CN102327738A - Liquid processing structure, flow control device and plug member assembling and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid processing structure, a flow control device and a plug member assembling and method. Wherein the method to realize the device function includes the following: the plug member includes programe code, data or one or a plurality of instructions for realizing the function, wherein the plug member includes a micro-flow control device or other sensing members; the liquid processing structure includes a liquid channel and deformable material, wherein the liquid channel can be restricted at least partly by the deformable material, and the deformable material is arranged to generate restrication in the channel; and the plug member provided includes the programe code, data or one or a plurality of instructions, wherein the plug member includes the micro-flow control device or other sensing members.

Description

Fluid handling structure, flow control apparatus, insert, combination and method

The application number that is entitled as " method of Flow Control structure, device, method and instrument configuration " that the application submits to Patent Office of the People's Republic of China on November 22nd, 2006 for Mycrolab P. L. is dividing an application of 200680051341.5 one Chinese patent application.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to structure, the apparatus and method that operating fluid flows, and fluid has roughly less than 10 millimeters but flows in the structure less than at least one size of 1 millimeter usually alternatively.More particularly, the present invention relates to allow externally to installing the multiple fluid Processing Structure that interior fluid is handled.Single actuator can act on the fluid handling structure more than.The fluid treatment scheme can relate to uses movable part, electrode and pellicle or their combination.Deformable component can directly be deformed into fluid handling structure, or indirectly as the part of fluid handling structure, to cause or to prevent pressure or the alteration of form in the fluid handling component.Gas-permeable membrane can flow in order to the fluid that limits in some structures, and these structures are used for pumping, valve control, chemical storage and injection, filtration or the degassing.

The present invention also relates generally to and adopts deformable or movably structure, the apparatus and method of parts regulate fluid flow, and fluid has roughly less than 10 millimeters but flows in the structure less than at least one size of 1 millimeter usually alternatively.More particularly, the present invention relates to comprise the fluid handling structure of deformable component, this deformable component can be used as pump or valve.Deformable component can adopt multiple mode to work, and for example it can be deformed into fluid handling structure, or as the part of fluid handling structure, to produce current limliting or to increase pressure or cause flowing of the fluid that held.

The present invention additionally relates generally to the apparatus and method that are used to make flow unit (flow cell), and this flow unit is used for comprising that being used for fluid flows and have alternatively roughly less than 10 millimeters but measure less than the device of the structure of at least one size of 1 millimeter usually.More particularly, the present invention relates to submillimeter level device and structure and make these devices and the method for structure, this device and structure are convenient to measure electromagnetic wave and the wherein interaction of flowing fluid (interaction).

The present invention also relates generally to the system and method that is used for software and data, and more particularly, relates to being used for can being mainly used in the one or more inserts upgradings of other purpose, configuration or to the system and method for certain device transmission information through using.

Background of invention

Hereinafter has been discussed some structure and/or method.But following discussion should not be construed as admits that these structures and/or method have constituted prior art.Here these structures of applicant's reserve statement and/or method be not as the right of prior art.

Be used for fluid-operated document and method

The minute yardstick system that exploitation is used for fluid analysis has caused increasing interest.Because the advantage of miniaturization is provided, and these exploitations are underway.Especially, aspect automation, repdocutbility, speed, cost and size, can be through the lifting of traditional experiment chamber equipment obtained performance.This field of growing up fast comprises micro-total analysis system (μ TAS), or " chip laboratory (lab on a chip) " device.Most of these early stage work are to use in the existing technology that is used for semi-conductor industry of the seventies and the exploitation eighties to be carried out on silicon base or substrate of glass.

There have been many different pumpings and valve prosecutor case to be integrated in the miniaturization device.Simple proposal is capillary wicking (capillary wicking), utilizes surface tension that fluid is flowed in suitable capillary environment.But in the capillary of suitable shaping, this technology is drawn the limited in one's ability of sample.Electronic flowing is another kind of technology commonly used; But be restricted aspect substrate and the fluid media (medium) selection owing to the cause of surface charge and fluid interaction and Joule heat; And owing to use high driving voltage, using for many portable diagnostics is potential danger.Electronic flow also to can be used in the interface channel that can not bear electronic pumping, cause mobilely, see United States Patent(USP) No. 6012902; But same electronic limitation still is present in electroactive district and system drive voltage.

