Method and Apparatus for Programmable Fluidic Processing
A method and apparatus for microfluidic processing by programmably manipulating a packet. A material is introduced onto a reaction surface and compartmentalized to form a packet. A position of the packet is sensed with a position sensor. A programmable manipulation force is applied to the packet at the position. The programmable manipulation force is adjustable according to packet position by a controller. The packet is programmably moved according to the programmable manipulation force along arbitrarily chosen paths.
1 - 41 . (canceled)
42 . A device to manipulate at least one packet, comprising:
a reaction surface;
an array of electrodes operably coupled to the reaction surface and adapted to generate electrical field distributions to impart manipulation forces to move at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface to different positions about the reaction surface; and
at least one position sensor configured to monitor a position of the at least one packet.
43 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the at least one position sensor comprises a plurality of position sensors.
44 . The device of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of position sensors are adapted to track the position of the at least one packet.
45 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the at least one position sensor is separate from the array of electrodes.
46 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the reaction surface is an integrated circuit.
47 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the array of electrodes is a two dimensional array of electrodes.
48 . The device of claim 42 , further comprising at least one of a dielectric coating or a hydrophobic coating covering the array of electrodes.
49 . The device of claim 42 , further comprising a partitioning medium in which the at least one packet can be suspended.
50 . The device of claim 42 , further comprising a fluidic sensor to measure an additional property of the at least one packet.
51 . The device of claim 50 , wherein the fluidic sensor comprises at least one of an optical microscope, a chemical sensor, an electrochemical sensor, an electrical sensor, or an optical sensor.
52 . The device of claim 42 , further comprising a capillary in communication with the reaction surface.
53 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the array of electrodes is adapted to adjust the manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet as monitored by the at least one position sensor.
54 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the at least one packet is a fluid packet.
55 . A system to manipulate at least one packet, comprising:
a device comprising
a reaction surface,
an array of electrodes operably coupled to the reaction surface and adapted to generate electrical field distributions to impart manipulation forces to move at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface to different positions about the reaction surface, and
at least one position sensor configured to monitor a position of the at least one packet; and
a controller coupled to the array of electrodes and the at least one position sensor, the controller adapted to address the array of electrodes to generate the electrical field distributions and thereby impart the manipulation forces on the at least one packet to move the at least one packet to different positions about the reaction surface.
56 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the at least one position sensor comprises a plurality of position sensors.
57 . The system of claim 56 , wherein the plurality of position sensors are adapted to track the position of the at least one packet.
58 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the at least one position sensor is separate from the array of electrodes.
59 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the at least one packet is a fluid packet.
60 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the reaction surface is an integrated circuit
61 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the array of electrodes is a two dimensional array of electrodes.
62 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the device further comprises at least one of a dielectric coating or a hydrophobic coating covering the array of electrodes.
63 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the device further comprises a partitioning medium in which the at least one packet can be suspended.
64 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the device further comprises a fluidic sensor to measure an additional property of the at least one packet.
65 . The system of claim 64 , wherein the fluidic sensor comprises at least one of an optical microscope, a chemical sensor, an electrochemical sensor, an electrical sensor, or an optical sensor.
66 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the device further comprises a capillary in communication with the reaction surface.
67 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet as monitored by the at least one position sensor.
68 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the controller is adapted to adjust manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet to achieve movement of the at least one packet along a desired path.
69 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the controller is adapted to adjust manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet to merge the at least one packet with at least one additional packet.
70 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the controller is adapted to adjust manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet to perform at least one function selected from mixing or splitting the at least one packet.
71 . A method to manipulate at least one packet, comprising:
providing a device comprising
a reaction surface, and
an array of electrodes operably coupled to the reaction surface and adapted to generate electrical field distributions to impart manipulation forces to move at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface to different positions about the reaction surface;
disposing at least one packet proximate the reaction surface;
generating electrical field distributions by addressing the array of electrodes to impart manipulation forces on the at least one packet to move the at least one packet to different positions about the reaction surface; and
monitoring a position of the at least one packet about the reaction surface.
72 . The method of claim 71 , wherein monitoring the position includes providing at least one position sensor and monitoring the position of the at least one packet by the at least one position sensor.
73 . The method of claim 72 , wherein the at least one position sensor comprises a plurality of position sensors.
74 . The method of claim 73 , wherein monitoring the position comprises tracking the position of the at least one packet by the plurality of position sensors.
75 . The method of claim 72 , wherein the at least one position sensor is separate from the array of electrodes.
76 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the reaction surface is an integrated circuit
77 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the array of electrodes is a two dimensional array of electrodes.
78 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the device further comprises a partitioning medium in which the at least one packet can be suspended.
79 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the device further comprises a fluidic sensor to measure an additional property of the at least one packet.
80 . The method of claim 79 , wherein the fluidic sensor comprises at least one of an optical microscope, a chemical sensor, an electrochemical sensor, an electrical sensor, or an optical sensor.
81 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the device further comprises a capillary in communication with the reaction surface.
82 . The method of claim 71 , further comprising adjusting the manipulation forces based on the position of the at least one packet as monitored by the at least one position sensor.
83 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the at least one packet is a fluid packet.