Analytical system and method

• US 6,399,023 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1996
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caliper Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caliper Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Chow, Calvin Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAK, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/691,632
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/56, 422/57, 422/58, 422/50, 422/52, 422/54, 422/55, 422/67, 422/68.1, 422/82.05, 422/82.09, 422/88, 422/91, 422/81, 422/104, 422/99, 422/100, 422/103, 436/165, 436/178, 436/171, 436/101, 436/170, 436/43, 436/44, 436/52, 436/164, 436/174, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/81
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• 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 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An analytical system comprised as a base unit, an adapter, and a sample substrate. The adapter is attached to an attachment region on the base unit, and the sample substrate is attached to an attachment region on the adapter. The adapter permits the base unit to be interfaced with a wide variety of different sample substrates to perform chemical and biological analytical analyses.

Claims

1. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region on the base unit and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to the sample substrate attachment region, wherein the sample substrate has disposed therein a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs;

wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and one or more of at least one of die plurality of mesoscale channels and at least one of the plurality of reservoirs of the sample substrate, through the adapter.

2. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors.

3. An analytical system as in claim 2, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

4. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor.

5. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the base interface array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter.

6. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

7. An analytical system as in claim 6, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

8. An analytical system as in claim 6, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

9. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration.

10. An analytical system as in claim 9, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

11. An analytical system as in claim 9, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

12. An analytical system as in claim 2, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

13. An analytical system as in claim 12, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

14. An analytical system as in claim 13, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

15. An analytical system as in claim 1, wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate.

16. An analytical system as in claim 15, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.

17. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

a sample substrate having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component therein; and

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region of the base unit and having an attachment region to removably receive the sample substrate, wherein the adapter holds the sample substrate in a fixed position relative to the base unit and provides at least one of (i) a connection path from the interface component in the base interface array to the substrate or (ii) a connection path from the interface component in the sample substrate array to the base unit;

wherein the adapter includes an energy distribution network, wherein the interface component in the base interface array is an energy source, and wherein the sample substrate array comprises a plurality of energy connectors which couple to the energy distribution network in the adapter and wherein when the system is assembled energy is transferred between the base unit and the sample substrate through the energy distribution network in the adapter.

18. An analytical system as in claim 17, wherein the base interface array includes an energy emission detector, wherein the sample substrate array includes an energy transmission region, and wherein the adapter aligns the energy emission detector with the energy transmission region when the adapter is mounted on the attachment region of the base unit and the sample substrate is mounted on the attachment region of the adapter.

19. A method for configuring an analytical system, said method comprising:

providing a base unit having an attachment region including at least one interface component therein;

removably attaching an adapter to the attachment region of the base unit so that an interface component on the adapter mates with a corresponding interface component on the base unit, wherein the adapter includes a sample substrate attachment region having at least one interface component therein; and

removably attaching a sample substrate to the sample substrate attachment region on the adapter so that an interface component on the sample substrate mates with a corresponding interface component on the adapter;

wherein the sample substrate has a plurality of channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and flow biasing regions, positioned at at least some of the reservoirs or channels and wherein when the system is assembled the interface component on the base region is connected to the interface component on the sample substrate through the adapter.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the adapter is removably attached to the base unit by placing the adapter within a receptacle in the base unit.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein the sample substrate is removably attached to the adapter by placing the sample substrate within a receptacle in the adapter.

22. A method as in claim 19, further comprising:

directing flow control signals from the base unit to the adapter; and

energizing flow biasing regions the adapter in response to the flow control signals, whereby corresponding flow biasing regions on the substrate are energized to control flow through the channels and among the reservoirs.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the energizing step comprises electrically biasing the flow biasing regions.

24. A method as in claim 22, wherein the energizing step comprises acoustically driving the flow biasing regions.

25. A method as in claim 19, wherein the adapter further comprises at least an electromagnetic radiation source, said method further comprising directing an electromagnetic radiation source control signal from the base unit to the adapter.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the adapter further comprises an electromagnetic radiation detector, said method further comprising generating a signal in the adapter in response to radiation emitted from the substrate and directing said signal to the base unit.

27. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region of the base unit and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to the sample substrate attachment region, wherein the sample substrate has a top side, a bottom side, and an interior region therebetween, wherein the interior region has a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs;

wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and the sample substrate through the adapter.

28. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors.

29. An analytical system as in claim 28, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

30. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor.

31. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the base interface array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter.

32. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

33. An analytical system as in claim 32, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

34. An analytical system as in claim 32, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

35. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the sample substrate has a top side, a bottom side, and an interior region therebetween, wherein the interior region has a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration.

36. An analytical system as in claim 35, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

37. An analytical system as in claim 35, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

38. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

39. An analytical system as in claim 38, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

40. An analytical system as in claim 39, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

41. An analytical system as in claim 27, wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate.

42. An analytical system as in claim 41, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.

43. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

a sample substrate comprising a top side, a bottom side, and an interior region therebetween, wherein the interior region has a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs, the sample substrate having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component therein; and

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region of the base unit and having an attachment region to removably receive the sample substrate, wherein the adapter holds the sample substrate in a fixed position relative to the base unit and provides at least one of (i) a connection path from the interface component in the base interface array to at least one of the plurality of mesoscale channels or at least one of the plurality of reservoirs of the substrate of (ii) a connection path from the interface component in the sample substrate array to the base unit;

wherein the base interface array includes an energy emission detector, wherein the sample substrate array includes and energy transmission region, and wherein the adapter aligns the energy emission detector with the energy transmission region when the adapter is mounted on the attachment region of the base unit and the sample substrate is mounted on the attachment region of the adapter and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and the sample substrate through the adapter.

44. An analytical system as in claim 43, wherein the adapter includes an energy distribution network, wherein the interface component in the base interface array is an energy source, and wherein the sample substrate array comprises a plurality of energy connectors which couple to the energy distribution network in the adapter.

45. A method for configuring an analytical system, said method comprising:

providing a base unit having an attachment region including at least one interface component therein;

removably attaching an adapter to the attachment region of the base unit so that an interface component on the adapter mates with a corresponding interface component on the base unit, wherein the adapter includes a sample substrate attachment region having at least one interface component therein; and

removably attaching a sample substrate to the sample substrate attachment region on the adapter so that an interface component on the sample substrate mates with a corresponding interface component on the adapter wherein the sample substrate has a plurality of channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and flow biasing regions, positioned at at least some of the reservoirs or channels;

wherein the adapter further comprises at least an electromagnetic radiation source, said method further comprising directing an electromagnetic radiation source control signal from the base unit to the adapter.

46. A method as in claim 45, wherein the adapter is removably attached to the base unit by placing the adapter within a receptacle in the base unit.

47. A method as in claim 45, wherein the sample substrate is removably attached to the adapter by placing the sample substrate within a receptacle in the adapter.

48. A method as in claim 45, further comprising:

directing flow control signals from the base unit to the adapter; and

energizing flow biasing regions the adapter in response to the flow control signals, whereby corresponding flow biasing regions on the substrate are energized to control flow through the channels and among the reservoirs.

49. A method as in claim 48, wherein the energizing step comprises electrically biasing the flow biasing regions.

50. A method as in claim 49, wherein the energizing step comprises acoustically driving the flow biasing regions.

51. A method as in claim 45, wherein the adapter further comprises an electromagnetic radiation detector, said method further comprising generating a signal in the adapter in response to radiation emitted from the substrate and directing said signal to the base unit.

52. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region of the base unit and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate, the sample substrate having disposed therein a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs, the sample substrate being configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to die sample substrate attachment region, wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and at least one of the plurality of mesoscale channels or at least one of the plurality of reservoirs in the sample substrate, through the adapter.

53. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors.

54. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors.

55. An analytical system as in claim 53, or 54, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

56. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the base interface array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter.

57. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

58. An analytical system as in claim 57, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

59. An analytical system as in claim 57, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

60. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration.

61. An analytical system as in claim 60, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

62. An analytical system as in claim 60, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

63. An analytical system as in claim 60, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

64. An analytical system as in claim 63, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

65. An analytical system as in claim 64, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

66. An analytical system as in claim 52, wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate.

67. An analytical system as in claim 66, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.

68. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region of the base unit and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate, the sample substrate having disposed therein a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and being configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to the sample substrate attachment region;

wherein the base interface array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and at least one of the plurality of mesoscale channels or at least one of the plurality of reservoirs in the sample substrate through the adapter.

69. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors.

70. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors.

71. An analytical system as in claim 69, or 70, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

72. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor.

73. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

74. An analytical system as in claim 73, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

75. An analytical system as in claim 73, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

76. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration.

77. An analytical system as in claim 76, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

78. An analytical system as in claim 76, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

79. An analytical system as in claim 70, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

80. An analytical system as in claim 79, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

81. An analytical system as in claim 80, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

82. An analytical system as in claim 68, wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate.

83. An analytical system as in claim 82, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.

84. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to the sample substrate attachment region;

wherein the sample substrate has a top side, a bottom side, and an interior region therebetween, wherein the interior region has a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and the sample substrate through the adapter.

85. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors.

86. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors.

87. An analytical system as in claim 85, or 86, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

88. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor.

89. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the base interface array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter.

90. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

91. An analytical system as in claim 90, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

92. An analytical system as in claim 90, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

93. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

94. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

95. An analytical system as in claim 86, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

96. An analytical system as in claim 95, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

97. An analytical system as in claim 96, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

98. An analytical system as in claim 84, wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate.

99. An analytical system as in claim 98, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.

100. An analytical system comprising:

a base unit having an attachment region with a base interface array including at least one interface component therein;

an adapter configured to be removably attached to the attachment region and having an adapter-base interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the base interface array when the adapter is attached to the attachment region, a sample substrate attachment region, and an adapter-sample substrate interface array having at least one interface component therein; and

a sample substrate, the sample substrate having disposed therein a plurality of mesoscale channels connecting a plurality of reservoirs and being configured to be removably attached to the sample substrate attachment region of the adapter and having a sample substrate interface array including at least one interface component disposed to mate with a corresponding interface component in the adapter-sample substrate interface array when the sample substrate is attached to the sample substrate attachment region;

wherein the attachment region on the adapter comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the adapter, said receptacle having peripheral dimensions which correspond to outer peripheral dimensions of the sample substrate and wherein when the system is assembled the adapter is connected between the attachment region on the base unit and the sample substrate interface array on the sample substrate so that power, signal, or energy will be transferred between the base unit and at least one of the plurality of mesoscale channels or at least one of the plurality of reservoirs in the sample substrate through the adapter.

101. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the base interface array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, electrical/electrochemical signal detectors, pH detectors and energy emission detectors.

102. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the adapter-sample substrate array includes at least one interface component selected from the group consisting of electrical power sources, analog signal connectors, digital signal connectors, energy transmission sources, pH detectors, energy emission detectors, and electrical/electrochemical signal detectors.

103. An analytical system as in claim 101, or 102, wherein the energy transmission sources are selected from the group consisting of light sources, acoustic energy sources, heat sources, cooling sources, and pressure sources.

104. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the base unit comprises a digital processor.

105. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the base inter face array comprises at least electrical power electrodes disposed to mate with electrical power electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter and at least electrical signal electrodes disposed to mate with electrical signal electrodes on the adapter-base interface array of the adapter, wherein said power electrodes provide electrical power to the adapter and said signal electrodes provide data transmission between the base unit and the adapter.

106. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the attachment region on the base unit comprises a receptacle formed in a surface of the base unit.

107. An analytical system as in claim 106, wherein the receptacle has peripheral dimensions which mate with the adapter.

108. An analytical system as in claim 106, further comprising a latch on the base unit for securing the adapter within the receptacle.

109. An analytical system as in claim 100, wherein the flow biasing elements comprise electrode terminals exposed on an exterior surface of the substrate and/or access points on the substrate which permit probe penetration.

110. An analytical system as in claim 109, wherein the sample substrate has openings over at least some of the reservoirs to permit direct penetration by probes in the adapter-substrate interface array.

111. An analytical system as in claim 109, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes a multiplicity of electrodes disposed in a pattern to mate with the exposed electrode terminals on the substrate.

112. An analytical system as in claim 102, wherein the adapter-sample substrate interface array includes at least one additional interface component.

113. An analytical system as in claim 112, wherein the additional component comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and wherein the substrate includes a region transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transparent region is aligned with the source when said substrate is attached within the substrate attachment region on the adapter.

114. An analytical system as in claim 113, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed within the adapter-sample substrate interface array so that it will receive emitted radiation from the transparent region when the substrate is attached within the attachment region.

115. An analytical system as in claim 100, further comprising a latch on the adapter for securing the sample substrate within the receptacle.