With regard to versatility, the pressure-driven pump is to be used for the method for optimizing that fluid is carried.But up to now, the compression pump that is integrated into microdevice requires comparatively complicated instrument system (instrumentationsystem), with the actuator of this microdevice of control operation.The pneumatic operation of in the open No.US2002/0148992,6619311 of United States Patent (USP), US2004/0209354A1 and 6408878, describing and the Piezoelectric Driving Micropump of United States Patent(USP) No. 6073482 can be seen the instance of this type method; In many cases; The demand of this instrument has limited the use of device, makes it need meet the size of supplementary instrument and the restriction of cost.The intrinsic problem of in the operation of known devices another is intrinsic poor efficiency and the integrity problem of fluid treatment operation.The passage that has deformable film is easy to produce and reveals, and this is because need make movable part consistent with channel size.And, on microdevice, need complicated collector and big area, to carry out the fluid-operated of complicacy.

In addition, the compression pump that becomes one with microdevice typically has the complex three-dimensional geometry, and it has a plurality of check valves, and the check valve manufacturing is complicated and thereby have an integrity problem.In United States Patent(USP) No. 5718567 and 6073482, can see the instance of the such geometry that adopts polymeric material.United States Patent(USP) No. 6619311 discloses the similar three-dimensional films base valve topology (three dimensionalmembrane-based valve topologies) that adopts multilayer polymer film with the open US2002/0148992A1 of U.S. Patent application.But, the overall relative complexity of structure with caused for pneumatically-operated requirement and connected the problem relevant that and their application is limited in the application that pneumatic supply (pneumatic supply) can be provided with handing-over.

United States Patent(USP) No. 6408878 provides better simply valve design, and it proposes the microfluidic channel foundry goods (micro fluidic channels cast) in elastomer.Requirement exists second channel or structure in elastomer, the bias current that causes with the actuating that allows to realize through aerodynamic force usually gets into first passage.This technology is inappropriate for large-scale production, because need in elastomer, form micro-structural, the multistage casting method that is promptly proposed is a kind of process of batch processing slowly.

Make the electricity consumption deformable film in miniaturization silicon device, produce capable ripple pump, seen United States Patent(USP) No. 5705018 and 5096388.But because employed material, and desired specially treated, this production method is confined to the semiconductor fabrication of batch processing, and cost is relatively costly.United States Patent(USP) No. 6408878 has been announced a kind of many valves of polymer pump, and it produces the crawling type motion providing pseudo-row ripple through using three or more alternately to be deformed to valve in the fluid passage, but this manufacturing also is confined to the operation of batch processing.

Many portable be to improve unit efficiency and simplification or reduce the size of supplementary instrument and the method for cost with using desired cheaply.Apparatus and method described in the prior art are not provided for fluid-operated efficient, easy-to-use, small-sized, in light weight, reliable or produce the method for (scaleable) that be variable in enormous quantities for high yield in essence of small size pumping, valve control and other.

Optional measurement mechanism and method

The key of the availability of micro fluidic device is to analyze the ability of its included fluid behaviour.Many methods are used to measure these characteristics that comprise electromagnetic interference, for example optics, and relevant detection strategy with technology.These measurements based on absorption, transmission and luminous (phosphorescence and fluorescence) are installed employed small scale scope existing problems at these.These problem major parts are because harsh size restrictions, path that reduces and the caused very little signal response of fluid volume that reduces cause.

Capillary and the micro-fluidic detection technique based on optics have typically adopted self has the wave interference element with the little chamber of focusing photon entering flow control apparatus (fluidic device) or the instrument of passage.These technological problems comprise: owing to little Flow Control size causes the alignment difficulty; Employed part dimension; In the instance of for example fluorescence since from the Flow Control source of focusing optics to the loss of signal that distance produced their focal zone.The another kind of method of improving these aforementioned limitations is an integrated optical element in the part identical with fluidic.

The instance that has the micro fluidic device of integrated optics is seen the description in the United States Patent(USP) No. 6100541.Here optics is integrated in the body construction, the microchannel in the adjacent body structure.The polymer architecture that has the integrated prism that is adjacent to microfluidic channel has wherein been described.

