Apparatus and methods for performing microfluidic-based biochemical assays

1. A microfluidic device for performing microfluidic-based biochemical assays comprising:

a microfluidic feature comprising a reservoir configured to contain a fluid; and

an alignment feature for positioning and for attaching a sensor device, wherein the alignment feature is not in physical contact with the microfluidic feature;

a sensor device comprising a sensor interface comprising a porous member configured to control one or more flows, and wherein the sensor device is configured to communicate with the fluid wherein the sensor device comprises an optical device comprising a resonator configured to detect an optical property using the resonator; and

a microfluidic environment comprising:

a bubble trap fluidically connected to the microfluidic feature; and

a flow component fluidically connected to the microfluidic feature, wherein the flow component is configured to flow the fluid through the sensor device, and wherein the flow component comprises:

a passive flow component configured to initiate a passive flow process; and

an active flow component configured to initiate an active flow process, wherein the active flow component comprises:

a barrel;

a plunger arranged inside the barrel, wherein the plunger is configured to perform a movement inside the barrel wherein the movement of the plunger inside the barrel initiates the active flow process; and

a bubble barrier configured to prevent pollutants from migrating between the microfluidic feature and the active flow component and maintain a consistent flow of the active flow process by buffering a steeped action movement of the plunger.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment feature comprises:

a housing; and

a flat facet located on the housing wherein the flat facet is configured to constrain the sensor device.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a sealer.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the resonator comprises a microring resonator.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive flow component comprises a capillary pump.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the active flow process comprises a reverse flow process or a forward flow process.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the flow component is further configured to:

mix a first fluid with a second fluid, wherein: the first fluid comprises a sample with a conjugate reagent; and the second fluid comprises a buffer fluid.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to communicate with an external device the optical property.

9. A method for performing microfluidic-based biochemical assays, the method comprising:

positioning a sensor device by using an alignment feature of a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic feature comprising a reservoir configured to contain a fluid; and the alignment feature is is not in physical contact with the microfluidic feature;

flowing, in a microfluidic environment, the fluid through the sensor device, wherein the microfluidic environment comprises:

a bubble trap fluidically connected to the at least a microfluidic feature; and a flow component fluidically connected to the microfluidic feature, wherein the sensor device comprises a sensor interface comprising a porous member configured to control one or more flows, and the flow component comprises: a passive flow component configured to initiate a passive flow process; and an active flow component configured to initiate an active flow process, wherein the active flow component comprises a bubble barrier, wherein the bubble barrier is configured to prevent pollutants between the microfluidic feature and the active flow component and to maintain a consistent flow of the active flow process by buffering a steeped action movement of the plunger wherein the active flow component comprises a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel, wherein the plunger performs a movement inside the barrel wherein the movement of the plunger inside the barrel initiates the active flow process; and

detecting, using an optical device of the a sensor device configured to communicate with the fluid, wherein the optical device comprises a resonator, an optical property using the resonator.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the an alignment feature comprises:

a housing; and

a flat facet located on the housing wherein the flat facet is configured to constraint the sensor device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the an alignment feature comprises a sealer.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the resonator comprises a microring resonator.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the passive flow component comprises a capillary pump.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the active flow process comprises a reverse flow process or a forward flow process.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising mixing a first fluid with a second fluid wherein the flow component is configured to mix the first fluid with the second fluid wherein the first fluid comprises a sample with a conjugate reagent and the second fluid comprises a buffer fluid.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicating the optical property with an external device wherein the sensor is configured to communicate with the external device the optical property.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the bubble trap is integrated in a conjugate pad configured to control a reagent delivery.

18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling a delivery of a reagent using a conjugate pad integrated in the bubble trap wherein the bubble trap is integrated in the conjugate pad configured to control a reagent delivery.