6706 results about "Microfluidic chip" patented technology

Nucleic acid from cells and viruses sampled from a variety of environments may purified and expressed utilizing microfluidic techniques. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, individual or small groups of cells or viruses may be isolated in microfluidic chambers by dilution, sorting, and / or segmentation. The isolated cells or viruses may be lysed directly in the microfluidic chamber, and the resulting nucleic acid purified by exposure to affinity beads. Subsequent elution of the purified nucleic acid may be followed by ligation and cell transformation, all within the same microfluidic chip. In one specific application, cell isolation, lysis, and nucleic acid purification may be performed utilizing a highly parallelized microfluidic architecture to construct gDNA and cDNA libraries.

A microfluidic device having integrated components for conducting chemical operations. Depending upon the desired application, the components include electrodes for manipulating charged entities, heaters, electrochemical detectors, sensors for temperature, pH, fluid flow, and other useful components. The device may be fabricated from a plastic substrate such as, for example, a substantially saturated norbornene based polymer. The components are integrated into the device by adhering an electrically conductive film to the substrate. The film may be made of metal or an electrically conducting ink and is applied to the device through metal deposition, printing, or other methods for applying films. Methods for reducing bubble formation during electrokinetic separation and methods for heating material in a microfluidic device are also disclosed.

Disclosed are methods, devices and systems for biological and chemical sample processing using microfluidic chips. The disclosed microfluidic chips contain at least two detection zones for interacting with pre-selected RNA sequences, DNA sequences, antibodies, or antigens to determine their presence in the sample. Systems are also described comprising a cassette having at least one port and a sample inlet in fluid communication with a detection zone for interacting with pre-selected RNA sequences, DNA sequences, antibodies, or antigens, or mixtures thereof, if present, in a sample. Methods for concurrent testing of at least two of RNA, DNA, antibody, and antigen in a sample are also described, as are methods for testing for pre-selected pathogens and microfluidic methods.

The invention provides a system that can process a raw biological sample, perform a biochemical reaction and provide an analysis readout. For example, the system can extract DNA from a swab, amplify STR loci from the DNA, and analyze the amplified loci and STR markers in the sample. The system integrates these functions by using microfluidic components to connect what can be macrofluidic functions. In one embodiment the system includes a sample purification module, a reaction module, a post-reaction clean-up module, a capillary electrophoresis module and a computer. In certain embodiments, the system includes a disposable cartridge for performing analyte capture. The cartridge can comprise a fluidic manifold having macrofluidic chambers mated with microfluidic chips that route the liquids between chambers. The system fits within an enclosure of no more than 10 ft3. and can be a closed, portable, and / or a battery operated system. The system can be used to go from raw sample to analysis in less than 4 hours.

High-density microfluidic chips contain plumbing networks with thousands of micromechanical valves and hundreds of individually addressable chambers. These fluidic devices are analogous to electronic integrated circuits fabricated using large scale integration (LSI). A component of these networks is the fluidic multiplexor, which is a combinatorial array of binary valve patterns that exponentially increases the processing power of a network by allowing complex fluid manipulations with a minimal number of inputs. These integrated microfluidic networks can be used to construct a variety of highly complex microfluidic devices, for example the microfluidic analog of a comparator array, and a microfluidic memory storage device resembling electronic random access memories.

A biomarker generator system for producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a biomarker. The biomarker generator system includes a small, low-power particle accelerator (“micro-accelerator”) and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and / or microfluidic chip. The micro-accelerator is provided for producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a radioactive substance, such as a substance that emits positrons. The radiochemical synthesis subsystem is provided for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a biomarker.

Systems and methods that control the size and composition of emulsified droplets, multi-lamellar and asymmetric vesicles, encapsulation of reagents, membrane proteins, and sorting of vesicles / droplets. More particularly, microfluidic devices for controlled viscous shearing of oil-water emulsions of micro- and nano-scale droplets, the subsequent formation of amphiphilic vesicles such as liposomes, polymer vesicles, micelles, and the like, the post-assembly and post-processing of the droplets including splitting, fusing, sorting and the like, polymer emulsions, and the integration of amphiphilic vesicle production-line on a single microfluidic chip. Preferably, the microfluidic device enables oil-water co-flows with tunable viscous shear forces higher than the immiscible interfacial tension forces that generate favorable conditions for droplet formation.