For the big change of fluid of measurement in so little yardstick (usually less than 10mm), it has been generally acknowledged that increasing path can improve detector response.In the detection based on transmission and absorption, signal response is proportional to the path that flows through fluid, and (Beer law, Beer ' sLaw).Equally, the same as the situation that adopts luminous measurement, (light emitting reporter) can produce better signal with more luminous indication.For example, in the electrocapillary phoresis method, known use " Z unit (Zcell) " structure increases optical path length, can improve the detection effect.

Known use optical fibre coupling and silicon or glass etching technology are provided with the detector cell that has increased path in micro fluidic device.These manufacture processes involve great expense usually, and are not suitable for the production in enormous quantities of disposable apparatus.In United States Patent(USP) Nos. 5599503 and 6490034, disclose the instance of this device, it provides the method that is used to make the micro fluidic device that has the detector cell that is used to absorb UV or visible radiation.Inlet or outlet radiation are redirected by the passage along micro fluidic device through the reflection of angled inlet or exit wall, and said reflection is adopted (United States Patent (USP) 5599503) or do not adopted (United States Patent(USP) No. 6490034) repeatedly to reflect.Said system uses the silicon etching technology to make.But, make disposable micro fluidic device commercial challenging based on silicon, particularly adopt this specific substrate kind to bring intrinsic high unit price and tangible low unit volume.

A kind of usefulness so that light radiation be disclosed in the United States Patent(USP) No. 6224830 to the alternative method of longitudinally passing through along channel axis.Said device produces the repeatedly transmission across the Flow Control passage, absorbs in little detector area (less than 200 μ m), to increase.But, the basic problem of this technology be since repeatedly the border transition of the optical energy loss that caused of reflection and material limited the size and the sensitivity of fluid detection unit.

The way that will couple light to flow control apparatus usually is to adopt directly and the optical fiber of Flow Control collector interface.These collectors form from single whole block material machining usually, and have therefore greatly limited their geometries.Micro fluidic device is processed by multilayer material usually, forms complicated Flow Control collector.This multilayer design can cause the difficulty that couples and align when coupling optical fiber to Flow Control path.United States Patent(USP) No. 6867857 discloses the method that is used for based on the micro fluidic device of polymer, and relates to and utilize fiber port that the multilayer flow control apparatus is coupled to the flows outside unit.But this method adopts the manufacture process of separating to each part, and has caused the problem of alignment and dead volume, and has increased plant bulk and unit cost.

A kind ofly be provided in the United States Patent(USP) No. 6900889, wherein disclose the polyalcohol microflow control device that is used for the phosphor dot light source detection to the previous similar method of describing based on the reflector of silicon.Disclosed method makes laser pass the track of edge across the length of microchannel, with fluorescence excitation label in the fluid that polyalcohol microflow control device was held.The light that sends of the label lid that passes the microchannel is detected then.This technology does not need laser beam to scan to detect fluorescent marker along passage.But this method has adopted light detection means or the reflecting surface that separates with micro fluidic device.And said device is not suitable for the measurement based on transmission and absorption, because it is not provided for after light passes sample fluid, recovering or measuring the mechanism of its light characteristic.Another is limited in system and only is provided for the spot light (indicator) of detection of vertical in the radiation of Flow Control passage.This has further limited this technology, because the spot light signal response is slow, and ability is not passed through optically focused increase signal (and strengthening sensitivity thus).

United States Patent(USP) No. 6906797 has been described the polyalcohol microflow control device that has reflection channel, and reflection channel is used to guide light to pass a plurality of passages, detects to carry out phosphor dot.Owing to measure across width of channel, so the mode of this technology and previous examples is subject to its signal response similarly, and makes light pass different mediums because of light with separating of Flow Control passage, further causes light loss.And, there is not method to assemble the signal that sends from spot light.

Above-mentioned apparatus and method of the prior art are not provided in micro fluidic device, realizing the integrated approach cheaply of suitable absorption, transmission and fluoroscopic examination.The present invention has satisfied the demand for low-cost polymeric device, and the device that is provided has the optical characteristics of raising in flow unit, the variable property that it has reliability in essence and produces in enormous quantities for high yield.

The instrument configuration method

The instrument that number of different types has been arranged.For example, the instrument of some type is control test or from just environment to be tested, unit or material, collecting the device of information.Other instrument can actual figure according to one's analysis or data, comprise to the user showing or storage.The instance of instrument comprises: digital multimeter; Oscillograph; The dna sequencing appearance; Pressure sensor; Temperature sensor; The pH sensor, and can also comprise any device that can utilize the insert operation, and for example can comprise: mobile phone; Computer; Personal digital assistant (PDAs); Digital music player etc.

