Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays having a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays having a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A reader unit (31) is configured to be operationally coupled with an assay unit (11) that is capable of performing one or more diagnostic tests (13) on one or more physiological samples (15), and is configured (32, 36) to obtain test raw data (73) of diagnostic tests performed on an assay unit operationally coupled with the reader unit. The reader unit comprises an encryption module (33) that is configured to encrypt input data with locking key data (75), the input data comprising the test raw data, or data derived from said test raw data. The reader unit is configured to provide access to the encrypted data (77), but not to the input data.

Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays on physiological samples comprises a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a physiological sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures arranged on the chip to guide excitation light in the near IR, visible, or near UV range. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A reader unit (31) is configured to be operationally coupled with an assay unit (11) that is capable of performing one or more diagnostic tests (13) on one or more physiological samples (15), and is configured (32, 36) to obtain test raw data (73) of diagnostic tests performed on an assay unit operationally coupled with the reader unit. The reader unit comprises an encryption module (33) that is configured to encrypt input data with locking key data (75), the input data comprising the test raw data, or data derived from said test raw data. The reader unit is configured to provide access to the encrypted data (77), but not to the input data.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided. The microfluidic device has: a flow inlet and a flow outlet; a bypass channel defining a first flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet; and an auxiliary channel defining a second flow path away from the flow inlet and toward the flow outlet, wherein the auxiliary channel defines a reagent area adapted to receive a reagent, and wherein the auxiliary channel joins the bypass channel at a primary junction downstream from the reagent area and upstream from the flow outlet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a microfluidic device having a flow inlet and outlet, generally defining a flow direction. A bypass channel (11) and an auxiliary channel (21) are provided which respectively defines a first and a second flow path toward the same outlet (102). The auxiliary channel connects to a reagent area (215), i.e., designed to receive a reagent (e.g., chemical or biological, such as detection antibodies). It further joins the bypass channel at the level of a junction (J1) downstream the reagent area, with respect to the second flow path, e.g., like a T-junction. Such a solution provides a simple way of adapting the dissolution rate of the reagent.