein on a cell of interest. The methods and systems of the present invention can be used for quantitative or qualitative detection.

Abstract: Portable systems for processing and analyzing biological or environmental samples as well as different configurations of chip-based flow cytometers are provided. The portable systems include an automated assay preparation module configured to process a sample into a fluid assay with fluorescently tagged particles and a microfluidic analysis module coupled to the fluid assay module, wherein the microfluidic analysis module includes a chip-based flow cytometer.