Abstract: A microfluidic device may include a microfluidic channel including an electrode placed at opposite ends of the microfluidic channel to create an electrical field within the channel and an ejection device to eject at least one cell porated within the electrical field. A cassette may include a substrate, a die coupled to the substrate, a microfluidic channel defined within the die, the microfluidic channel including a necked portion to receive a cell therein and at least two electrodes each placed at a first and a second end of the microfluidic channel to apply an electric field to the cell above a proration threshold and a cell ejection device to eject the cell from the die.

Abstract: An example of an apparatus includes a focusing region to focus a sheath fluid and a particle flow. The apparatus also includes a particle inlet to inject the particle flow into the focusing region. In addition, the apparatus includes a sheath inlet to inject the sheath fluid into the focusing region. Also, the apparatus includes a cut-out disposed on a wall of the sheath inlet to distribute the sheath fluid about the particle flow to focus the particle flow into a linear stream. The apparatus further includes a separation region to apply a force to the particle flow. The force is dependent on a characteristic of a particle in the particle flow.

Abstract: An example system includes a primary channel having a first end and a second end, at least two reagent reservoirs coupled to the first end, and a controller. Each reservoir contains a reagent in a fluid solution and is associated with an integrated pump to drive a reagent droplet from the corresponding reagent reservoir into the primary channel towards the second end. The controller is coupled to the integrated pumps and operates according to a sequence to actuate the integrated pumps, the sequence being indicative of reagents in the reagent reservoirs. The actuation of the pumps is to drive the reagent droplets from the reagent reservoirs into the primary channel in accordance with the sequence. The example system also includes a shell material reservoir with a shell material and an associated shell material pump to drive the shell material into the primary channel to encapsulate the reagent droplets.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a cellular analytic system is described. The cellular analytic system includes an analytic device. The analytic device includes a chamber to receive a cell to be analyzed. At least one lysing element agitates the cell and at least one sensor detects a change in the cell based on an agitation of the cell. The cellular analytic system also includes a controller to determine a rupture threshold of the cell based on parameters of the agitation when a cell membrane ruptures.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor may include a substrate, an electrically conductive layer having a first portion spaced from a second portion by a gap, an electrically resistive layer in contact with and extending between the first portion and the second portion of the electrically conductive layer to form an electrically resistive bridge across the gap that heats the nano fingers in response to electrical current flowing across the bridge from the first portion to the second portion and nano fingers extending upward from the bridge.

Abstract: An example system includes a microfluidic cavity; a retaining feature within the microfluidic cavity, and a releasing feature. The retaining feature is to position capsules at a predetermined location in the microfluidic cavity. The capsules have a thermally degradable shell enclosing a material therein. The releasing feature is to selectively cause degradation of the shell to release the material into the microfluidic opening. The releasing feature is to generate heat to facilitate degradation of the shell. In some examples, the retaining feature is a physical barrier sized to prevent flow of the capsule and to allow flow of the released materials through the microfluidic cavity.

Abstract: An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Abstract: An object focuser may include a substrate, a sample fluid passage supported by the substrate, a first inertial pump supported by the substrate to pump a sample fluid entraining an object through the sample fluid passage, a first sheath fluid passage, a second inertial pump supported by the substrate to pump a first sheath fluid through the first sheath fluid passage, a second sheath fluid passage and a second inertial pump supported by the substrate to pump a second sheath fluid through the second sheath fluid passage. The first sheath fluid passage and the second sheath fluid passage are connected to the sample fluid passage at a convergence on opposite sides of the sample fluid passage.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a microfluidic device includes a first layer with a first microfluidic channel and a second layer with a second microfluidic channel. The first and second channels are adjacent to one another at a channel intersection, and a conductive membrane valve extends across and covers the channel intersection to separate the first and second channels. The microfluidic device includes a conductive trace to open the membrane valve and join the first and second channels by supplying an electric current to heat and melt a thinned region of the membrane valve.

Abstract: A target analyte is extracted out of a sample fluid in a sample fluid passage by diffusing the target analyte through a supported liquid membrane to a product fluid passage. Extraction of the target analyte is accelerated by applying an electric field across and perpendicular to the supported liquid membrane with electrodes. Passage of selected ions across an exchange membrane extending between one of the electrodes and the supported liquid membrane is inhibited.

