Abstract: A method of analyzing the nucleic acid content of a blood sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing a test module with an outer casing configured for handheld portability, the outer casing having a receptacle for receiving blood, the test module having a lysis section mounted in the outer casing for lysing cells and organisms in the blood to release the genetic material therein, a hybridization section with an array of probes for hybridization with target nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, and circuitry for sensing which of the probes have hybridized and generating hybridization data, providing a test module reader for reading the hybridization data from the test module, inserting a blood sample in the receptacle, interfacing the test module with the test module reader, wherein, the test module reader analyses the nucleic acid content from the hybridization data.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample containing genetic material including DNA and RNA, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a first incubation section, the first incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material, a second incubation section, the second incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material in parallel with the first incubation section, a first nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the first incubation section for amplifying at least some of the genetic material, and, a second nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the second incubation section for amplifying at least some of the genetic material in parallel with the first nucleic acid amplification section, wherein

Abstract: A microfluidic device for dialysis of biological material, the microfluidic device having a sample inlet for receiving a sample of biological material that has constituents of different sizes, a dialysis section for separating smaller constituents from larger constituents, the smaller constituents being smaller than a predetermined size threshold, and the larger constituents being larger than the predetermined size threshold, and, a microsystems technology (MST) layer for separately processing the smaller constituents and/or the larger constituents.

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, 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, an excitation LED for generating the excitation light, the LED positioned in the outer casing for simultaneously illuminating all the probes.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for processing a fluid sample, the microfluidic device having a first channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a second channel configured to fill with the sample by capillary action, a plurality of fluid connections between the first channel and the second channel, one of the fluid connections having an active valve to arrest the sample flow into the second channel and the remaining fluid connections each being configured to pin a meniscus of the sample that arrests capillary flow between the first channel and the second channel, the fluid connection with the active valve being upstream of the remaining fluid connections, wherein during use, the sample flow into the second channel is initiated by activation of the active valve such that the sample flow in the second channel progressively removes the meniscus at each of the meniscus anchors.

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, CMOS circuitry for operative control of the functional sections, and, a conductivity sensor with a first terminal and a second terminal spaced apart along the flow-path, and a first electrode and a second electrode positioned between the first terminal and the second terminal and spaced apart along the flow-path, wherein, the CMOS circuitry is configured to generate a current between the first terminal and the second terminal, and measure a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode such that conductivity of the fluid in the flow-path is derived from the current and the measured voltage.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a channel having an inlet, an outlet and a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that liquid flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus, and, an actuator valve with a movable member for contacting the liquid, and an actuator for displacing the movable member from a quiescent position to an actuated position where the meniscus is extended into contact with a surface downstream of the meniscus anchor such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for pathogen detection, genetic analysis and proteomic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a leukocyte dialysis section for dividing the sample into a leukocyte stream, and a pathogen and erythrocyte stream containing cells and sample constituents smaller than a first size threshold, a pathogen dialysis section for dividing the pathogen and erythrocyte stream into an erythrocyte stream and a pathogen stream containing cells and sample constituents smaller than a second size threshold, a leukocyte lysis section downstream of the leukocyte dialysis section for lysing the leukocytes with a lysis reagent to release genetic material and proteins therein, a leukocyte incubation section downstream of the leukocyte lysis section for enzymatic reaction of the genetic material with enzymes, a leukocyte nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the leukocyte incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid seq

Abstract: A reagent dispensing apparatus for loading reagents into a microfluidic device having a digital memory for data related to the reagents loaded into the microfluidic device, the reagent dispensing apparatus having a plurality of reagent vials each of the vials having an integrated circuit with memory storing data regarding the reagent in the vial, and a droplet dispenser, a mounting surface for detachably mounting the microfluidic device for movement relative to the vials, and, a control processor for operative control of the vials and the mounting surface, wherein, the control processor is configured to activate the droplet dispenser of the vial selected, move the vial into registration with the microfluidic device and download the data from the integrated circuit to the digital memory of the microfluidic device.

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 liquid sensor with 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.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for genetic analysis of a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample containing genetic material, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, a first incubation section, the first incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material, a second incubation section, the second incubation section being in fluid communication with one of the reagent reservoirs containing enzymes for enzymatic reaction with the genetic material in parallel with the first incubation section, a first nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the first incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, and, a second nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the second incubation section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material in parallel with the first nucleic acid amplification section, wherein, th

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for detecting pathogens in a biological sample, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving the sample, a supporting substrate, a dialysis section for separating pathogens from larger constituents in the sample, a lysis section downstream of the dialysis section for lysing the pathogens to release genetic material therein, a first nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the lysis section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material in a first portion of the sample flow from the lysis section, and, a second nucleic acid amplification section downstream of the lysis section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material in a second portion of the sample flow from the lysis section, wherein, the dialysis section, the lysis section, the first nucleic acid amplification section and the second nucleic acid amplification section are all supported on the supporting substrate.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for installation in a test module for analyzing a sample fluid and communicating test results to an external device, 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 on the supporting substrate for operative control of a communication interface in the test module for communication with the external device.

Abstract: A test module for detecting hybridization of probes with target nucleic acid sequences, the test module having a receptacle for receiving a biological sample with target nucleic acid sequences, an array of probes for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequences, an excitation light source for illuminating the array of probes, circuitry incorporating a photosensor for sensing a fluorescence emission from any of the probes in the array that have hybridized with the target nucleic acid sequences, wherein, the circuitry is configured to use outputs from the photosensor to generate a signal indicative of the probes that have hybridized and transmit the signal to an external device.

Abstract: A dialysis device to separate pathogens from a biological sample, the dialysis device having a first channel for receiving the biological sample, a second channel, and, a plurality of apertures, wherein, the second channel is fluidically connected to the first channel via the apertures such that the pathogens flow from the first channel to the second channel and larger constituents in the biological sample remain in the first channel.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a supporting substrate, an inlet for receiving a biological sample containing a target nucleic acid sequence, a reagent reservoir containing a reagent for addition to the biological sample, and, a hybridization chamber containing probes having a nucleic acid sequence for hybridization with the target nucleic acid sequence to form probe-target hybrids, wherein, microsystems tech the reagent reservoir has a volume less than 1,000,000,000 cubic microns and the hybridization chamber has a volume less than 900,000 cubic microns.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant multiple valve assembly for a microfluidic device, the multiple valve assembly having an inlet for receiving a liquid flowing through the microfluidic device, an outlet downstream of the inlet, a plurality of flow-paths extending from the inlet to the outlet, and, a plurality of valves positioned along each of the flow-paths respectively, wherein, each of the valves has a meniscus anchor and a meniscus relocation mechanism, the meniscus anchor being configured to form a meniscus that stops the liquid flow towards the outlet, and the meniscus relocation mechanism being configured to deform the meniscus at the meniscus anchor such that the meniscus contacts a surface downstream of the meniscus anchor and the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.

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 test module for analyzing a sample fluid and communicating epidemiological data to a database, the test module having a receptacle for receiving the sample, functional sections for processing and analyzing the sample, a communication interface for communication with the epidemiological database, and, a controller for operative control of the communication interface.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for amplifying nucleic acid sequences, the LOC device having an inlet for receiving a sample containing genetic material, a supporting substrate, a plurality of reagent reservoirs, and, a nucleic acid amplification section for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in the genetic material, wherein, the nucleic acid amplification section is supported on the supporting substrate.