Described herein are automated, integrated microfluidic device comprising a chemical reaction chip comprising for performing chemical reaction, a microscale column integrated with the chip and configured for liquid flow from the column to at least one flow channel, and wherein the fluid flow into the column is controlled by on-chip valves; and comprising at least two on-chip valves for controlling fluid flow in the microfluidic device.

Using basic physical arguments, a design and method for the fabrication of microfluidic valves using multilayer soft lithography is presented. Embodiments of valves in accordance with the present invention feature elastomer membrane portions of substantially constant thickness, allowing the membranes to experience similar resistance to an applied pressure across their entire width. Such on-off valves fabricated with upwardly- or downwardly-deflectable membranes can have extremely low actuation pressures, and can be used to implement active functions such as pumps and mixers in integrated microfluidic chips. Valve performance was characterized by measuring both the actuation pressure and flow resistance over a wide range of design parameters, and comparing them to both finite element simulations and alternative valve geometries.

The invention relates to the fields of analysis and test, in particular to a multi-channel microfluidic chip capable of detecting various subtype swine influenza viruses (SIV) simultaneously. One of the aims of advancing the related diagnosis and treatment technology is to diagnose the SIV quickly and cheaply. The invention provides a diagnosis device, which can fulfill the aims. The key point of the scheme is that: the device, namely the microfluidic chip, comprises pipelines with a parallel structure, wherein the parallel structure comprises three branched pipelines arranged in parallel; three beads-shaped working electrodes are arranged in the three branched pipelines respectively; each beads-shaped working electrode consists of a conductive electrode and a gold colloid sensitive film; the gold colloid sensitive film is attached to the conductive electrode and embeds different subtypes of SIV specific antibodies; the gold colloid sensitive films on the surface layers of the three beads-shaped working electrodes embed three different subtypes of SIV specific antibody substances respectively; and the three different subtypes of SIV specific antibody substances are the subtype H1N1, the subtype H3N2 and the subtype H1N2 SIV specific antibody substances respectively.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sample assay structure in a microfluidic chip for quantitative analysis which comprises a sample inlet port for inputting a testing sample; an analyte detection region, coupled to the sample inlet port, consisting of at least one microfluidic channel, in which a plurality of immobilized substances capable of reacting with the analyte are placed; and a fluid driving device, capable of controlling the speed of the flow of the test sample through the analyte detection region, allowing the quantity of the analyte be indicated by the length of the portion of the microfluidic channel where the analyte reacted with the immobilized substances.

Microfluidic systems and components. A microfluidic system includes one or more functional units or microfluidic chips, configured to perform constituent steps in a process and interconnected to form the system. A multi-layer microfluidic system includes a separate dedicated fluid layer and dedicated electromechanical layer connected via through-holes. Electromechanical components are formed on the electromechanical layer.

This invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a fluidics layer having microfluidic channels and one or more regulating layers that regulate the movement of fluid in the channels. The microfluidic devices can be used to mix one or more fluids. At least a portion of the fluidics layer can be isolated from the regulating layer, for example in the form of a shelf. Such isolated portions can be used as areas in which the temperature of liquids is controlled. Also provided are instruments including thermal control devices into which the microfluidic device is engaged so that the thermal control device controls temperature in the isolated portion, and a movable magnetic assembly including magnets with shields so that a focused magnetic field can be applied to or withdrawn from the isolated portion or any other portion of the microfluidic device. Also provided are methods of mixing fluids. The methods include stacking a plurality of alternating boluses of different liquids in a microfluidic channel, and moving the stacked boluses through the channel. In another method, the boluses are moved into a diaphragm valve having a volume able to accommodate several boluses, and then pumping the liquids out of the valve.

The invention is directed to a method and device for routing, mixing, or reacting droplets or liquid microstreams along the surface of a flat substrate. The flow of liquid microstreams or microdroplets along designated pathways is confined by chemical surface patterning. Individually addressable heating elements, which are embedded in the substrate, can be used to generate flow via thermocapillary effects or to trigger or quench chemical reactions. The open architecture allows the liquid to remain in constant contact with the ambient atmosphere. The device can be used for microfluidic applications or as a surface reactor or biosensor, among other applications.

The present invention is an automated microfluidic chip processing apparatus that includes a deck for holding at least one microfluidic chip and capable of being accessed by a liquid handling system, a fluid control system, and a detection system, wherein a chip handling device transports the chip from the deck to the fluid control system and the detection system. The present invention also includes a chip for use with an automated microfluidic chip processing apparatus, and a method for processing a microfluidic chip using such an apparatus.

Disclosed are microflulidic chips that include a plurality of vias; a functionalized porous polymer monolith capable of being in fluid communication with a via; a microarray capable of being in fluid communication with the functionalized porous polymer monolith; and an observation port through which at least one target disposed within the microarray is capable of being detected. The disclosed microfluidic chips contain microarrays that can be effectively coupled to functionalized porous polymer monoliths for capturing and concentrating sample nucleic acids. Also disclosed are microfluidic chips containing microarray probes having observation ports that enable the preparation of microarrays and the detection of targets. These microfluidic chips are capable of capturing and concentrating genetic material for the analysis and identification of biological organisms, such as so-called “threat genes” from chimeric bioweapons.

The systems and methods described herein include a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfeatures interconnected to provide a configurable fluid transport system for processing at least one reagent. Inserts are provided to removably interfit into one or more of the microfeatures of the chip, wherein the inserts include sites for interactions with the reagent. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic chip and the inserts provide an efficient and accurate approach for conducting parallel assays.

High-density microfluidic chips contain plumbing networks with thousands of micromechanical valves and hundreds of individually addressable chambers. These fluidic devices are analogous to electronic integrated circuits fabricated using large scale integration (LSI). A component of these networks is the fluidic multiplexor, which is a combinatorial array of binary valve patterns that exponentially increases the processing power of a network by allowing complex fluid manipulations with a minimal number of inputs. These integrated microfluidic networks can be used to construct a variety of highly complex microfluidic devices, for example the microfluidic analog of a comparator array, and a microfluidic memory storage device resembling electronic random access memories.

Microfluidic assay detectors and microfluidic assay detection methods are disclosed. A microfluidic chip is coupled to a light emitting device, emission filters and excitation filters. Excited fluorescent light is detected by a camera and a lens. The correspondent reading allows parallel detection of features such as antigens and biomarkers. A microfluidic filter and related methods are also disclosed. The filter can be used with on-chip fluid filtration such as whole blood filtration for microfluidic blood analysis. The filter is able to filter the necessary volume of fluid and in particular blood in an acceptable time frame.

The invention relates to a multichannel micro-fluidic chip specially used for AIDS diagnosis and comprising quasi-one-dimensional sensitive electrodes, belonging to the field of test. One of the hopes in the progress of medical techniques is to quickly diagnose AIDS at low cost. The invention provides a micro-fluidic chip that uses a plurality of AIDS characteristic antibodies to simultaneously detect and quickly diagnose AIDS. The chip is provided with three micro liquid storage tanks. The key points of the proposal lie in that the inner of the chip contains capillary channels of parallel structure, the parallel structure contains four micro-channels mutually connected in parallel, four working electrodes of bead string structure in total are respectively arranged in the four micro-channels, the substances on the superficial coats of the four working electrodes of bead string structure are respectively four antibody substances, namely, AIDS antibodies p24, gp41, gp120 and gp36. The application of the chip is conducive to increasing the diagnosis efficiency of AIDS as shown by the structural characteristics.

The invention relates to a special micro-fluidic chip for cholera diagnosis with one-dimensional self-assembly magnetic bead chain electrodes, belonging to the field of testing. Rapid diagnosis of fulminating infectious disease cholera with low cost is one of many expectations in the development of medical technology, and the invention provides a micro-fluidic chip for simultaneously detecting and rapidly diagnosing cholera by using multiple characteristic antibodies of cholera. The chip is provided with three micro liquid storage tanks, and the invention is characterized in that capillary passages in parallel configuration contain in the chip, the parallel configuration contains four micro-passages that are mutually in parallel, four magnetic bead chain working electrodes are respectively installed inside the four micro-passages, the surface substances of the four magnetic bead chain working electrodes are respectively four antibody substances that are cholera TP0821 antibody, cholera TP0319 antibody, cholera TP0624 antibody and cholera O139 mycoprotein antibody. The integrated structure and the appearances of specific magnetic bead chain working electrodes facilitate to improve the diagnosis efficiency of cholera diseases.

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for forming emulsions. The system may include an instrument and a microfluidic chip received by the instrument. The instrument may apply pressure to prospective emulsion phases held by the chip, to drive formation and collection of emulsions in the chip. In some embodiments, the instrument may stop applying pressure to the chip when a change in pressure meeting a predefined condition is detected by the instrument. The change may indicate that an endpoint of droplet generation has been reached.

