Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for drug delivery. The device may include a housing having a first compartment containing a drug in a dry, solid form, a second compartment containing a liquid carrier for the drug, and an expansion member located within or adjacent to the first or second compartment. The second compartment may be fluidly connectable to the first compartment by a rupturable barrier or mechanical valve. The device may also include an actuation system configured to expand the expansion member to rupture the rupturable barrier or open the mechanical valve and permit the liquid carrier to flow into the first compartment and mix with the drug to form a reconstituted drug solution.

Abstract: Analysis of a system and/or sample involves the use of absorption-encoded micro beads. Each type of micro bead is encoded with amounts of the k dyes in a proportional relationship that is different from proportional relationships of the k dyes of others of the n types of absorption-encoded micro beads. A system and/or a sample can be analyzed using information obtained from detecting the one or more types of absorption-encoded micro beads.

Abstract: A method and device for merging and mixing at least two separate and distinct fluid drops on a substrate, includes a drop merging area on the surface, where a first magnetic material is placed at a first location. A first drop of fluid is then placed at the first location on the surface, resulting in the first magnetic material being at least partially positioned within the first drop of fluid. A second drop of fluid is then placed at a second location on the surface of the drop merging area. A magnetic field is applied by a varying magnetic field generator to at least a portion of the drop merge area of the substrate, which includes at least the first location on the substrate. The varying magnetic field will act on the first magnetic material to move the first magnetic material within the first drop of fluid, causing a stirring of the fluid. A drop merging force from a drop merging mechanism is applied to at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid within the drop merge area.

Abstract: A method and device for merging and mixing at least two separate and distinct fluid drops on a substrate, includes a drop merging area on the surface, where a first magnetic material is placed at a first location. A first drop of fluid is then placed at the first location on the surface, resulting in the first magnetic material being at least partially positioned within the first drop of fluid. A second drop of fluid is then placed at a second location on the surface of the drop merging area. A magnetic field is applied by a varying magnetic field generator to at least a portion of the drop merge area of the substrate, which includes at least the first location on the substrate. The varying magnetic field will act on the first magnetic material to move the first magnetic material within the first drop of fluid, causing a stirring of the fluid. A drop merging force from a drop merging mechanism is applied to at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid within the drop merge area.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. The method comprises detecting an optical property of a first region of two or more regions in a system, the first region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the first region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A next step detects an optical property of a second region of the two or more regions in the system, the second region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the second region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of a compound, where the compound is something other than the analyte.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. The method comprises detecting an optical property of a first region of two or more regions in a system, the first region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the first region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A next step detects an optical property of a second region of the two or more regions in the system, the second region located in a container having a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the second region. The movement of the one or more modifiers is responsive to changes in concentration of a compound, where the compound is something other than the analyte.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. A first container includes (i) an optical cavity detection region, (ii) a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the optical cavity detection region, and (iii) a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. The optical cavity detection region and the reservoir define separate areas of the first container. The movement of the one or more modifiers between the reservoir and the optical cavity detection region is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A second container includes an optical cavity detection region, and a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. Also provided are optical components for guiding light into the optical cavity detection regions of the first and second containers.

Abstract: Test and reference groups of samples can be provided and concurrently combined and output signals can be provided. Each sample can have a volume not exceeding approximately 100 microliters, and each group can be provided in a region, such as in a cell of an array calorimeter. Each test group can include at least one fragment sample and one target sample, and its reference group can include similar samples. The output signals can include information about heat of reaction due to combining the fragment and target samples. For each target type, the output signals can be used to rank fragment types. For example, a subset of fragment types that react with the target type can be identified; an equilibrium constant or ligand efficiency can be obtained for each such fragment type; or a rank ordering can be obtained of such fragment types.

Abstract: Test and reference groups of samples can be provided and concurrently combined and output signals can be provided. Each sample can have a volume not exceeding approximately 100 microliters, and each group can be provided in a region, such as in a cell of an array calorimeter. Each test group can include at least one fragment sample and one target sample, and its reference group can include similar samples. The output signals can include information about heat of reaction due to combining the fragment and target samples. For each target type, the output signals can be used to rank fragment types. For example, a subset of fragment types that react with the target type can be identified; an equilibrium constant or ligand efficiency can be obtained for each such fragment type; or a rank ordering can be obtained of such fragment types.