Moving microdroplets in a microfluidic device

1. A system, comprising:

a microfluidic device;

a computer-controlled heat source; and

a detector;

wherein the microfluidic device comprises:

an upstream channel;

a DNA manipulation module located downstream from the upstream channel;

a DNA manipulation zone within the DNA manipulation module and configured to perform PCR amplification of a sample;

a first valve disposed within the DNA manipulation module upstream of the DNA manipulation zone;

a second valve disposed within the DNA manipulation module downstream of the DNA manipulation zone; and

a vent disposed within the DNA manipulation module and separated from the upstream channel by the first and second valves;

a controller programmed to close the first and second valves to prevent gas and liquid from flowing into or out of the DNA manipulation zone when amplification of the sample occurs, wherein the only ingress to and egress from the DNA manipulation zone is through the first and second valves, and wherein the computer-controlled heat source is in thermal contact with the DNA manipulation zone; and

wherein the detector is configured to identify one or more polynucleotides within the DNA manipulation zone.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the DNA manipulation zone is configured to receive a microdroplet of lysed cell sample and reagent fluid from the upstream channel.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 2 , wherein the microfluidic device is configured to subject the lysed cell sample and reagent fluid to a polymerase chain reaction thereby providing amplified polynucleotides.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 3 , wherein the detector comprises a light source configured to introduce light to the DNA manipulation zone, the light selected to generate fluorescence indicative of the amount of amplified polynucleotides present therein.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the detector is an optical detector in optical communication with the DNA manipulation zone.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the vent is configured to prevent pressure from increasing within the DNA manipulation zone.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the computer-controlled heat source is configured to control thermal cycling of the DNA manipulation zone.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 2 further comprising an actuator configured to move a microdroplet of lysed cell sample into the DNA manipulation zone.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a gas actuator, and the device is configured to move the lysed cell sample and reagent fluid from the upstream channel to the DNA manipulation zone by opening the first valve and actuating the gas actuator to thereby increase a gas pressure within the upstream channel relative to a gas pressure within the DNA manipulation zone.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a gas actuator, and the device is configured to move the lysed cell sample and reagent fluid from the upstream channel to the DNA manipulation zone by opening the first valve and actuating the gas actuator to thereby decrease a gas pressure within the DNA manipulation zone relative to a gas pressure within the upstream channel.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second valves comprise a thermally responsive substance.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 11 , wherein the first and second valves are thermally actuated.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second valves are reversible between an open and a closed state.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 13 , wherein the first and second valves are configured, when in the closed state, to prevent gas and liquid within the DNA manipulation zone from entering or exiting the DNA manipulation zone.

15. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a lower substrate and an upper substrate, and the DNA manipulation zone, first and second valves, and vent are integral with the upper substrate.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 15 , wherein the computer-controlled heat source comprises a plurality of resistive heaters.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 16 , wherein the lower substrate has a glass base and an oxide layer, wherein the oxide layer contains the plurality of resistive heaters, and wherein the upper substrate has a bottom surface bonded to the oxide layer on the lower substrate.

18. A device, comprising:

a microfluidic process module;

a computer-controlled heat source; and

a detector;

wherein the microfluidic process module comprises:

a zone configured to receive a sample and perform amplification of the sample;

a first valve upstream of the zone;

a second valve downstream of the zone; and

a vent separated from the first valve by the second valve;

a controller programmed to close the first and second valves to prevent gas and liquid from flowing into or out of the zone when amplification of the sample occurs in the zone, wherein the only ingress to and egress from the zone is through the first and second valves;

wherein the computer-controlled heat source is in thermal contact with the zone; and

wherein the detector is configured to identify one or more polynucleotides within the zone.

19. A system, comprising:

a microfluidic device;

a computer-controlled heat source; and

a detector;

wherein the microfluidic device comprises:

an upstream channel;

a DNA manipulation zone located downstream from the upstream channel and configured to perform PCR amplification of a sample;

a first valve disposed upstream of the DNA manipulation zone; and

a second valve disposed downstream of the DNA manipulation zone;

a controller programmed to close the first and second valves to prevent gas and liquid from flowing into or out of the DNA manipulation zone and to isolate and confine the sample to a region between the first and second valves accessible to the detector, wherein the only ingress to and egress from the region accessible to the detector is through the first and second valves; and

wherein the computer-controlled heat source is in thermal contact with the DNA manipulation zone and wherein the detector is configured to identify one or more polynucleotides within the DNA manipulation zone.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first and second valves comprise a thermally responsive substance.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first and second valves are thermally actuated.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first and second valves are reversible between an open and a closed state.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first and second valves comprise a thermally responsive substance.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first and second valves are thermally actuated.

25. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first and second valves are reversible between an open and a closed state.