Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly has a chamber with a nozzle opening for ejecting a liquid, a heater element disposed in the chamber, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the heater element and a wall of the chamber. The dielectric layer has a thermal product of less than 1495 Jm?2K?1s?1/2. The thermal product is defined as (?Ck)1/2, where ? is the density of the layer, C is specific heat of the layer and k is thermal conductivity of the layer.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printhead having an array of ink chambers formed on a planar support surface of a wafer substrate. Each ink chamber in the array has a nozzle, a thermal actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle and a droplet stem anchor. The thermal actuator has two sections with higher resistance than the remainder of the thermal actuator. The droplet stem anchor is positioned between the two sections with higher resistance of the thermal actuator.

Abstract: A test module for biochemical processing and analysis, the test module having an outer casing dimensioned for hand-held portability, the outer casing having a receptacle for receiving biochemical liquid, and, a reagent reservoir containing a reagent for addition to the biochemical liquid for use in chemical analysis of the biochemical liquid, wherein, the reagent reservoir has an outlet with a surface tension valve for retaining the reagent in the reservoir with a reagent meniscus until contact with the biochemical liquid removes the reagent meniscus.

Abstract: A test module having an outer casing for hand held portability, and, a microfluidic device for processing a biological sample mounted in the outer casing, the microfluidic device having a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device with a cap, the LOC device having a supporting substrate and a microsystems technologies (MST) layer on the supporting substrate, the MST layer incorporating MST channels and a plurality of fluidic connections for fluid communication with the cap, and the cap having a sample inlet and cap channels for fluid communication with the fluidic connections.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a supporting substrate, an inlet for receiving a biological sample containing a target nucleic acid sequence, and, an array of probes each having a nucleic acid sequence for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequence to form a probe-target hybrid, wherein, the array of probes includes a control probe for hybridization with a target sequence known to be always present in the biological sample.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide spotting robot for spotting oligonucleotide probes into a silicon wafer on which an array of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are fabricated, each LOC device having a digital memory for data related to the reagents loaded into the LOC device, the oligonucleotide dispensing robot having an array of reservoirs for containing the oligonucleotide probes suspended in a liquid, an array of ejectors, each of the ejectors being configured for fluid communication with a corresponding one of the reservoirs respectively, a mounting surface for detachably mounting the array of LOC devices for movement relative to the ejectors, and, a control processor for operative control of the ejectors and the mounting surface, wherein, the control processor is configured to activate the ejectors, move the ejectors selected for activation into registration with one or more of the LOC devices and download the data specifically relevant to each of the LOC devices into the digital memory of that LOC device.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for detecting mitochondrial DNA in a sample, the microfluidic device having an inlet for receiving a sample of biological material having cells with mitochondria containing mitochondrial DNA, a lysis section for lysing the mitochondria to release the mitochondrial DNA, probes for hybridization with target nucleic acid sequences in the mitochondrial DNA to form probe-target hybrids, and, a photosensor for detecting the probe-target hybrids.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting hybridization of target nucleic acid sequences, the LOC device having electrochemiluminescent (ECL), resonant energy transfer, primer-linked, stem-and-loop probes for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequences to form probe-target hybrids, each of the probes having a loop portion containing the target nucleic acid sequence, a primer for extension along the target nucleic acid sequence to form a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target, an ECL luminophore for emitting photons when in an excited state, and a functional moiety for quenching photon emission from the ECL luminophore by resonant energy transfer, and, electrodes for receiving an electrical pulse to excite the ECL luminophores, wherein during use, forming the complementary nucleic acid sequence causes the loop portion to open such the target nucleic acid sequence therein hybridizes to the complementary nucleic acid sequence and the ECL luminophore is moved away from the functional moiety.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in a sample, the LOC device having a supporting substrate, a plurality of functional sections for processing the sample, one of the functional sections being a nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the sample, wherein, the nucleic acid amplification section is supported on the supporting substrate and the supporting substrate defines a trench for thermally insulating the nucleic acid amplification section from one or more of the other functional sections.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for analyzing a sample fluid, the LOC device having a supporting substrate, a sample inlet for receiving the sample, a microsystems technology (MST) layer with functional sections for processing and analyzing the sample, and, CMOS circuitry between the supporting substrate and the MST layer, the CMOS circuitry having a controller to control operations performed by the functional sections during processing and analysis of the sample.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a supporting substrate, a hybridization chamber containing probes having a nucleic acid sequence for hybridization with a target nucleic acid sequence to form probe-target hybrids, the probe-target hybrids being configured to generate a fluorescence signal in response to an excitation light, and, a photodiode with an active area and an optical axis extending normal to the active area and through the hybridization chamber, wherein, the active area is less than 249 microns from the probe-target hybrids.

