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 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

A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.

Microfabricated elastomeric valve and pump systems

The present invention provides systems, methods, screens, reagents and kits for optical system analysis of cells to rapidly determine the distribution, environment, or activity of fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in cells for the purpose of screening large numbers of compounds for those that specifically affect particular biological functions.

A system for cell-based screening

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

A miniaturized total analysis system ("μ-TAS") comprising a miniaturized planar column device is described for use in liquid phase analysis. The μ-TAS comprises microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. The μ-TAS includes associated laser-ablated features required for integrated sample analysis, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. μ-TAS constructed according to the invention is useful in any analysis system for detecting and analyzing small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic separation means, electrophoretic separation means, electrochromatographic separation means, or combinations thereof.

Fully integrated miniaturized planar liquid sample handling and analysis device

Miniaturized planar column devices (2) are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of support substrates (4). Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection device (34, 36) and fluid communication device (10). Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electromatographic separation device, or any combination thereof.

Miniaturized planar columns in novel support media for liquid phase analysis

Miniaturized planar column devices and miniaturized total analysis systems for liquid phase analysis are disclosed. The systems include a temperature control device for regulating temperature, preferably a thermoelectric device comprising Peltier elements.

Use of temperature control devices in miniaturized planar column devices and miniaturized total analysis systems

Miniaturized planar column devices (2) for use in liquid phase separation apparatus are described. The devices include microstructures that have been fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the methods of the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as on-device reservoirs (16) or makeup flos compartments, analyte detection means and sample injection means. The miniaturized columns can be used in an apparatus intended for analysis of either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase which employs chromatographic electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means. The apparatus can include a variety of optional injection means, manifolds, keeper means, post column collection means, and combinations thereof.

Miniaturized planar columns for use in a liquid phase separation apparatus

Diode array detection (DAD) in capillary electrophoresis (CE) offers similar advantages over single-wavelength detection as it does in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Thus, confirmation of compound identity and establishment of peak purity are critical issues in CE, necessitating sensitive and specific detection. With an optimized optical system, DAD yields sensitivity comparable to that of single or variable wavelength detectors. Sensitivity can be further improved three to five times by use of expanded pathlength capillaries employing the so-called bubble cell. Optimization of optical design, as well as maintenance of spectral fidelity, will be discussed in this work. A variety of applications of CE, and specifically of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC), with emphasis on quantitative analysis, sensitivity, linearity, spectral identification, and peak purity verification will be presented. The use of spectral information for peak tracking in MEKC method development and for the assessment of purity of electrodistorted peaks will also be illustrated.

Patrick Kaltenbach

Papers

Fully integrated miniaturized planar liquid sample handling and analysis device

Miniaturized planar columns in novel support media for liquid phase analysis

Use of temperature control devices in miniaturized planar column devices and miniaturized total analysis systems

Miniaturized planar columns for use in a liquid phase separation apparatus

Diode array detection in capillary electrophoresis.