Insert is removable or attachable device, and it can be sensor, box, cassette tape, for example with instrument for example through some functional and micro fluidic device collaborative work is provided to it.Insert can for example be memory stick, smart card or rigidity or flexible printed circuit.

Insert is designed for specific purpose usually, or for example the whole blood metabolin is monitored, carried out the purpose that DNA amplifies to the electrochemical analysis of mineral samplers or from bacterium, only points out several such specific purposes here.If instrument is in certain applications and sensor type; Then all essential procedure operation programs or example protocol can both be included in the instrument; Do not distinguish and to insert device and need not carry out on the chip identification (on-chiprecognition), because they are all identical.

But when in same instrument, having used polytype insert, instrument must be distinguished each insert, makes insert and/or its inclusion physically, chemically and/or are electrically carried out correct agreement.

Usually, select to have used which kind of insert, or the manual configuration instrument is to use each insert by the user.Perhaps, insert itself indicates the function of oneself to instrument.Usually through using sequence number or product coding to realize, then instrument with reference to its inner program code in order to set up the suitable application protocol that is used for specific insert type (for example, Figure 51 and Figure 52).Usually, adopted many different forms that this information is encoded, having comprised: through the electric coding of electrode connection, resistance value or integrated circuit; Optical encoding through bar code; Magnetic code through magnetic stripe; And mechanical coding.For the miniflow insert, United States Patent(USP) No. 6495104 has been described the standard method of coded message, to indicate chip functions to instrument.

The shortcoming of this indication is that instrument software still need comprise the whole program informations that are used for the device operation.Therefore appliance requires comprised the whole codes that are used for possible application before leaving manufacturer, or the software upgrade package of each new application need be provided after selling.Equally, after selling, need the support of software upgrading aspect, be used for the fixed software defective,, need the new demarcation or the support of service data aspect like what often run into for scientific instrument.

Usually, these upgradings offer the user with the form of new software version on the disk or on the CD-ROM or upgrade patch bag.This is usually only to main renewal or upgrading, because frequent release upgrade medium and require the new upgrading of user installation to be considered to problematic.Along with the development that the WWW is installed,, just can carry out remote upgrade as long as instrument is connected to suitable network.

For providing the other shortcoming of single upgrading, new instrument application is to provide the new application program and the development cost of relevant installation kit.Such upgrade method also can be introduced the possibility of program error or system break, and this is because the increase of software self code complexity and the potential incompatibility that causes of upgrading and uncompleted sequence historical (sequence history) repeatedly.In addition, allow instrument to upgrade by this way and also make instrument open to undelegated " invasion (hacking) " behavior, this can bring other reliability and guarantee problem for maker or seller.

In addition, no matter be to carry out the upgrade service transmission, there is the consideration of the conveying aspect of extra cost that relates to transmission and technical problem with physical disk or through the long-range means that comprise Email and internet.

The shortcoming that on instrument, keeps the method for whole procedure code in the prior art is, comprises that in a program all instrumentation agreements have intrinsic security risks.The procedure operation of fully in instrument, placing instrument means that reverse engineering maybe be more easy, allows unauthorized to use instrument, and/or utilizes third party's insert to operate, or even duplicate whole instrument.

The conventional method of software protection comprises uses sequence number, long-range licensed service and/or file and protector (dongle) protection.But these methods can not forbid that skilled operating personnel visit plate and carry application program with operating instrument or use outside insert.An instance of walking around the program authorization code is " invasion " program, and walks around the authorization code inquiry, thereby allows unwarranted complete procedure operation.

The invention describes new method and system, overcome above-mentioned limitation in the insert to be maintained at through upgrade data, program code, test data or the relevant information of guaranteeing some or all.

Summary of the invention

Be used for fluid-operated document and method

According to first aspect of the present invention, fluid handling structure is provided, comprising: in order to realize the mobile activation zone of fluid in the control structure; With at least one actuated components in the activation zone; Wherein activation zone is arranged as and triggers or control at least one actuated components.In certain embodiments, activation zone comprises that controller flows with the fluid in the control device.