Abstract: A single-use test module having an outer casing dimensioned for hand-held portability, the outer casing having an inlet for receiving a biological sample containing a target nucleic acid sequence, probes in the outer casing for hybridization having a nucleic acid sequence for hybridization with a target nucleic acid sequence to form a probe-target hybrid, the probe-target hybrid being configured to generate a fluorescence signal in response to an excitation light, and, a photosensor to detect the fluorescence signal.

Abstract: A microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid, an outlet for outputting the flow of liquid, a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that the flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus, a movable member for contacting the liquid, and, a thermal expansion actuator for displacing the movable member to generate a pulse in the liquid to dislodge the meniscus such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.

Abstract: A test module having an outer casing dimensioned for hand-held portability, the outer casing having an inlet for receiving a biological sample containing a target nucleic acid sequence, and, probes in the outer casing for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequence to form probe-target hybrids, the probes each having a fluorophore such that the probe-target hybrids emit a fluorescence signal in response to exposure to an excitation light, wherein, the fluorophore is a transition metal-ligand complex.

Abstract: A microfluidic test module for analyzing a sample fluid and communicating test results to an ebook reader, the microfluidic test module having an outer casing with a receptacle for receiving the sample, functional sections for processing and analyzing the sample, a communication interface for communication with the ebook reader, and, a controller for operative control of the communication interface.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting target molecules in a fluid, the LOC device having an array of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) probes for reaction with the target molecules to form probe-target complexes, and, electrodes for receiving an electrical pulse, wherein, the probes each have an ECL luminophore that emits a photon when excited by current between the electrodes, and a functional moiety for quenching photon emission from the ECL luminophore by resonant energy transfer.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a sample inlet for receiving a sample of biological material having nucleic acid sequences, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) section for amplifying the nucleic acid sequences, the PCR section having at least one elongate PCR chamber having a longitudinal extent much greater than its lateral dimensions, and, at least one elongate heater element for heating the nucleic acid sequences within the elongate PCR chamber, wherein, the elongate heater element extends parallel with the longitudinal extent of the PCR chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for processing a fluid, the microfluidic device having an inlet for receiving the fluid, functional sections for processing the fluid, a flow-path extending from the inlet into at least one of the functional sections, a flow rate sensor with a conductive element positioned in proximity of the fluid flowing along the flow-path, CMOS circuitry configured for measuring the temperature of the conductive element, wherein, the CMOS circuitry is configured to provide a predetermined current through the conductive element and measure the electrical resistance of the conductive element such that a flow speed is derived from the current, the temperature sensor output and the electrical resistance, and a flow rate is derived using the flow speed and the flow-path cross section transverse to the flow direction at the conductive element.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for processing a fluid, the microfluidic device having an inlet for receiving the fluid, functional sections for processing the fluid, a flow-path extending from the inlet into at least some of the functional sections, circuitry for operative control of the functional sections, and, a capillary meniscus marching velocity sensor having a plurality of liquid sensors spaced along the flow-path, each of the liquid sensors having electrodes positioned for contact with the fluid flowing along the flow-path, wherein, the circuitry is configured to provide a voltage across the electrodes such that current above a predetermined threshold is indicative of liquid at the electrodes and used to derive a velocity of the liquid flow front.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a sample inlet for receiving a fluid sample, an incubation section for maintaining the fluid sample at an incubation temperature, the incubation section having at least one heater and at least one temperature sensor, wherein, the at least one temperature sensor is configured to provide output for feedback control of the at least one heater.