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Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices

  • US 20020143437A1
  • Filed: 03/28/2001
  • Published: 10/03/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling the operation of a digital-type microfluidic (“

  • MF”

    ) device (i) wherein an MF device comprises one or more passages for confining one or more micro-droplets, the passages having one or more stable positions for the micro-droplets, and (ii) comprises one or more internal components responsive to control signals, the internal components operatively associated with the passages for control and monitoring the MF device, the method comprising;

    (a) providing one or more micro-droplet processing requests, wherein a micro-droplet processing request specifies performing at least one action on at least one micro-droplet, the requests comprising either (i) creating one or more new micro-droplets at selected stable positions, or (ii) moving one or more micro-droplets from current stable positions to selected next stable positions, or (iii) combining two or more micro-droplets into one or more new micro-droplets at selected stable positions, or (iv) mixing one or more micro-droplets, and (b) generating control signals, which are provided to the MF device, wherein the control signals are generated in a pattern and sequence that is responsive to each micro-droplet processing request so that the internal components of the MF device that are responsive to the control signals function together to perform the requested micro-droplet processing in the MF device.

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