Microfabricated elastomeric valve and pump systems
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
1. The method of using a microfluidic device, comprising:
flowing a sample into a looped channel of the microfluidic device;
pumping the sample around the loop channel with a peristaltic action, wherein the peristaltic action comprises sequential activation of a series of individually addressable valves arranged along the looped channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of individually addressable valves comprise three valves.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the three valves is an intersection of an individually addressable control line over the looped channel.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the activation of the three valves corresponds to a successive “101, 100, 110, 010, 011, 001” pattern.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device is an elastomeric device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumping passes the sample over a DNA array.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pumping mixes a sample.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises a sorting apparatus.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising cell sorting on the microfluidic device.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the microfluidic device comprises a cell pen or cell cage.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises a cell pen.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising storing a cell in the cell pen.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises a cell cage.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing a cell in the cell cage.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a continuous intake of food and expulsion of wastes to maintain cell viability.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising disrupting cells in the microfluidic device.