In another embodiment, micro fluidic device is provided, has comprised the controller that flows in order to the fluid in the control device, its middle controller can trigger more than one and interior related pumping or the valve control parts of fluid flowing phase of device simultaneously.

According to an embodiment, controller can manually or pneumatically be operated.But, can use any suitable operating means.For example, controller can electromagnetic ground, mechanically, hydraulically, through sound or through operations such as piezoelectrics.

According to second aspect of the present invention, fluid handling structure is provided, comprising: the activation zone of using the fluid in the control structure to flow; In flow cavity or the passage at least one; Form the pellicle at least one border of flow cavity or passage, this pellicle be arranged as allow the control fluid through and flow in flow cavity or the passage, the fluid that promotes thus, limits or stop in flow cavity or the passage flows.The control fluid can comprise any suitable fluid and can also for example be liquid, gas or their combination.One embodiment comprises second pellicle on second border that forms flow cavity, passage or Flow Control network.Do not need second border directly to be communicated with flow cavity or passage.For example, it can be in addition along the Flow Control network.

In another embodiment, micro fluidic device is provided, has comprised limit fluid and/or particle pellicle through passing through.According to aspect of the present invention, pass through of fluid (for example gas or liquid) postponed or prevention.Can be used so that for example separation, de-bubble, filtration, pumping, valve control, mixing, filling, function such as quantitative to be provided according to the film of aspect of the present invention.For example, according to an embodiment, just can pass film up to reaching certain internal pressure fluid, fluid will pass film when arriving this pressure.This specific embodiment can be used for sample storage and injection, pumping, valve control.

According to another embodiment, film permission gas passes but does not allow liquid to pass (it is blocked) and is used for for example degasification, pumping, valve control, reagent storage and function of injecting.According to another embodiment, the particle in the membrane filtration fluid.These particles can for example comprise cell, microorganism, big molecule, antigen etc.

According to another embodiment, recirculation Flow Control network is provided.Recirculation Flow Control network can for example comprise inlet; In pump or valve or the bubble trap at least one.Recirculation Flow Control network also can comprise test chamber.In certain embodiments, inlet can be used as bubble trap in addition.

According to another embodiment, instrument-card is configured so that card provides some Pneumatic pipe engineering (plumbing).According to another embodiment, pump and valve control are driven by same accumulator.

Fluid pumping, valve control, degasification, filtration, sample introduction, reagent storage and controlled dosage can be used for carrying out complicated chemical rules (protocol).Common problem in micro-fluidic is the indivisible and accurate transmission of fluid.The present invention includes the multiple fluid Processing Structure, it comprises movable part, pellicle, electrode or their combination.Can trigger controller simultaneously through providing, can operate by simplification device, and therefore simplified the requirement of fluid handling component for instrument more than parts.Actuating can directly manually be carried out by the user, or carries out with instrument is auxiliary.The method that is used to overcome filling, sample introduction, injection, reagent storage, mixing and bubble problem also is disclosed as part of the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, fluid handling structure is provided, comprising: the fluid passage; And deformable material; Wherein, fluid passage part is at least defined by deformable material, and deformable material is arranged as generation restriction or compression point in passage.In certain embodiments, restriction can be implemented in alternatively and set up the fluid wave of advancing in the passage.Structure can also comprise rigid basement, and wherein, fluid passage part at least is formed in the rigid basement.

In another embodiment, device is provided, it comprises: the passage that is at least partly limited deformable material, wherein the distortion of deformable material can be set up the fluid wave of advancing in passage.According to an embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, device is a micro fluidic device.

According to the additional embodiments of this aspect of the present invention, set up fluid wave through applying power to fluid moment along the single position of passage.According to another embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, install and be micro fluidic device, it is not to be processed by silicon.Preferably, it is range upon range of micro fluidic device, and preferably, and it is unfavorable sets up fluid wave with electromagnetism mechanism.

According to other aspect of the present invention, the method for pumping fluid in microfluidic channel is provided, comprising: in passage, utilize deformable material to produce the fluid wave of advancing.

According to other aspect of the present invention; Micro fluidic device is provided; Comprise: the microfluidic channel that at least partly limits deformable material; Wherein the cross section of deformable material is substantially greater than the cross section of passage, and deformable material made its admission passage at least in part by distortion fully, and the fluid that influences thus in the passage flows.Deformable material according to this aspect of the present invention can be the type that is fit to arbitrarily.Experienced staff can easily identify suitable material.For example, specific elastomeric compound has suitable characteristic.

