Microfluidic device for parallel delivery and mixing of fluids

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of microvolumes at least partially defined by the substrate, each microvolume comprising a first submicrovolume and a second submicrovolume in fluid communication with the first submicrovolume when the device is rotated about a first rotational axis wherein rotation of the device about the first rotational axis causes a fixed volume to be transported to each of the second submicrovolumes;

the plurality of microvolumes further comprising one or more outlet submicrovolumes where fluid in the first submicrovolume not transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated about a first rotational axis is transported to one or more outlet submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about a second, different rotational axis.

2. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolume are transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.01 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolume.

3. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolume are transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.1 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolume.

4. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolume are transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 1 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolume.

5. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolume are transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 10 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolume.

6. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolume are transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 100 g is applied to fluid in the first submicrovolume.

7. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolumes are transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 10 rpm.

8. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolumes are transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 50 rpm.

9. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluids in the first submicrovolumes are transported to the second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 100 rpm.

10. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.

11. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.

12. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the second submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.

13. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 4 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

14. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 8 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

15. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 12 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

16. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 24 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

17. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 96 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

18. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein fluid can be transported to at least 200 different second submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

19. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is card shaped.

20. A microfluidic device according to claim 19 wherein the one or more microvolumes extend along a surface of the card shaped substrate.

21. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first rotational axis is positioned further away from the second submicrovolumes than the first submicrovolumes.

22. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the first rotational axis about which the microfluidic device is designed to be rotated is positioned within a lateral footprint of the microfluidic device.

23. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the first rotational axis about which the microfluidic device is designed to be rotated is positioned outside of a lateral footprint of the microfluidic device.

24. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 50%.

25. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 25%.

26. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 10%.

27. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 5%.

28. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 2%.

29. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 1%.

30. A microfluidic device comprising:

a substrate;

a first microvolume at least partially defined by the substrate comprising

a first submicrovolume;

a second submicrovolume where fluid in the first submicrovolume is transported to the second submicrovolume when the device is rotated about a first rotational axis; and a second microvolume at least partially defined by the substrate comprising

a third submicrovolume;

a fourth submicrovolume where fluid in the third submicrovolume is transported to the fourth submicrovolume when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis; and

wherein fluid in the second and fourth submicrovolumes are transported to a fifth submicrovolume where the second and fourth submicrovolumes are mixed when the device is rotated about a second, different rotational axis.

31. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the fifth submicrovolume is in fluid communication with the second and fourth submicrovolumes via the first and third submicrovolumes respectively.

32. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device further comprises one or more outlet submicrovolumes in fluid communication with the first and third submicrovolumes.

33. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device further comprises one or more outlet submicrovolumes in fluid communication with the first and second submicrovolumes where fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes not transported to the second and fourth submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about the first rotational axis is transported to one or more one or more outlet submicrovolumes when the device is rotated about a third, different rotational axis.

34. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes are transported to the second and fourth submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.01 g is applied to fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes.

35. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes are transported to the second and fourth submicrovolumes when the device is rotated so that a force of at least 0.1 g is applied to fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes.

36. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes is transported to the second and fourth submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 10 rpm.

37. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein fluid in the first and third submicrovolumes is transported to the second and fourth submicrovolumes when the device is rotated at least 50 rpm.

38. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the second and fourth submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 2.5 mm.

39. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the second and fourth submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 1 mm.

40. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the second and fourth submicrovolumes comprise lumens having a cross sectional diameter of less than 500 microns.

41. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 4 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

42. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 8 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

43. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 12 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

44. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 24 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

45. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 96 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

46. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device comprises at least 200 pairs of first and second microvolumes.

47. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 50%.

48. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 25%.

49. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to may given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 10%.

50. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 5%.

51. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 1%.

52. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the volume of fluid transported to any given second submicrovolume does not deviate from the volume of fluid transported to another second submicrovolume by more than 1%.

53. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are laterally offset relative to each other.

54. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle relative to each other and intersect.

55. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle relative to each other and are laterally offset.

56. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are perpendicular to each other and intersect.

57. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are perpendicular to each other and are laterally offset.

58. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle of 45 degrees relative to each other and intersect.

59. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle of 45 degrees relative to each other and are laterally offset.

60. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are parallel and laterally offset relative to each other.

61. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the substrate is card shaped.

62. A microfluidic device according to claim 61 wherein the one or more microvolumes extend along a surface of the card shaped substrate.

63. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the device is designed so that the first rotational axis is positioned further away from the second and fourth submicrovolumes than the first and third submicrovolumes.

64. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the first rotational axis about which the microfluidic device is designed to be rotated is positioned within a lateral footprint of the microfluidic device.

65. A microfluidic device according to claim 30 wherein the first rotational axis about which the microfluidic device is designed to be rotated is positioned outside of a lateral footprint of the microfluidic device.

66. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are laterally offset relative to each other.

67. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle relative to each other and intersect.

68. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle relative to each other and are laterally offset.

69. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are perpendicular to each other and intersect.

70. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are perpendicular to each other and are laterally offset.

71. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle of 45 degrees relative to each other and intersect.

72. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are at an angle of 45 degrees relative to each other and are laterally offset.

73. A microfluidic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is designed so that the first and second rotational axes are parallel and laterally offset relative to each other.