An optical system for acquiring fast spectra from spatially channel arrays includes a light source for producing a light beam that passes through the microfluidic chip or the channel to be monitored, one or more lenses or optical fibers for capturing the light from the light source after interaction with the particles or chemicals in the microfluidic channels, and one or more detectors. The detectors, which may include light amplifying elements, detect each light signal and transducer the light signal into an electronic signal. The electronic signals, each representing the intensity of an optical signal, pass from each detector to an electronic data acquisition system for analysis. The light amplifying element or elements may comprise an array of phototubes, a multianode phototube, or a multichannel plate based image intensifier coupled to an array of photodiode detectors.

Methods and apparatuses for priming sample substrates such as DNA sipper chips are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a priming system that is suitable for priming a substrate which has a plurality of wells and at least one channel includes a base unit and a top unit. The base unit is arranged to accommodate, or support, the substrate. The top unit, which is substantially physically separate from the base unit, fits over the substrate when the substrate is held by the base unit. The top unit includes an adapter portion that interfaces with the substrate. Included in the adapter portion is a first cavity that is used to facilitate pressurizing a first well of the substrate when the adapter portion is interfaced with the substrate such that the first cavity is aligned with the first well.

This invention provides methods and systems for flushing, washing, and priming microscale devices for reuse. Washing and priming methods include flowing solutions from a manifold to flush wells and microchannels of a microfluidic chip. Systems include manifolds adapted to seal and flow solutions or gasses into chip wells. Devices include microfluidic devices with data storage modules to track the reprocessing status of the microscale devices.

A system and a method for detecting fluorescence in a microfluidic chip having a microchamber and measuring the amount of the fluorescence are disclosed. In the system and method, an optical device detects fluorescence generated by a fluorescent material. The position of the outer circumference of a microfluidic chip is identified based on the change of the amount of the detected fluorescence. Then, the position of a microchannel is calculated based on the position of the outer circumference of the microfluidic chip and the distance between the outer circumference and the microchamber. Hence, the amount of the fluorescence only generated from the microchamber of the microfluidic chip is automatically calculated. Further, a plurality of samples can be analyzed at the same time, thereby reducing analysis time and cost.

Systems and methods that control the size and composition of emulsified droplets, multi-lamellar and asymmetric vesicles, encapsulation of reagents, membrane proteins, and sorting of vesicles / droplets. More particularly, microfluidic devices for controlled viscous shearing of oil-water emulsions of micro- and nano-scale droplets, the subsequent formation of amphiphilic vesicles such as liposomes, polymer vesicles, micelles, and the like, the post-assembly and post-processing of the droplets including splitting, fusing, sorting and the like, polymer emulsions, and the integration of amphiphilic vesicle production-line on a single microfluidic chip. Preferably, the microfluidic device enables oil-water co-flows with tunable viscous shear forces higher than the immiscible interfacial tension forces that generate favorable conditions for droplet formation.

The present invention is directed to a method for determining the molecular weight and diffusivity of a sample solute by providing a plus shaped microchannel network on a microfluidic chip, having at least four microchannels intersecting at a cross point; flowing a sample stream comprising a sample solute of unknown diffusivity and a blank stream from separate microchannels through the cross point and out to separate microchannels; creating a sample curve measuring the concentration of the sample solute that diffuses from the sample stream to the blank stream at the cross point while altering the flowrate of one of the blank stream or the sample stream; and determining a diffusion coefficient of the sample solute by extrapolating data from similar curves of at least two solutes having known molecular weights and / or diffusion coefficients created under similar conditions as those generated by the sample solute.

This invention provides methods and systems for flushing, washing, and priming microscale devices for reuse. Washing and priming methods include flowing solutions from a manifold to flush wells and microchannels of a microfluidic chip. Systems include manifolds adapted to seal and flow solutions or gasses into chip wells. Devices include microfluidic devices with data storage modules to track the reprocessing status of the microscale devices.

A method for preparing microcapsules using a droplet-based microfluidic chip. Monodisperse microcapsules, which are hollow or can be loaded with a desired material, are prepared using a droplet-based microfluidic chip through the movement of a monomer molecule from the inside of droplets to the interface of droplets, the diffusion of a photoinitiator to the interface of droplets, and the suppression of radical activity by oxygen in droplets. The method involves the use of a simple microfluidic channel and selectively photopolymerizing the shell of the droplets without needing the use of a chemically treated microfluidic channel or a complex microfluidic channel.