Abstract: A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: An image analysis system, a method and a point of care device are provided for determining, from an image of a cassette containing a sample, a concentration of one or more target analytes in the sample. The method includes identifying a region of interest (ROI) from the image corresponding to a result viewing area of the cassette, generating a unidimensional (1D) profile of the ROI, and probabilistically determining from the 1D profile, the concentration of the target analyte(s) in the sample based on a statistical model having one or more parameters of the 1D profile varying with respect to time and/or the concentration of the target analyte(s) in the sample.

Abstract: A reagent strip is described. The reagent strip includes a substrate and at least one reagent pad positioned on the substrate. The substrate has a storage unit storing an authentication code. The authentication code has a lot value and a secondary value related to the lot value by a predetermined function assigned to the lot value.

Abstract: A reagent analyzer comprising an imaging system having a first field of view of a reagent test device and a second field of view of a fluid sample information indicator, and configured to capture a first image depicting the reagent test device and a second image depicting the information indicator; a mirror moveable between a first position outside the first field of view and a second position inside the first field of view and located between the imaging system and the reagent test device, the mirror in the second position reflecting light to produce the second field of view; and a processor executing instructions to: receive the first and second images; analyze the first image to determine calibration information from the information indicator; and analyze the second image to determine constituent presence/absence in the fluid sample applied to the reagent test device, using, in part, the determined calibration information.

Abstract: A reagent analyzer having a circuit board, an imaging system and a processor is disclosed. The circuit board has a substrate, and a plurality of conductive leads. The substrate has a first and a second major surface. The first major surface is opposite the second major surface. The substrate has an opening extending between the first major surface and the second major surface. The reagent analyzer also includes an imaging system having a field of view extending through the opening formed in the substrate and configured to capture an image of a wet reagent test device positioned at a read position in the field of view, the image having a plurality of pixels. The processor is configured to receive the image, and to analyze pixels of the image to determine a presence or an absence of a target constituent being in a sample applied to the wet reagent pad.

Abstract: A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A microfluidic product pouch assembly may be used in a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic product pouch may include a pouch surrounding an inner chamber and having a rupturing portion and an inner membrane positioned within the inner chamber. The inner membrane may separate the inner chamber into a first cavity and a second cavity. A reagent may be positioned within the first cavity and/or the second cavity. The microfluidic product pouch assembly may also include a rupturing structure. The rupturing structure may be configured to selectively break the rupturing portion of the microfluidic product pouch.

Abstract: A device including a housing, a zone and a means for testing a fluid sample within the housing is disclosed. The housing is constructed of a fluid impermeable material, and defines a first fluid port, and a second fluid port. The first fluid port is configured to connect to a fluid collection device to receive a fluid sample from the fluid collection device into the housing. The second port is configured to pass the fluid sample from the housing into a testing instrument. The zone is formed in the housing. The zone is constructed of a material that allows an analysis of the fluid sample positioned within the housing, and located adjacent to the zone.

Abstract: A blood testing device for detecting hemolysis in a blood sample is described. The blood testing device comprises an housing for containing the blood sample. The housing has a treatment window and an optical zone formed therein. The blood testing device further includes an acoustic transducer positioned to selectively generate acoustic forces directed into the treatment window of the housing and a control unit for selectively actuating and deactuating the acoustic transducer to permit colorimetric analysis of plasma within the blood sample.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a microchannel having an interior bounded by a side wall, an inlet, a switching region, and a plurality of outlet channels downstream of the switching region. The microchannel is formed in a microfluidic chip substrate and configured to accommodate a flow of liquid through the microchannel. The microfluidic device includes a valve operatively coupled to the switching region comprising a sealed reservoir. A side passage extends between the reservoir and the interior of the microchannel via an aperture in the side wall and is configured to accommodate a volume of liquid between the interior of the microchannel and the reservoir. The microfluidic device includes an actuator integrated into the microfluidic chip and configured to increase an internal pressure of the reservoir and move at least a portion of the volume of the liquid from the side passage into the microchannel to deflect a portion of the liquid flowing through the microchannel.

Abstract: An optical system for acquiring fast spectra from spatially channel arrays includes a light source for producing a light beam that passes through the microfluidic chip or the channel to be monitored, one or more lenses or optical fibers for capturing the light from the light source after interaction with the particles or chemicals in the microfluidic channels, and one or more detectors. The detectors, which may include light amplifying elements, detect each light signal and transducer the light signal into an electronic signal. The electronic signals, each representing the intensity of an optical signal, pass from each detector to an electronic data acquisition system for analysis. The light amplifying element or elements may comprise an array of phototubes, a multianode phototube, or a multichannel plate based image intensifier coupled to an array of photodiode detectors.

Abstract: An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter system is disclosed which includes a catheter having an exhaust lumen, an infusion lumen and a high pressure tube. The high pressure tube includes a nozzle orifice for forming a high pressure jet of fluid for cutting occlusive material from within a body lumen. The nozzle orifice is positioned to direct the high pressure jet of fluid into the distal end of the exhaust lumen which creates a suctioning effect. The infusion lumen replaces fluid that is removed from the body lumen through the exhaust lumen by a suctioning effect created by the fluid jet.

Abstract: A point of care system may comprise a plurality of diagnostic engines and an IDM in electronic communication with each of the plurality of diagnostic engines. Each of the plurality of diagnostic engines may perform testing on a sample inserted into the diagnostic engine. The IDM may be configured to communicate with each of the plurality of diagnostic engines to enable a plurality of tests to be performed on multiple different samples substantially simultaneously by a plurality of users using the plurality of diagnostic engines and to present a single user interface for managing testing by the plurality of diagnostic engines and for receiving the results of tests performed by each of the plurality of diagnostic engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises actuators and chambers for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Abstract: A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A single disposable cartridge for performing a process on a particle, such as particle sorting, encapsulates all fluid contact surfaces in the cartridge for use with microfluidic particle processing technology. The cartridge interfaces with an operating system for effecting particle processing. The encapsulation of the fluid contact surfaces insures, improves or promotes operator isolation and/or product isolation. The cartridge may employ any suitable technique for processing particles.

Abstract: An optical system for acquiring fast spectra from spatially channel arrays includes a light source for producing a light beam that passes through the microfluidic chip or the channel to be monitored, one or more lenses or optical fibers for capturing the light from the light source after interaction with the particles or chemicals in the microfluidic channels, and one or more detectors. The detectors, which may include light amplifying elements, detect each light signal and transducer the light signal into an electronic signal. The electronic signals, each representing the intensity of an optical signal, pass from each detector to an electronic data acquisition system for analysis. The light amplifying element or elements may comprise an array of phototubes, a multianode phototube, or a multichannel plate based image intensifier coupled to an array of photodiode detectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises actuators and chambers for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.