Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic technique for heat treating emulsion-divided independent reaction volumes (IRVs) within a centrifugal microfluidic chip, and displacing the emulsion into a monolayer presentation chamber (pc) for imaging. A deep treatment chamber (tc) is provided for the heat treatment, a nozzle having a hydrodynamic radius for forming the IRVs is provided for injecting a sample for the IRVs into the tc filled with a dense immiscible medium. The tc is adjacent a heat controlled element for collectively heat treating the IRVs within the tc, where the IRVs form a 3d packing arrangement. The tc is coupled to a presentation chamber (pc) by an opening through which the IRVs can be selectively displaced without collapsing. The pc is adjacent a window transparent to a wavelength for inspecting the pc.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic chip is provided that allows an on-chip chamber to provide humidification control, or more generally, gas composition control, to another chamber of the chip. This allows for microfluidic incubation using low-cost and efficient centrifugal devices such as multi-port pneumatic chip controllers, single or multi-port pneumatic slip rings, and articulated centrifugal blades with a pneumatic slip ring. The device may be used for cell culturing, microorganism testing, or production of chemical species from biological samples with a controlled microenvironment.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic platform is combined with a stationary liquid pumping system which pumps liquids into microfluidic chips by dripping through a stationary dispensing nozzle without any physical contact or coupling between the nozzles and the microfluidic chips.

Abstract: The present invention relates into a device and method for controlling distribution of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in a microfluidic chamber. By applying a strong magnetic field, localization of the NPs to inter-pillar spaces between soft magnetic coated micropillars is demonstrated, even with a modest fluid flow across the inter-pillar space. Flow splitting techniques are also provided to force particles to reliably interact with the NPs, specifically by using a Brevais lattice with a primative vector of 1°-15° with respect to flow direction. The pillars may have non-circular cross-sectional shape and be arranged to direct NP clouds more effectively. An array of the pillars has multiple axes for rotating NP cloud distributions in multiple orientations, allowing for a rotating magnetic field to move the NP cloud for mixing a fluid that is otherwise stationary.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic chip mounting, kit and method include a swivel joint permitting a chip to rotate about an axis of the chip in a plane swept by a centrifuge, and a force applicator for controlling an angle of the swivel and for applying a force in proportion to a rotational rate of the centrifuge. The mounting includes: a blade part (18) that couples to, or defines, a blade (10) of a centrifuge at a radial distance from a centrifuge axis (12); a chip part (20) that holds the chip at an orientation having a normal not perpendicular to the axis; a one degree of freedom (DoF) joint (16) between the blade part and the chip part; and a force applicator (28) which bears on the chip part at a fixed set of one or more points, which do not surround, and are not surrounded by, the joint.

Abstract: A technique is provided for incorporating pneumatic control in centrifugal microfluidics. The technique involves providing a chip controller that has pressurized fluid supply lines for coupling one or more pressurized chambers of the controller with ports of a microfluidic chip. At least part of the chip controller is mounted to a centrifuge for rotation with the chip. A flow control device is provided in each supply line for selectively controlling the pressurized fluid supply, and is electrically controlled. Bubble mixing, on and off-chip valving, and switching are demonstrated.

Abstract: A security device comprising a microstructure and one or more curable fluids, in which the microstructure is configured to direct the one or more curable fluids from a local application zone of the microstructure to one or more regions of the microstructure prior to curing each curable fluid. Alternatively, the security device may comprise a microstructure; and one or more cured fluids; in which each cured fluid is derived from a corresponding curable fluid that is directed by the microstructure from a local application zone of the microstructure to one or more regions of the microstructure prior to curing each curable fluid. The microstructure can have a depth of at least 100 nm, and a spacing aspect ratio (depth to height) greater than 1:10. A process for fabricating a security device is also described.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic chip mounting, kit and method include a swivel joint permitting a chip to rotate about an axis of the chip in a plane swept by a centrifuge, and a force applicator for controlling an angle of the swivel and for applying a force in proportion to a rotational rate of the centrifuge. The mounting includes: a blade part (18) that couples to, or defines, a blade (10) of a centrifuge at a radial distance from a centrifuge axis (12); a chip part (20) that holds the chip at an orientation having a normal not perpendicular to the axis; a one degree of freedom (DoF) joint (16) between the blade part and the chip part; and a force applicator (28) which bears on the chip part at a fixed set of one or more points, which do not surround, and are not surrounded by, the joint.

Abstract: A technique is provided for incorporating pneumatic control in centrifugal microfluidics. The technique involves providing a chip controller that has pressurized fluid supply lines for coupling one or more pressurized chambers of the controller with ports of a microfluidic chip. At least part of the chip controller is mounted to a centrifuge for rotation with the chip. A flow control device is provided in each supply line for selectively controlling the pressurized fluid supply, and is electrically controlled. Bubble mixing, on and off-chip valving, and switching are demonstrated.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic device having a microfluidic mixing element with a microfluidic mixing chamber in which at least two flows emerging from channels into the chamber at separate places are redirected to land at substantially the same place on a mixing surface provides efficient mixing of two or more fluids in the chamber.

Abstract: In a centrifugal microfluidic device for conducting capture assays, a microfluidic platform rotates in a plane of rotation and has at least one capture surface for immobilizing a target particle of interest in the device. The capture surface oriented so that it is not parallel to the plane of rotation of the device and is positionally fixed in the device during operation of the device. The centrifugal force arising from rotation of the device forces the target particles against the capture surface. Capture efficiency is independent of the rate of flow of the fluid and independent of the rate of rotation of the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic device having a microfluidic mixing element with a microfluidic mixing chamber in which at least two flows emerging from channels into the chamber at separate places are redirected to land at substantially the same place on a mixing surface provides efficient mixing of two or more fluids in the chamber.

Abstract: In a centrifugal microfluidic device for conducting capture assays, a microfluidic platform rotates in a plane of rotation and has at least one capture surface for immobilizing a target particle of interest in the device. The capture surface oriented so that it is not parallel to the plane of rotation of the device and is positionally fixed in the device during operation of the device. The centrifugal force arising from rotation of the device forces the target particles against the capture surface. Capture efficiency is independent of the rate of flow of the fluid and independent of the rate of rotation of the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: A centrifugal microfluidic device is provided having a microfluidic circuit, a fluid reservoir for providing fluid in the microfluidic circuit, a hydrodynamic resistance element in fluid communication with the reservoir for controlling rate of flow of a fluid out of the reservoir, and a siphoned chamber in fluid communication with the hydrodynamic resistance element and the microfluidic circuit for receiving fluid from the hydrodynamic resistance element and for delaying and metering of the fluid into the microfluidic circuit. The microfluidic device is useful for performing a biological assay. Operation of the device is completely independent on the liquid-solid contact angle and wetting properties of the liquids on the solid material of the platform, and the device does not need a carefully controlled rotation protocol.