VACUUM-LOADED, DROPLET-GENERATING MICROFLUIDIC CHIPS AND RELATED METHODS

A microfluidic chip that can have a body defining a microfluidic network including a test volume, one or more ports, and one or more channels in fluid communication between the port(s) and the test volume. Gas can be removed from the test volume before a sample liquid is introduced therein by reducing pressure at a first one of the port(s), optionally while the liquid is disposed in the port. Liquid in the first port can be introduced into the test volume by increasing pressure at the first port. The microfluidic network can define one or more droplet-generating regions in which at least one of the channel(s) defines a constriction and/or two or more of the channels connect at a junction. Liquid flowing from the first port can pass through at least one of the droplet-generating region(s) and to the test volume. 一种微流控芯片，其能够具有主体，该主体限定微流控网络，该微流控网络包括测试空间、一个或更多个端口、以及在一个或更多个端口与测试空间之间流体连通的一个或更多个通道。在样品液体被引入测试空间中之前，能够通过降低一个或更多个端口中的第一端口处的压力来将气体从测试空间中去除(可选地，当液体放置在该端口中时)。通过增加第一端口处的压力，能够将第一端口中的液体引入测试空间。微流控网络能够限定一个或更多个液滴生成