MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES HAVING A REDUCED NUMBER OF INPUT AND OUTPUT CONNECTIONS

• US 20100158754A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: HandyLab Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Ganesan, Karthik
• Granted Patent: US 8,043,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/62
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/02 Adapting objects or devices to another
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/02 Identification, exchange or storage of information
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0442 thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0677 phase change valves; Meltable, freezing, dissolvable plugs; Destructible barriers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A system and method for reducing the number of input/output connections required to connect a microfluidic substrate to an external controller for controlling the substrate. In one example, a microfluidic processing device is fabricated on a substrate having a plurality of N independently controllable components, (e.g., a resistive heating elements) each having at least two terminals. The substrate includes a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller, and a plurality of leads for connecting the contacts to the terminals of the components. The leads are arranged to allow the external controller to supply control signals to the terminals of the components via the contacts using substantially fewer contacts than the total number of component terminals. For example, in one embodiment, each lead connects a corresponding contact to a plurality of terminals to allow the controller to supply to signals to the terminals without requiring a separate contact for each terminal. However, to assure that the components can each be controlled independently of the others, the leads are also arranged so that each component'"'"'s terminals are connected to a unique combination of contacts. Thus, the external controller can activate a selected component by supplying control signals to the combination of contacts uniquely associated with that component.

Claims

1. A microfluidic processing device, comprising:

a substrate comprising a plurality of N independently controllable components each having at least two terminals, wherein said components are optically monitored;

a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting said substrate to an external controller, and a

plurality of leads for connecting said contacts to said terminals whereby the number of contacts required to independently control said N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals without requiring a separate lead for each said terminal, and wherein said controller can thereby control each said component independently of each other component.

2. A microfluidic processing device, comprising:

a substrate comprising a plurality of N independently controllable components each having at least two terminals;

a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting said substrate to an external controller, wherein said contacts include features to enable connection to said substrate with flexible ribbon cable, multi-pin socket, or fiber-optic cable; and

a

plurality of leads for connecting said contacts to said terminals whereby the number of contacts required to independently control said N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals without requiring a separate lead for each said terminal, and wherein said controller can thereby control each said component independently of each other component.

3. A microfluidic processing device, comprising:

a substrate comprising a plurality of N independently controllable components each having at least two terminals;

a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting said substrate to an external controller, and a

plurality of leads for connecting said contacts to said terminals whereby the number of contacts required to independently control said N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals without requiring a separate lead for each said terminal, wherein the terminals of each of said N independently controllable components are attached to a unique combination of leads, and wherein said controller can thereby control each said component independently of each other component.