High-density microfluidic chips contain plumbing networks with thousands of micromechanical valves and hundreds of individually addressable chambers. These fluidic devices are analogous to electronic integrated circuits fabricated using large scale integration (LSI). A component of these networks is the fluidic multiplexor, which is a combinatorial array of binary valve patterns that exponentially increases the processing power of a network by allowing complex fluid manipulations with a minimal number of inputs. These integrated microfluidic networks can be used to construct a variety of highly complex microfluidic devices, for example the microfluidic analog of a comparator array, and a microfluidic memory storage device resembling electronic random access memories.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/298/5593/580.full.pdf

Microfluidic large scale integration

The present invention provides a miniaturized integrated nucleic acid diagnostic device and system. The device of the invention is generally capable of performing one or more sample acquisition and preparation operations, in combination with one or more sample analysis operations. For example, the device can integrate several or all of the operations involved in sample acquisition and storage, sample preparation and sample analysis, within a single integrated unit. The device is useful in a variety of applications, and most notably, nucleic acid based diagnostic applications and de novo sequencing applications.

Integrated nucleic acid diagnostic device

The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays. In particular, the devices and methods of the invention are useful in screening large numbers of different compounds for their effects on a variety of chemical, and preferably, biochemical systems.

High throughput screening assay systems in microscale fluidic devices

The present invention provides a miniaturized integrated nucleic acid diagnostic device and system.

Miniaturized genetic analysis systems and methods

The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system. Accordingly, these combinations may allow particles to be sorted, cultured, mixed, treated, and/or assayed, among others, as single particles, mixed groups of particles, arrays of particles, heterogeneous particle sets, and/or homogeneous particle sets, among others, in series and/or in parallel. In addition, these combinations may enable microfluidic systems to be reused. Furthermore, these combinations may allow the response of particles to treatment to be measured on a shorter time scale than was previously possible. Therefore, systems of the invention may allow a broad range of cell and particle assays, such as drug screens, cell characterizations, research studies, and/or clinical analyses, among others, to be scaled down to microfluidic size. Such scaled-down assays may use less sample and reagent, may be less labor intensive, and/or may be more informative than comparable macrofluidic assays.

Microfluidic particle-analysis systems

The present invention generally provides microfluidic devices which incorporate improved channel and reservoir geometries, as well as methods of using these devices in the analysis, preparation, or other manipulation of fluid borne materials, to achieve higher throughputs of such materials through these devices, with lower cost, material and/or space requirements.

Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries

The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure (100) comprising at least a first microscale channel network (114) disposed therein. The body structure (100) has a plurality of ports (106) disposed in the body structure (100), where each port (106) is in fluid communication with one or more channels (114) in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer (200) comprising a plurality of apertures (206) disposed through the cover layer (200). The cover layer (200) is mated with the body structure (100) whereby each of the apertures (206) is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports (106).

Microfluidic devices and systems incorporating cover layers

The present invention provides microfluidic devices and systems (100) that utilize optical detection systems, and where one or more light altering optical elements (106) are integrated into the body structure (102) of the microfluidic device. The resulting devices perform at least a portion of the optical manipulations used in the optical detection method employed.

Microfluidic devices and systems incorporating integrated optical elements

The present invention is generally directed to improved methods, structures and systems for interfacing microfluidic devices with ancillary systems that are used in conjunction with such devices. These systems typically include control and monitoring systems for controlling the performance of the processes carried out within the device, e.g., controlling internal fluid transport and direction, monitoring and controlling environmental conditions and monitoring results of the processes performed, e.g., detection.

Controller/detector interfaces for microfluidic systems

A microfluidic controller and detector system and method for performing screening assays are disclosed. The microfluidic controller and detector system comprises a fluidic chip that includes at least two intersecting channels (104) and a detection zone (140), a fluid direction system comprising an electrical interface configured for electrical contact with the at least two intersecting channels, an optics block having an objective lens disposed adjacent the detection zone, and a control system coupled to the optics block and adapted to receive and analyze data from the optics block. The electrical interface generally includes electrodes configured for electrical contact with the intersecting channels and coupled to electrode channels for supplying electrical input to the electrodes. A reference channel is optionally provided to calibrate the electrode channels.

Colin B. Kennedy

Papers

Microfluidic devices incorporating improved channel geometries

Microfluidic devices and systems incorporating cover layers

Microfluidic devices and systems incorporating integrated optical elements

Controller/detector interfaces for microfluidic systems

Microfluidic controller and detector system with self-calibration