Abstract: The present invention includes a device and a method of using the device, wherein the device is a microfluidic device for single or multicell capture comprising: a substrate; one or more microgrooves or microtubes disposed within the substrate, each N microgroove or microtube having a first end and a second end, wherein a width of the microgroove or microtube is a diameter of a target cell or a group of cells, wherein the microgroove or microtube comprises one or more chambers; a fluid input disposed within the substrate in fluid communication with the first end of the one or more microgrooves or microtube; and a fluid output disposed within the substrate in fluid communication with the second end of the one or more microgrooves or microtube, or the one or more chambers, wherein one or more cells that are captured in the microgroove can be analyzed as a single cell.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for analyzing animals including: a media reservoir and a media pump in fluid communication with the media reservoir; a food reservoir and a food pump in fluid communication with the food reservoir; an input port in fluid communication with the media pump and the food pump; a microfluidic device in fluid communication with the input port including: a micropillar arena or a plurality of micropillar chambers; an outlet port in fluid communication with the microfluidic device; a light source positioned outside the micropillar arena to illuminate the interior of the micropillar arena; an imager positioned outside the micropillar arena to image the interior of the micropillar arena; and a controller coupled to the media pump, the food pump, the microfluidic device, the light source, and the imager.

Abstract: The present invention includes method and device for label-free holographic screening and enumeration of tumor cells in bulk flow comprising: a laser source, a micro-objective, a pinhole device and a collimating lens, a mirror, a sample chamber with a sample flow inlet on a first side of the sample chamber and a sample flow outlet connected by a microchannel, and a detector, wherein the collimated laser beam passes through microchannel and interacts with cells in the sample to generate a respective hologram at the detector, wherein a processor calculates a numerical reconstruction from the respective hologram and generates a focused image of the numerous cells using the numerical reconstruction, wherein the numerous cells are enumerated by looking at a size, a maximum intensity and a mean intensity of the focused image.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate and a cover. The substrate has an inlet port, a first microchannel, one or more parking loops, a second microchannel and an outlet port for each microchannel network. The first microchannel is connected to the inlet port, the second microchannel is connected to the outlet port, the parking loops are connected between the first and second microchannels. Each parking loop includes a parking loop inlet, a parking loop output, a fluidic trap connected between the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet, and a bypass microchannel connected to the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet. The cover is attached to a top of the substrate and has an inlet opening and an outlet opening through the cover for each microchannel network. The inlet and outlet openings of the cover are disposed above the inlet and outlet ports in the substrate.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate and a cover. The substrate has an inlet port, a first microchannel, one or more parking loops, a second microchannel and an outlet port for each microchannel network. The first microchannel is connected to the inlet port, the second microchannel is connected to the outlet port, the parking loops are connected between the first and second microchannels. Each parking loop includes a parking loop inlet, a parking loop output, a fluidic trap connected between the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet, and a bypass microchannel connected to the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet. The cover is attached to a top of the substrate and has an inlet opening and an outlet opening through the cover for each microchannel network. The inlet and outlet openings of the cover are disposed above the inlet and outlet ports in the substrate.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate, a cover layer and one or more chambers disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both. Each chamber has a first end, a second end, and a set of micro-pillars disposed therein. A first microchannel and second microchannel are disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both, and connected to the first end and second end of the chamber, respectively. A first set of barriers is disposed within each first microchannel proximate to the first end of the chamber. A second set of barriers is disposed within each second microchannel proximate to the second end of the chamber. A third microchannel is disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both, and connected to the chamber. A first port, second port and third port extend through the cover layer and connect to the first, second and third microchannels, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention includes method and device for label-free holographic screening and enumeration of tumor cells in blood for use in connection with cancer treatments and monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and an apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The apparatus comprising that includes a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel, a digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of a fluidic slug as a fluid travels within the glass capillary, and a processor communicably coupled to the digital camera that determines a viscosity of the fluid based on the two or more digital images.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate and a cover. The substrate has an inlet port, a first microchannel, one or more parking loops, a second microchannel and an outlet port for each microchannel network. The first microchannel is connected to the inlet port, the second microchannel is connected to the outlet port, the parking loops are connected between the first and second microchannels. Each parking loop includes a parking loop inlet, a parking loop output, a fluidic trap connected between the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet, and a bypass microchannel connected to the parking loop inlet and the parking loop outlet. The cover is attached to a top of the substrate and has an inlet opening and an outlet opening through the cover for each microchannel network. The inlet and outlet openings of the cover are disposed above the inlet and outlet ports in the substrate.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate, a cover layer and one or more chambers disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both. Each chamber has a first end, a second end, and a set of micro-pillars disposed therein. A first microchannel and second microchannel are disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both, and connected to the first end and second end of the chamber, respectively. A first set of barriers is disposed within each first microchannel proximate to the first end of the chamber. A second set of barriers is disposed within each second microchannel proximate to the second end of the chamber. A third microchannel is disposed within the cover layer, the substrate or both, and connected to the chamber. A first port, second port and third port extend through the cover layer and connect to the first, second and third microchannels, respectively.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate comprising an inlet in fluid communication with one or more conduits and one or more parking loops in fluid communication with the one or more conduits. Each parking loop includes a bypass channel and a lower branch with a fluidic trap capable of retaining one or more drops of a sample solution, wherein the bypass channel has a smaller hydrodynamic resistance than the lower branch within the fluidic trap and a hydrodynamic resistance ratio (RT/RB) between the lower branch within the fluidic trap and the bypass channel is from 1.5 to 3.2. One or more outlets are in fluid communication with at least one of the bypass channels. A method for making the microfluidic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a microfluidic device comprising one or more parking loops 12, each parking loop 12 comprising a bypass channel 14 and a lower branch 16 capable of retaining one or more drops, wherein bypass channel 14 has a smaller hydrodynamic resistance than the lower branch 16.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and an apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid. The apparatus comprising that includes a microchannel connected to a glass capillary in fluid communication with the microchannel, a digital camera positioned with respect to the glass capillary to capture two or more images of a fluidic slug as a fluid travels within the glass capillary, and a processor communicably coupled to the digital camera that determines a viscosity of the fluid based on the two or more digital images.

Abstract: The present invention includes a microfluidic device comprising one or more parking loops 12, each parking loop 12 comprising a bypass channel 14 and a lower branch 16 capable of retaining one or more drops, wherein bypass channel 14 has a smaller hydrodynamic resistance than the lower branch 16.