Actuator for deformable valves in a microfluidic device, and method

1. In combination:

a microfluidic device including a substrate, a first surface, and a plurality of fluid pathways, each pathway including at least one deformable portion:

a plurality of deforming blades, each deforming blade including a blade tip end and an opposite end: and

a pivotable actuator, the pivotable actuator including a presser member capable of pivoting about an axis of rotation to actuate the plurality of deforming blades to contact or separate from contact with to microfluidic device:

wherein the plurality of deforming blade tip ends are each spaced a first distance from one or more adjacent blade tip ends, and each of the plurality of deformable portions is spaced the first distance from one or more adjacent deformable portions of one or more adjacent pathways of the plurality of the pathways, wherein the microfluidic device includes a plurality of sample wells in selective fluid communication with the fluid pathways formed in the substrate, and the deformable portion of each pathway is selectively capable upon activation by the at least one of the plurality of deforming blade tip ends of controlling fluid movement through the respective pathway.

2. In combination:

a microfluidic device including a substrate, a first surface, and a plurality of fluid pathways, each pathway including at least one deformable portion:

a plurality of deforming blades, each deforming blade including a blade tip end and an opposite end, wherein the respective opposite ends of the plurality of blade tips are separated from one another and each is seperately movable relative to the other opposite ends; and

a pivotable actuator, the pivotable actuator including a presser member capable of pivoting about an axis of rotation to actuate the plurality of deforming blades to contact or separate from contact with to microfluidic device:

wherein the plurality of deforming blade tip ends are each spaced a first distance from one or more adjacent blade tip ends, and each of the plurality of deformable portions is spaced the first distance from one or more adjacent deformable portions of one or more adjacent pathways of the plurality of the pathways, wherein the plurality of blade tips are arranged adjacent one another in a cartridge.

3. The combination of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge comprises a biasing device that maintains the blade tips in a retracted position.

4. The combination of claim 3 where the biasing includes a plurality of springs.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein the presser member includes a roller, the plurality of blade tips are arranged in a linear array in the cartridge, and the opposite ends of the respective blades tips in the cartridge to be capable of being actuated by the roller.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the roller is cylindrical.

7. A deforming system comprising:

a cartridge;

a plurality of deforming blades arranged adjacent one another in the cartridge, each deforming blade including a blade tip and an opposite end; and

a presser member pivotable about an axis of rotation and arranged with respect to the cartridge each that upon pivoting about the axis of rotation the presser member is capable of contacting the opposite ends of the plurality of deforming blades to actuate the plurality of the deforming blades to contact or separate from contact with one or more adjacent pathways of a plurality of pathways in a microfluidic device.

8. The deforming system of claim 7 , wherein the cartridge includes a biasing device to normally maintain the plurality of deforming blades in respective retracted positions, the presser member includes a roller, and the cartridge includes a track for guiding the roller into contact with the respective opposite ends of the deforming blades.

9. The deforming system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of deforming blades includes a plurality of hole-punches.

10. A method of processing a microfluidic device, comprising:

providing a microfluidic device that includes a plurality of pathways, each of the pathways comprising a respective deformable portion;

providing a deforming assembly adjacent a surface of the microfluidic device, the deforming assembly including a plurality of deforming blades arranged adjacent one another in a cartridge, and a presser member that includes a roller, wherein each deforming blade includes a blade tip and an opposite end opposite the blade tip, and the opposite ends of the respective blade tips are arranged in the cartridge in positions whereby the opposite ends are capable of being actuated by the roller, and

rolling the roller against the opposite ends arranged in the cartridge with a force sufficient to cause the plurality of blade tips to contact and deform the deformable portions of one or more adjacent pathways of the plurality of pathways.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of blade tips are spaced a first distance apart from one another, and the plurality of deformable portions are spaced the first distance apart from one another.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the microfluidic device includes a plurality of fluid flow pathways and each of the plurality of deformable portions at least partially defines a respective one of the pathways.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of deformable portions comprises a respective intermediate wall along a respective pathway of the plurality of pathways.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes permanently deforming each of the plurality deformable portions.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the microfluidic device includes an elastically deformable cover layer and a substrate, and the substrate includes the plurality of deformable portions.

16. In combination:

a microfluidic device including a substrate, a first surface, and a plurality of fluid pathways, each pathway including at least one deformable portion;

a plurality of deforming blades, each deforming blade including a blade tip end having a blade tip, and an opposite end, wherein the respective opposite ends of the plurality of deforming blades are separate from one another and each is separately movable relative to the other opposite ends, wherein the plurality of blade tip ends are arranged adjacent one another in a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a biasing device including a plurality of springs, the biasing device maintaining the blade tip ends in a retracted position;

a pivotable actuator, the pivotable actuator including a presser member capable of pivoting about an axis of rotation to actuate the plurality of deforming blades to contact or separate from contact with the microfluidic device;

wherein the plurality of deforming blade tip ends are each spaced a first distance from one or more adjacent blade tip ends, and the plurality of deformable portions are each spaced the first distance from one or more adjacent deformable portions.

17. A deforming system comprising:

a cartridge, the cartridge including a biasing device;

a plurality of deforming blades arranged adjacent one another in the cartridge, each deforming blade including a blade tip and an opposite end, the biasing device normally maintaining the plurality of deforming blades in respective retracted positions; and

a presser member, the presser member including a roller and being pivotable about an axis of rotation and arranged with respect to the cartridge such that upon pivoting about the axis of rotation the presser member is capable of contacting the opposite ends of the plurality of deforming blades to actuate the plurality of the deforming blades, wherein the cartridge includes a track for guiding the roller into contact with the respective opposite ends of the deforming blades.