Deformable material is including, but not limited to polymer, polymer composites, metal and glass.In the situation that deformable material can't fully be out of shape too firmly, then deformable material is constituted as and allows distortion, and/or is combined in or is replaced by other material with suitable elastic characteristic, for example rubber, Santoprene ^TM, polymer (dimethyl siloxane), gather (dimethyl siloxane), nitrile, polyurethane, silicone, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polychlorobutadiene, polyisobutene or gather (s-B-S) etc.

Use can be set up the fluid wave of advancing in passage deformable material provides the simple geometric shape, makes it possible to carry out the fluid transmission of desired precision, and has promoted low-cost production in enormous quantities simultaneously.In addition, the invention enables can be at high actuated components and carry out more economic distribution cheaply between the fluid handling component.According to a preferred embodiment, actuated components is outside at the fluid treating device that comprises deformable material.Can process with polymeric material according to fluid treating device of the present invention, and all or part of distortion through making fluid handling component is flowed fluid to produce fluid mobile for example to limit, to exert pressure or to cause.

As used herein, term " fluid " refers to gas or liquid phase material.

As used herein, term " activation zone " refers to the zone that actuator acted on fluid treating device.

Optical measuring device and method

The present invention also provides the method and apparatus that is used for systems incorporate flow unit and vertical light path (for example, microfluidic system).Especially, the apparatus and method that provided are used to make light longitudinally to pass along passage, and are used for specially assembling ejaculation light, and pass through described other device enhancing signal response thus here, and strengthen the sensitivity of selected measuring system thus.

Therefore, in one aspect of the invention, flow control apparatus is provided, has comprised: at least one passage that is configured for electromagnetic path of advancing.In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the length of passage, the path is longitudinally substantially.In certain embodiments, the path substantially perpendicular to or transverse at least a portion of the length of passage.In other embodiment, the path substantially perpendicular to or transverse at least a portion of the length of passage.Electromagnetic wave can comprise at least a in visible light, ultraviolet light, microwave, radio wave, x-ray and the gamma-rays.

Of the present invention other aspect in, device is provided, comprising: be applicable to passage, wherein measure and can carry out through electromagnetic wave is longitudinally advanced along part passage at least substantially based on the characteristic of the fluid in the electromagnetic wave measurement passage.

According to an embodiment, electromagnetic wave is a visible light.But, can use this purpose electromagnetic wave that is applicable to of arbitrary form.Therefore, for example can use ultraviolet or infrared light, microwave, radio wave, x-ray, and can use gamma-rays equally.

Can be used for any suitable purpose that relates to optical sensing according to device of the present invention.According to an embodiment, device is used for microfluidic applications.

According to additional embodiments, device is a micro fluidic device, and comprises the layer of combination (for example, bonding), to form micro fluidic device (' range upon range of ' device).According to another embodiment, device comprises that at least one optical window gets into and/or leave passage to allow electromagnetic wave (for example light).According to additional embodiments, device is not to be processed by silicon or silica-base material.

In one embodiment, the optical clear window that light is passed in an end of passage gets into flow unit, and reflection or refracting means guiding light path is to the path along the longitudinal direction of passage or flow unit there.Passage everywhere light level (light level) be able to keep (or light loss is minimized), this is to realize along the inner full-reflection of the length of passage or flow unit with maximization through cremasteric reflex surface or suitable refraction index changing.At test point, reflection and/or refraction structure guiding and, if desired, assemble the light that penetrates passage and be used for testing goal.

In another embodiment, flow unit is provided, it can be longitudinally and/or laterally throws light on or detection.

The method and apparatus of this aspect of the present invention is applicable to through traditional micro fluidic device of being produced with the reel-to-reel manufacture process based in batches, including, but not limited to Laser Processing, die-cut, impression, injection moulding and laminating method.

As used herein, term " micro-fluidic " or " Flow Control " refer to have at least one can be less than fluid treatment, operation or the process in the structure of one millimeter size.

As used herein, term " light " refers to more than one the edge equidirectional electromagnetic radiation photon of advancing substantially.

