초록 ▼

The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion wh

The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations. Advantageously, a single control system can thereby control numerous different reactions in numerous different microfluidic devices simply by loading different easily understood micro-droplet programs.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A data acquisition system for controlling the operation of a digital-type micro fluidic device (i) wherein the microfluidic device (i) comprises one or more passages for confining one or more micro-droplets, the passages having one or more stable positions for the micro-drople

What is claimed is: 1. A data acquisition system for controlling the operation of a digital-type micro fluidic device (i) wherein the microfluidic device (i) 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 microfluidic device, the system comprising:(a) programmable digital control circuitry interfaced to the microfluidic device, wherein the digital control circuitry provides control signals to the microfluidic device, and(b) memory accessible to the programmable digital control circuitry comprising stored instructions and data representing 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 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 micro fluidic device, wherein the micro-droplet processing requests comprise at least one of:(i) creating one or more new micro-droplets at selected stable positions,(ii) moving one or more micro-droplets from current stable positions to selected next stable positions,(iii) combining two or more micro-droplets into one or more new micro-droplets at selected stable positions, and(iv) mixing one or more micro-droplets; and wherein the actuator processing requests comprise:(1) providing a gas pressure in a selected passage by causing an internal component configured to heat a gas to generate a gas pressure;(2) determining, utilizing at least one internal component, the presence or absence of a micro-droplet at a selected position; and(3 after determining the presence or absence of the micro-droplet, determining reaction products of one or more components of the microdroplet, if the micro-droplet was determined to be present;wherein execution of the instructions and data causes the programmable digital control circuitry to generate control signals in a pattern and sequence that is responsive to each micro-droplet processing request so that the internal components of the microfluidic device function together to perform the micro-droplet processing requests in the microfluidic device; andthe memory further comprising stored instructions to add a value indicative of microdroplet presence to the memory when the presence of a microdroplet is determined and to add a value indicative of microdroplet absence to the memory when the absence of a microdroplet is determined.