Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for programmable fluidic processors. In one embodiment, the invention involves manipulating droplets across a reaction surface of the processor substantially contact-free of any surfaces. The reaction surface and the electrodes of the processor may include a coating repelling the droplets. Further, the present invention provides for a suitable suspending medium for repelling droplets away from fixed surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for programmable fluidic processors. In one embodiment, the invention involves manipulating droplets across a reaction surface of the processor substantially contact-free of any surfaces. The reaction surface and the electrodes of the processor may include a coating repelling the droplets. Further, the present invention provides for a suitable suspending medium for repelling droplets away from fixed surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for programmable fluidic processors. In one embodiment, the invention involves manipulating droplets across a reaction surface of the processor substantially contact-free of any surfaces. The reaction surface and the electrodes of the processor may include a coating repelling the droplets. Further, the present invention provides for a suitable suspending medium for repelling droplets away from fixed surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the extracorporeal ablation of target cells circulating in blood of an organism. Exogenous material introduced into the blood preferentially associates with target cells (e.g. cancer cells, bacteria, viruses) in the blood. An extracorporeal continuous flow pathway accesses the patient's blood to apply an external energy source to the blood at an ex vivo ablation device in a portion of the extracorporeal continuous flow pathway. The exogenous material interact with the applied energy so as to result in the damage or death of the target cells. The blood is then returned to the body in a continuous-flow pattern. By applying the energy while the blood is in the ex vivo ablation device, shielding of the target cells by the body is reduced and detrimental effects on the organs and tissues of the body are avoided or mitigated.

Abstract: A system and method are described for offering items and services for sale that are related to content being displayed in an interactive medium such as the world wide web, public kiosks, hand-held PDAs, tablets, television and other digital devices. The system uses a combination of techniques to select from a catalog of items those which have the greatest relevance to the content being viewed at the time, and it presents those items concurrently in point-of-sale window, allowing the user to purchase the items directly without leaving the content page. Unlike content-sensitive advertising which presents ads even when the relevance of those ads to the content is low, the system alerts the user to the presence of relevant products, presents a point of sale window only if the user requests it, and pays the content publisher a portion of the revenue from sales initiated on his content page.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for image identification of contrast agents comprising nanopartiles. The imaging devices and methods may also be configured to identify target tissues from surrounding tissues such as disease conditions (e.g. cancer tumors) through narrow-band imaging of tissue. Contrast agents such as near-infrared absorbing nanoparticles may be introduced to an organism to distinguish target cells, tissues, or structures from normal tissue. The contrast agent is allowed to preferentially accumulate in the target cells, tissues or structures. As the contrast agents are adapted to preferentially absorb one or more wavelengths of light, the reflection of one wavelength or band of wavelengths by the contrast agents is compared to a separate wavelength or band of wavelengths to identify the target cells, tissues, or structures. In this way, the comparisons identify the presence of the preferential accumulation of the contrast agent in the target cells, tissues or structures.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the extracorporeal ablation of target cells circulating in blood of an organism. Exogenous material introduced into the blood preferentially associates with target cells (e.g. cancer cells, bacteria, viruses) in the blood. An extracorporeal continuous flow pathway accesses the patient's blood to apply an external energy source to the blood at an ex vivo ablation device in a portion of the extracorporeal continuous flow pathway. The exogenous material interact with the applied energy so as to result in the damage or death of the target cells. The blood is then returned to the body in a continuous-flow pattern. By applying the energy while the blood is in the ex vivo ablation device, shielding of the target cells by the body is reduced and detrimental effects on the organs and tissues of the body are avoided or mitigated.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, and methods for programmable fluidic processors. In one embodiment, the invention involves manipulating droplets across a reaction surface of the processor substantially contact-free of any surfaces. The reaction surface and the electrodes of the processor may include a coating repelling the droplets. Further, the present invention provides for a suitable suspending medium for repelling droplets away from fixed surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for metered injection of a fluid packet. A vessel containing a fluid is pressurized to a pressure less than or equal to a hold-off pressure. The fluid is subjected to an extraction force to form the fluid packet and extract the fluid packet from the vessel onto a surface.

Abstract: A dielectric gate and related systems and methods for controlling fluid flow. A dielectric gate includes one or more electrodes coupled between an inlet fluid pathway and an outlet fluid pathway. The electrodes are configured to draw fluid from the inlet fluid pathway to the outlet fluid pathway in a precise manner by using dielectric forces arising from electrical signals applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: A user interface includes a selection window for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of displayed objects, each of which include at least one identifying attribute. The user interface also includes an administration window disposed adjacent to the section window for displaying a plurality of user-modifiable attributes of a selected object. The selection and administration windows are synchronized such that a user selection of an object in the selection window results in a presentation of one or more attributes of the selected object within the administration window. In the other direction, a user modification of an identifying attribute of an object within the administration window results in a corresponding change to the identifying attribute of the object within the selection window.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for an oligonucleotide synthesis engine. In on embodiment, the invention involves a microfluidic device including: an oligonucleotide synthesis subunit including a reaction surface and means for generating a manipulation force and routing for packet delivery; an analysis or diagnostic subunit; and a control subunit including a program to direct oligonucleotide synthesis. In another embodiment, the invention involves a method for analyzing a sample. An oligonucleotide is synthesized in a solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis subunit, wherein the subunit includes a reaction surface and means for generating a manipulation force and routing for packet delivery. The synthesis is controlled with a control subunit, wherein the control subunit is programmed for the automatic synthesis of oligonucleotides. The sample is analyzed in an analysis or diagnostic subunit.

Abstract: A dielectric gate and related systems and methods for controlling fluid flow. A dielectric gate includes one or more electrodes coupled between an inlet fluid pathway and an outlet fluid pathway. The electrodes are configured to draw fluid from the inlet fluid pathway to the outlet fluid pathway in a precise manner by using dielectric forces arising from electrical signals applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for metered injection of a fluid packet. A vessel containing the packet is pressurized to a pressure less than or equal to a hold-off pressure. The packet is subjected to an extraction force to extract the packet from the vessel onto a surface.