Systems and methods for thermal actuation of microfluidic devices
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
- a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising a plurality of thermally actuated components, wherein the thermally actuated components comprise at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve, a thermally actuated pump, and a thermally actuated reaction chamber;
a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the valve, pump, and reaction chamber;
and, where the area of each of the heat sources is larger than the area of the thermally actuated component;
whereby the thermally actuated components are spaced apart to enable independent temperature control of each of the thermally actuated components.
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Abstract
A microfluidic processing device includes a substrate defining a microfluidic network. The substrate is in thermal communication with a plurality of N independently controllable components and a plurality of input output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller. Each component has at least two terminals. Each terminal is in electrical communication with at least one contact. The number of contacts required to independently control the N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals. Upon actuation, the components typically heat a portion of the microfluidic network and/or sense a temperature thereof.
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16 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
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a first substrate defining a microfluidic network comprising a plurality of thermally actuated components, wherein the thermally actuated components comprise at least one of each of a thermally actuated valve, a thermally actuated pump, and a thermally actuated reaction chamber; a second substrate defining a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being in thermal communication with a respective one of the valve, pump, and reaction chamber; and, where the area of each of the heat sources is larger than the area of the thermally actuated component; whereby the thermally actuated components are spaced apart to enable independent temperature control of each of the thermally actuated components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification