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; and
an array of electrodes operably coupled to the reaction surface and adapted to generate electrical field distributions to impart manipulation forces on at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface in accordance with a selected manipulation protocol.
43 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected number of the at least one packet.
44 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected size of the at least one packet.
45 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected concentration of the at least one packet.
46 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is programmably-selected.
47 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to be selected by a user.
48 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to merge the at least one packet with at least one additional packet.
49 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to perform at least one function selected from mixing or splitting the at least one packet.
50 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to perform reactions on the at least one packet in at least one of in series or in parallel.
51 . The device of claim 42 , wherein each electrode of the array of electrodes is individually addressable.
52 . The device of claim 42 , wherein at least one set of electrodes of the array of electrodes is addressable as a group.
53 . The device of claim 42 , further comprising a capillary in communication with the reaction surface.
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, and
an array of electrodes operably coupled to the reaction surface and adapted to generate electrical field distributions to impart manipulation forces on at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface in accordance with a selected manipulation protocol; and
a controller coupled to the array of electrodes and adapted to address the array of electrodes to generate electrical field distributions and thereby impart manipulation forces on the at least one packet in accordance with the selected manipulation protocol.
56 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected number of the at least one packet.
57 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected size of the at least one packet.
58 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected concentration of the at least one packet.
59 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is programmably-selected.
60 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to be selected by a user.
61 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to merge the at least one packet with at least one additional packet.
62 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to perform at least one function selected from mixing or splitting the at least one packet.
63 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the manipulation protocol is adapted to perform reactions on the at least one packet in at least one of in series or in parallel.
64 . The system of claim 55 , wherein each electrode of the array of electrodes is individually addressable.
65 . The system of claim 55 , wherein at least one set of electrodes of the array of electrodes is addressable as a group.
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 at least one packet is a fluid packet.
68 . 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 on at least one packet disposed proximate the reaction surface in accordance with a selected manipulation protocol; and
generating electrical field distributions by addressing the array of electrodes to impart manipulation forces on the at least one packet in accordance with the selected manipulation protocol.
69 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected number of the at least one packet.
70 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected size of the at least one packet.
71 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to perform a reaction on a selected concentration of the at least one packet.
72 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is programmably-selected.
73 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the selected manipulation protocol is adapted to be selected by a user.
74 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the manipulation protocol comprises merging the at least one packet with at least one additional packet.
75 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the manipulation protocol comprises performing at least one function selected from mixing or splitting the at least one packet.
76 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the manipulation protocol comprises performing reactions on the at least one packet in at least one of in series or in parallel.
77 . The method of claim 68 , wherein each electrode of the array of electrodes is individually addressable.
78 . The method of claim 68 , wherein at least one set of electrodes of the array of electrodes is addressable as a group.
79 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the device further comprises a capillary in communication with the reaction surface.
80 . The method of claim 68 , wherein the at least one packet is a fluid packet.