Self-powered microfluidic devices, methods and systems

1. A self-powered microfluidic device comprising:

an arrangement of microfluidic channels wherein one or more reagents are adapted to flow; and

a pressure source to pump the reagents through the microfluidic channels, the pressure source comprising:

a reservoir containing a substance adapted to generate a pressure-generating reaction product;

a trigger, associated with the reservoir, adapted to react with the substance to produce the pressure-generating reaction product;

wherein the trigger comprises a pin, and wherein the pin contains a catalyst to generate the reaction product,

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir, adapted to host the substance upon production of the pressure-generating reaction product, wherein the fluid communication between the buffer chamber and the reservoir is a channel; and

a reagent chamber containing the one or more reagents, the chamber connected between the pressure source and the arrangement of microfluidic channels.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the substance is hydrogen peroxide and the pressure-generating reaction product is oxygen.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of microfluidic channels is a microfluidic assay for separation of plasma from whole blood.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is Pt or Ag.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the pin is measured in the range of 0.6-0.8 mm.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a channel between the reservoir and the buffer chamber.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a channel between the reservoir and the reagent chamber.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a channel between the reservoir and the buffer chamber, and a channel between the reservoir and the reagent chamber.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a smaller diameter than the reservoir.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the channel connects the bottom of the reservoir with the buffer chamber.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , the pin is configured so that more of the pin is exposed to the reaction product when the reservoir contains more reaction product.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the pin extends into the reservoir from the top of the reservoir.