As used herein, the term electro magnetic radiation refers to the energy with the form of photon or ripple, and comprises that perhaps the light of visible light, ultraviolet light or infrared light reaches the for example ripple of the radiation of microwave, radio wave, x-ray, gamma-rays etc.

The instrument configuration method

The present invention also provides the method that is used for software or firmware upgrade and through using other parts in one or more removable inserts to be used for the method for control instrument.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the method for utilizing instrument to carry out function is provided, method comprises: insert is connected with instrument, insert comprise program code, data or instruct in one or more, it makes it possible to carry out function.Instrument can for example comprise: digital multimeter, oscillograph, frequency spectrograph, chemical analyzer, biological analyser, dna sequence analysis appearance, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, electrochemical analysis device, mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant or digital multimedia player.

In another embodiment, provide use (i) instrument and (ii) insert to bear the method for function, having comprised with proprietary feature data: (a) insert is engaged in instrument, (b) from insert transmit data to instrument and (c) instrument accomplish function.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide configuration to be used for instrument carrying out the insert of function, insert comprises one or more in program code, data or the instruction, it makes it possible to carry out function.Insert can for example comprise: sensor, box, cassette tape, micro fluidic device, flash card, memory stick, smart card or printed circuit or other memory storage component.

In another embodiment, provide to be used for instrument to carry out the insert of function, wherein insert comprises that instrument is desired in order to accomplish the function proprietary data of function.

According to other aspect of the present invention, the software of upgrading instrument or the method for firmware are provided, method comprises: insert is connected with instrument; And transmit some or all program code, data or instruct to instrument and accomplish upgrading thus.Instrument can for example comprise: digital multimeter, oscillograph, frequency spectrograph, chemical analyzer, biological analyser, dna sequence analysis appearance, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, electrochemical analysis device, mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant or digital multimedia player.

In another embodiment, the software of upgrading instrument or the method for firmware are provided, wherein instrument supplies insert to use, and comprising: (a) insert is connected with instrument and (b) through data are transferred to the instrument instrument of upgrading from insert.

According to other aspect of the present invention, provide to supply insert that instrument uses to carry out function, wherein insert comprises the data of the software and the firmware of the instrument that is used to upgrade.

According to another aspect of the present invention, be provided at instrument and have between the insert of mutual exclusive data and set up mutual method, comprising: (a) insert is connected with instrument, (b) from insert transmit data to instrument and (c) instrument accomplish function.

Usually, the main application of insert is the needed running stores function of normal running of instrument.Through additional function is provided on insert, user's operation is simplified, and the development cycle of new product is minimized, and has further protected the data security of product and the intellectual property of product.Usually, some or all is used to that upgrade or be used for the data of instrumentation agreement can be partly or integrally be included in according to one or more removable inserts of the present invention.

The invention provides instrument and insert framework, therein, one or more inserts that just are being usually used in the physical function property of instrument become the part of the software/firmware upgrade approach that is used for instrument.More specifically, insert or a plurality of insert comprise some or all upgrade information.This method has been simplified user's operation, because the process of upgrade software is carried out automatically; Need new software be installed from other media.In addition, through no longer requiring to produce and issue independent upgrading media to have reduced expense (logisticoverhead) after sale.

The invention provides and between instrument and one or more removable insert, to issue program code, data or the instruction of (ratio exists and changes, for example from 1: 0 to 1: 1 by 0: 1).More particularly; Generalized subroutine can be provided on the instrument and uses proprietary executable program and/or operating data is provided on one or more removable inserts; The major function of insert can be as disposable running stores; Realizing at instrument under the situation of physics control, hold and carries out chemical test and the analysis that is directed against biological sample.

Distributed structure/architecture has minimized the software development that is associated with the new application and development of the insert that is used for instrument and connection thereof.The instrument of programming then can be accepted new application program and not need customer upgrade software generally, and has also avoided any to using or the instruments design personnel expect the requirement of new " as yet not invention ".

The present invention provides improved user-operable property and operation automation through provided data to instrument by insert to carry out part or all of application operating automatically and to offer the setting that the user defined.Thus, simplified user interactions, this has strengthened the reliability of system and has simplified instrumentation.

In addition, invention provides additional software security, because the program execution command needn't be present in the instrument.In a particular embodiment, insert carries instruction with configure instrument, is used for the application-specific of insert.According to this embodiment, invention has produced more difficult reverse engineering approach, because successful copy needs the execution of complete prehension program.If unlikely situation has taken place, promptly instrument and insert finally be reversed engineering alternately, the then last executable program that generates has only disclosed the data that are used to make the applied concrete application of special-purpose insert, can't expose other data to the open air.

