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.

Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices

Wide angle, limited rotation, micro-lens scanning of DNA arrays, microscope slides, biological materials, etc., translated beneath the arc path of a micro-lens (18). Micro-lens (18), on low moment of inertia oscillating arm (19), while light source (24), detector (10, 95), and supplementary lenses (18b, 27) are stationary, achieve rapid, wide angle pixel-based microscopy. Aspheric micro-lenses achieve high N.A.. The preferred stationary light path extends to the axis of rotation (A) in plane parallel to the scan plane, at a substantial angle to the neutral position of arm (19). With arm position detected, the pixel data acquired from limited arc scans is converted by interpolation and timing to raster format. Dithered deflection of the light path upon the micro-lens (18) can straighten the scans. Auto focus raising and lowering stage (50) by actuator (44), while object (2) translates, enables rapid, wide range confocal microscopy. Transmission, reflection and fluorescence detection microscopes are shown.

Wide field of view and high speed scanning microscopy

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.

Integrated Apparatus for Performing Nucleic Acid Extraction and Diagnostic Testing on Multiple Biological Samples

The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.

Confocal imaging methods and apparatus

This patent application describes an integrated apparatus for processing polynucleotide-containing samples, and for providing a diagnostic result thereon. The apparatus is configured to receive a microfluidic cartridge that contains reagents and a network for processing a sample. Also described are methods of using the apparatus.

Integrated system for processing microfluidic samples, and method of using same

An LED point imaging scanner for stimulating and reading fluorescent and reflective signal radiation from a target sample (10) is disclosed. LED light source (12) is mounted on scan head (20) and focused into pinhole aperture (15) of spatial filter (30), then collimated and focused to a spot (17) on sample (10). The spatial filter, or an optical fiber equivalent, effectively restricts the incoherent LED light and creates a point light source. Signal radiation from sample (10) is collected through scan head (20) and the returning light beam is collimated and focused onto detection means (40). A spatial filter (22) in the path of the returning beam may also be utilized. Detection means (40) is either a small detector directly mounted onto the scan head, or an end of an optical fiber which transmits the point image to a remotely-positioned stationary detector. The scan head is moved along one or two axes relative to the sample.

Robert C. Kain

Papers

LED point scanning system

Led-system zur punktweisen abtastung