Abstract: A gene analysis device including an illumination optical system radiating exciting light onto a sample solution; a microfluidic device for forming a bio-reaction space of the sample solution and including at least one micro-chamber in which a reflection pattern is formed; and a detection optical system for detecting a fluorescence signal generated by a bio-reaction in the micro-chamber and comprising a photodetector.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection optical system detects fluorescence beams with two or more different wavelengths and maintains a focal position through an automatic focusing function. A multi-channel fluorescence detection apparatus includes the fluorescence detection optical system. The fluorescence detection optical system includes an automatic focusing unit which receives light reflected off a microfluidic device and determines a focal point by using an astigmatic method or a knife edge method, and an actuator which adjusts a position of an objective lens according to control of the automatic focusing unit. In addition, the fluorescence detection optical system may include a plurality of dual band pass filters, dichroic devices, etc., which provide light beams emitted from at least two light sources and transfer fluorescence generated from the microfluidic device to a photodetector.

Abstract: A method of lysing at least one of a cell and a virus, the method including: contacting a sample, which includes at least one of a cell and a virus, with a plurality of beads which are disposed in a first chamber to obtain a combination of the sample and the beads; and agitating the combination of the sample and the beads to lyse the at least one of the cell and the virus, wherein in the first chamber a liquid volume fraction is 0.6 or less, and wherein the liquid volume fraction is a value obtained by dividing a liquid volume of the first chamber by a pure void volume equivalent to a sum of the liquid volume of the first chamber and a void volume of the first chamber.

Abstract: A polynucleotide comprising a first region the 5? end of which is complementary to a portion of a target nucleic acid, a cleavable second region, a third region having a stem-loop structure, and a fourth region complementary to the 3? end of the first region, and use of the polynucleotide, as well as a composition comprising two such polynucleotides each of which hybridize different strands of a double-stranded target nucleic acid, and methods and kits using the same for amplifying targets.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target nucleic acid, and a polynucleotide and a composition for detecting a target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Provided are a multi-channel fluorescence detecting module and a nucleic acid analysis system including the multi-channel fluorescence detecting module. The nucleic acid analysis system includes: a plurality of loaders configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges respectively, the cartridges comprising microfluidic devices; a transfer module including a linear actuator, the linear actuator including a movable unit configured to move linearly; and a fluorescence detecting module fixed to the movable unit, the fluorescence detecting module being configured to emit excitation light to the cartridges and detect fluorescence emitted from samples on the cartridges. The loaders are arranged in a row in a linearly moving direction of the movable unit.

Abstract: A microfluidic device including at least one microvalve which controls a flow of a fluid, where the at least one microvalve includes: a pneumatic layer, a fluidic layer disposed opposite to the pneumatic layer; an elastomer membrane disposed between the pneumatic layer and the fluidic layer; and an asymmetric valve seat protruding from a surface of the fluidic layer toward a surface of the elastomer membrane and asymmetrically dividing a space between the fluidic layer and the elastomer membrane.

Abstract: A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber

Abstract: A nucleic acid analysis system comprising a seating area configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge; a pneumatic module configured to supply a pneumatic pressure or a vacuum to the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; a thermal module configured to control temperature in a predetermined portion of the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; an optic module positioned to irradiate light onto the cartridge when mounted on the seating area, and detect light generated or reflected from a sample inside the cartridge when mounted on the seating area; a fluid sensing module that determines whether a fluid in a predetermined portion of a cartridge mounted on the seating area is in a gaseous state or a liquid state; a scanning module that moves the optic module and the fluid sensing module relative to the seating area; and a control module that controls operations of the pneumatic module, the thermal module, the optic module, the fluid sensing module, and the scanning module, and processes and analyzes

Abstract: A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber.

Abstract: A micro-device for disrupting cells includes a first chamber in which the cells are disrupted, a second chamber which is pressurized and depressurized, a flexible membrane which separates the first chamber and the second chamber and is vibrated by pressuring and depressurizing the second chamber, and a micro-unit confined in the first chamber, where the micro-unit disrupts the cells in the first chamber

Abstract: A microfluidic system for analyzing nucleic acid, the microfluidic system including a reagent supply device including a sample chamber into which a sample can be injected, one or more reagent chambers for containing one or more reagents for extracting nucleic acid from the sample, and a waste chamber in which the used reagent can be discarded; a binding-lysis chamber in which cells are captured from the sample and lysed to form a cell lysate containing nucleic acid; plurality of particles for cell binding disposed in the binding-lysis chamber; a plurality of rehydration chambers into which the cell lysate formed in the binding-lysis chamber can be distributed and mixed with a nucleic acid amplification reagent to form an amplification reaction mixture; a plurality of amplification chambers in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction is performed on the amplification reaction mixture introduced from the plurality of rehydration chambers; and a flow channel system including an outlet and a plurality of inlet

Abstract: A microfluidic device including a microvalve includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, an elastic film between the first and second substrates, a microfluidic channel on the second substrate, a valve seat of the second substrate protruding in the microfluidic channel, and a fine structure on a surface of the elastic film, facing the valve seat and which contacts the valve seat when the microvalve is operated.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid includes: an ion-exchange material; an anode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and an anode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the anode chamber; and a cathode chamber having a surface defined by an opposite surface of the ion-exchange material and a cathode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the cathode chamber.

Abstract: A reagent supply device includes a plurality of chambers which are separated from each other such that different reagents may be injected, the plurality of chambers having bottom surfaces made of a membrane, the membrane comprising a destruction pattern which is formed at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of chambers and breachable by an external impact to discharge the injected reagent from the chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a reagent container that can maintain stability of a reagent for a long period of time, a method of preparing the reagent container, a method of storing the reagent, and microfluidic systems for conducting cell binding, lysis, nucleic acid extraction, and amplification.

Abstract: A method of amplifying nucleic acid from blood, the method including performing an electrodialysis on a blood sample to reduce the ionic strength of the sample, and performing a Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) using the blood sample on which the electrodialysis is performed as a template.

Abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) apparatus includes a PCR chip holder which accommodates and supports a PCR chip, a housing which supports ends of the PCR chip holder, a temperature control element which moves perpendicularly with respect to the PCR chip holder in a space between the housing and the PCR chip holder in the housing, and an elastic unit which elastically biases the temperature control element toward the PCR chip holder, between the temperature control element and the housing. The temperature control element includes a top surface which is selectively contacted to a bottom surface of the PCR chip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently isolating nucleic acids from a nucleic acid-containing sample.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a nucleic acid amplification in the presence of an ionic liquid that suppresses an inhibitor of nucleic acid amplification, particularly when in a biological material, and a composition useful for performing the method.