MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE HAVING A REDUCED NUMBER OF INPUT AND OUTPUT CONNECTIONS
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of N independently controllable components each having at least a first terminal and a second terminal with an external controller, the method comprising:
- sending a first current to a first independently controllable component through a first lead connecting to a plurality of first terminals of a first group of the independently controllable components;
receiving a first current from the first independently controllable component through a second lead connecting to a plurality of second terminals of a second group of independently controllable components, wherein the first current corresponds to heating of the reaction chamber;
sending a second current to a second independently controllable component through a third lead connecting a plurality of first terminals of a third group of independently controllable components; and
,receiving a second current from the second independently controllable component through a fourth lead connecting to a plurality of second terminals of a fourth group of independently controllable components.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. 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. The components are independently controlled by arranging the leads so that each component'"'"'s terminals are connected to a unique combination of contacts.
56 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of N independently controllable components each having at least a first terminal and a second terminal with an external controller, the method comprising:
-
sending a first current to a first independently controllable component through a first lead connecting to a plurality of first terminals of a first group of the independently controllable components; receiving a first current from the first independently controllable component through a second lead connecting to a plurality of second terminals of a second group of independently controllable components, wherein the first current corresponds to heating of the reaction chamber; sending a second current to a second independently controllable component through a third lead connecting a plurality of first terminals of a third group of independently controllable components; and
,receiving a second current from the second independently controllable component through a fourth lead connecting to a plurality of second terminals of a fourth group of independently controllable components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system configured to perform operations on a microdroplet, the system comprising:
-
a microfluidic device comprising; a plurality of N independently controllable components each including a first terminal and a second terminal; a plurality of leads, wherein each lead connects to two or more terminals which are each associated with a unique independently controllable component; and
,a reaction chamber; and
,a controller comprising stored instructions to control the operation of the independently controllable components, wherein the stored instruction comprise sending a current to a first independently controllable component corresponding to heating the reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification