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Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices

  • US 7,010,391 B2
  • Filed: 03/28/2001
  • Issued: 03/07/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling the operation of a digital-type microfluidic (“

  • MF”

    ) device (i) wherein an ME 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, each provided micro-droplet processing request comprising two or more actuator processing requests, each specifying performing at least one action associated with at least one passage of the ME device, the micro-droplet processing requests comprising at least one of;

    (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-dropletsthe actuator processing requests comprising;

    (i) providing a gas pressure in a selected passage by an internal component configured to heat a gas to generate a gas pressure;

    (ii) determining, utilizing at least one internal component, the presence or absence of a micro-droplet at a selected position;

    (iii) after determining the presence or absence of the microdroplet, determining reaction products of one or more components of the microdroplet, if the microdroplet was determined to be present; 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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