Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations. Advantageously, a single control system can thereby control numerous different reactions in numerous different microfluidic devices simply by loading different easily understood micro-droplet programs.
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Citations
53 Claims
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52)
- MF”
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26. 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, wherein each provided micro-droplet processing request further comprises one or more actuator processing requests, wherein an actuator processing request specifies performing at least one action physically associated with at least one passage of the MF device, and wherein the actuator processing requests comprise, (i) opening or closing a selected controlled passage by internal components acting as a controllable valve by melting at least one aliquot of a meltable material, wherein the aliquot of the material is positionable for occluding the controlled passage, (ii) providing controllable gas pressure in a selected passage by internal components acting as pressure generator by heating at least on gas micro reservoir communicating with the passage (iii) sensing the presence or absence of a micro-droplets at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor by sensing an indicator of the thermal capacity in a region about the position, or (iv) sensing the composition of a micro-droplet at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor by sending optical signals to the MF device and receiving optical signals returned from the MF device, 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, wherein the generated pattern and sequence of control signals that is responsive to a micro-droplet processing request further comprises sub-patterns and sub-sequences that are responsive to each actuator processing request of the micro-droplet processing request, and wherein the sub-pattern and sub-sequence of control signals that is responsive to each actuator processing request cause the responsive internal components of the MF device to function together to perform the requested action - View Dependent Claims (53)
- MF”
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27. A method for controlling the operation of a digital-type microfluidic (“
- MF”
) device (i) herein 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 by separating the new micro-droplet from an existing micro-droplet or a fluid source in a metered fashion, or (ii) moving one or more micro-droplets from current stable positions to selected next stable positions by applying a gas pressure on the micro-droplet active to move the micro-droplet from the current stable position to the next selected stable position, or (iii) combining two or more micro-droplets into one or more new micro-droplets at selected stable positions by moving the micro-droplets into adjacency at the selected stable position, or (iv) mixing one or more micro-droplets by generating control signals for moving the micro-droplet with sufficient speed to result in laminar mixing, wherein each provided micro-droplet processing request further comprises one or more actuator processing requests, wherein an actuator processing request specifies performing at least one action physically associated with at least one passage of the MF device, and wherein the actuator processing requests comprise, (i) opening or closing a selected controlled passage by internal components acting as a controllable valve, (ii) providing controllable gas pressure in a selected passage by internal components acting as pressure generator, (iii) sensing the presence or absence of a micro-droplets at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor, or (iv) sensing the composition of a micro-droplet at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor, 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, wherein the generated pattern and sequence of control signals that is responsive to a micro-droplet processing request further comprises sub-patterns and sub-sequences that are responsive to each actuator processing request of the micro-droplet processing request, and wherein the sub-pattern and sub-sequence of control signals that is responsive to each actuator processing request cause the responsive internal components of the MF device to function together to perform the requested action.
- MF”
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28. A method for performing a chemical reaction in 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 fluid reagents, wherein the fluid reagents comprise the reactants necessary for the reaction, (b) creating at least one final micro-droplet from the fluid reagents by providing control signals to the MF device, wherein the micro-droplet is positioned at a stable position and comprises the reactants necessary for the reaction, and (c) reacting the micro-droplet.
- MF”
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38. A method for performing a chemical reaction in 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 fluid reagents, wherein the fluid reagents comprise the reactants necessary for the reaction, (b) providing a micro-droplet processing program, wherein a micro-droplet processing program comprises 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, and 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, wherein the micro-droplet processing program provides for the creation of at least one final micro-droplet from the fluid reagents by providing control signals to the MF device, and wherein the micro-droplet is positioned at a stable position and comprises the reactants necessary for the reaction, (c) selecting an indicated micro-droplet processing request from the provided processing program. (d) generating control signals for the selected micro-droplet processing request, 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, (e) repeating the steps of providing a request and generating signals with each micro-droplet processing request until the provided program indicates that no further requests are available for selection, and (f) reacting the micro-droplet by waiting for a time sufficient for occurrence of the reaction or by exciting the final micro-droplet by providing control signals to the MF device, wherein the excitation is sufficient to cause occurrence of the reaction.
- MF”
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39. A data acquisition (“
- DAQ”
)) system 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 system comprising;
(a) programmable digital control circuitry, wherein the digital control circuitry provides control signals to an MF device that is interfaced to the digital control circuitry, and (b) memory accessible to the programmable digital control circuitry comprising stored instructions and data representing 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, wherein execution of the instructions and data causes the programmable control circuitry to generate control signals in a pattern and sequence so that the responsive internal components of an interfaced MF device function together to perform the micro-droplet processing requests in the MF device.
- DAQ”
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49. A data acquisition (“
- DAQ”
)) system 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 system comprising;
(a) programmable digital control circuitry, wherein the digital control circuitry provides control signals to an MF device that is interfaced to the digital control circuitry, and (b) memory accessible to the programmable digital control circuitry comprising stored instructions and data representing (1) actuator processing requests, wherein an actuator processing request specifies performing at least one action physically associated with at least one passage of the MF device, the actuator requests comprising (i) opening or closing a selected controlled passage by internal components acting as a controllable valve, (ii) providing controllable gas pressure in a selected passage by internal components acting as pressure generator, (iii) sensing the presence or absence of a micro-droplets at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor, or (iv) sensing the composition of a micro-droplet at a selected position in a selected passage by internal components acting as a micro-droplet presence sensor, and (II) one or more micro-droplet processing requests, wherein micro-droplet processing requests further comprise one or more actuator 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, wherein execution of the instructions and data causes the programmable control circuitry to generate control signals in a pattern and sequence so that the responsive internal components of an interfaced MF device function together to perform a micro-droplet processing request in the MF device, and wherein the generated pattern and sequence of control signals further comprises sub-patterns and sub-sequences that are responsive to each actuator processing request of the micro-droplet processing request. the sub-pattern and sub-sequence of control signals that is responsive to each actuator processing request causing the responsive internal components of the MF device to function together to perform the requested action.
- DAQ”
Specification