Abstract: An example system includes an input channel to receive particles through a first end, a separation chamber, at least two output channels, an integrated pump to facilitate flow through the separation chamber and a cell analysis portion. The separation chamber is in fluid communication with a second end of the input channel. The separation chamber has a passive separation structure including an array of columns spaced apart to facilitate separation of particles into at least two flow paths based on a size of the particles. The size associated with a first flow path of the at least two flow paths corresponds to a cell. A first output channel is to receive the first flow path corresponding to a cell. The cell analysis portion is coupled to the first output channel and is to perform at least one analysis associated with cells in the first output channel.

Abstract: A system and a method for sorting particles are provided. An example of a particle sorting system includes an array that includes a number of microfluidic ejectors. An optical sensor is focused on the array. A controller is used to identify a target particle proximate to a microfluidic ejector, and activate the microfluidic ejector to eject the target particle into a collection vessel.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a well plate having an array of wells, a light encoding layer positioned under the well plate, an imaging layer to capture an image of the well plate encoded by the light encoding layer, an array of electrodes positioned on a surface of a bottom floor of the at least one well, and a controller. The light encoding layer is to encode light passing through a microscopic object in at least one well of the array of wells. The light encoding layer has a substantially flat form. The controller is to direct electrical voltage to the electrodes to generate a non-rotating, non-uniform electrical field, the electrical field being to rotate an object in the electrical field.

Abstract: A system and a method for the batch sorting of particles are provided. An example of a batch sorting system includes a microfluidic ejector, a flow channel fluidically coupled to the microfluidic ejector at one end, and a reservoir coupled to an opposite end of the flow channel from the microfluidic ejector. A counter is disposed in the flow channel upstream of the microfluidic ejector to count particles prior to ejection from the microfluidic ejector. An optical sensor is to image the flow channel. A controller is configured to locate a target particle in the flow channel based, at least in part, on the image and capture the target particle in a collection vessel based, at least in part, on a count from the counter.

Abstract: An example method includes capturing a plurality of images of a rotating object using an imaging device optically coupled to a microscope. The method removing a first portion of a model of the rotating object based on a first contour of the rotating object in a first image of the plurality of images. The method includes orienting the model based on an amount of rotation of the rotating object between capture of the first image and capture of a second image of the plurality of images. The method also includes removing a second portion of the model of the rotating object based on a second contour of the rotating object in the second image.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a sample Sample Preparation System preparation system is described. The system includes a reaction chamber to hold at least one fluid. An inlet impedance sensor of the system detects a level of conductivity through at least one inlet of the reaction chamber and an outlet impedance sensor detects a level of conductivity through at least one outlet of the reaction chamber. A controller of the system, based on measured levels of conductivity, determines a state of a reaction within the reaction chamber.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a conductivity-based lysis monitor is described. The lysis monitoring device includes a lysing chamber to receive a cell to be lysed and at least one lysing device to rupture a cell membrane. At least one pair of electrodes are disposed in the lysing chamber to detect a level of conductivity in the lysing chamber. A controller of the device determines when the cell membrane has ruptured based on detected levels of conductivity in the lysing chamber.

Abstract: A system and a method for imaging microfluidic ejectors during operation. An example provides a microscopy system, that includes a plurality of microfluidic ejectors. A mirror is disposed in a droplet path of the plurality of microfluidic ejectors, wherein the droplet path passes through an opening in the mirror. An optical system is focused on the plurality of microfluidic ejectors through the minor, wherein the optical system comprises a camera.

Abstract: In example implementations, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a dielectrophoresis (DEP) separator, an electrical field generator, a tracking system, and a controller. The DEP separator is to separate a plurality of different particles. The electrical field generator is coupled to the DEP separator to apply a frequency to the DEP separator. The tracking system is to track a movement of a type of particles in the DEP separator. The controller is in communication with the electrical field generator to control the frequency and the tracking system to track the separation. The controller is to calculate a cross-over frequency from a cross-over frequency distribution for the type of particles based on a frequency sweep performed on the type of particles and the movement of the type of particles that is tracked.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus is described that includes a light source, a holographic optical element, a sampling apparatus, and a detector. The light source is configured to emit a beam of excitation light. The holographic optical element is arranged to convert the beam of excitation light into a plurality of beams of excitation light. The sampling apparatus is arranged to project the plurality of beams of excitation light onto a surface outside the apparatus as a two-dimensional pattern of projection points. The sampling apparatus is further arranged to collect scattered radiation emitted by the surface in response to the two-dimensional pattern of projection points. The detector detects a frequency shift in the scattered radiation.