The present invention also allows to carry out cumulative and permanent change to being included in use data on the insert, make reverse engineering instrument can not with new insert co-operating.

Upgrade information or distributed program data can be encoded on one or more inserts, and can adopt many different forms, including, but not limited to: through the electric coding of electrode connection; Resistance value; Magnetic stripe; Integrated circuit; Optical encoding; And mechanical coding.

The additional advantage that in insert, has upgrading and configuration data is extra security feature, and it requires the coupling between the inserted device of instrument, interface and coupling.

As used herein, for simplicity, the insert that term " expendable insert " also refers to have one or more purposes.

Such as here use, speech " device " and " instrument " can exchange with using in meaning.

Description of drawings

Be used for fluid-operated document and method

Fig. 1 is the sketch map that is used for the activation zone of fluid treatment.Cylindrical is represented activation zone, and the straight line that passes the center of circle representes to hold the structure of fluid, for example passage or pipe, and shade circle expression actuated components.

Fig. 2 is the sketch map of some possible actuated components.Fig. 2 (a) is an injection pump, and wherein fluid is maintained in the actuator and when activating, passes inlet and is injected in the device.Fig. 2 (b) representes pump in upright arrangement (in-linepump), and it is the pump with entrance and exit.Fig. 2 (c) is switch valve or variable flow rate valve.Fig. 2 (d) is a check valve.

Fig. 3 is the indicative icon of actuating more than the single actuator of one actuated components.As an example, three actuated components are one group and by same actuator operated.Fig. 3 (a) and (b) and pump group in upright arrangement, injection pump group and the valve group of (c) representing to be connected to each passage respectively.Fig. 3 (d) shows the instance of interchangeable geometry, and wherein single no valve passage has valve passage to intersect with two, has the valve of valve passage can be configured to inject fluid in the main channel.Fig. 3 (e) expression is by parallel connected two pumps of same actuator operated, and pump can as one man be operated or activate the different piece operation of circulation.

Fig. 4 is the indicative icon of actuating more than the single actuator of one type actuated components.Three autonomous channels of the actuated components that Fig. 4 (a) expression band separates, in this case, central passage activated and pumping, and the passage in two outsides is by valve closing simultaneously.Fig. 4 (b) show be divided into two valve passage arranged have a single passage of pump.Fig. 4 (c) shows the injection pump that valve outlet port is arranged with four.Fig. 4 (d) illustrates and the pump in upright arrangement that has valve and no valve passage to intersect.

Fig. 5 illustrates by the actuated components in the same passage of same actuator operated.Fig. 5 (a) shows the pump in upright arrangement that has downstream valve.Can shut off valve be set at the difference that activates cycle period, or valve be set, and allow to produce controlled volume dosage effectively with the restriction flow rate.Fig. 5 (b) shows similar controlled dosing system, but has used injection pump.Fig. 5 (c) shows the peristaltic-type pump of configuration by three valves that trigger respectively of same actuator operated.

Fig. 6 shows the dual actuator system, injects another a fluid stream in order to an a fluid stream with fixed volume.Each a fluid stream is activated with pumping fluid and the other a fluid stream of valve control respectively, to prevent too much to flow into other fluid system, to surpass to inject volume.

Fig. 7 illustrates and is similar to illustrated two actuator systems among Fig. 6.The fluid of the fixed volume that dotted line is represented is injected into another a fluid stream that is illustrated by the broken lines.The valve control only is used to an a fluid stream, because preferably can use geometry, pressure and skin effect to guide fluid.In this case, the back pressure in the solid line is higher because the cross-sectional area of its passage reduces.

Fig. 8 (a) illustrates the instance of the activation zone that has a plurality of actuated components.Two central passages are linked together by two circular check valves, carry out pumping when allowing to activate, shown in Fig. 8 (b).Rectangular member is a switch valve, and its distortion blocking channel that allows film is to stop flowing between period of energization, shown in Fig. 8 (c).Fig. 8 (d) shows the operation as two types pump operated valve; Wherein fill action and cause upwards distortion of film; Allow fluid to flow into the pumping chamber, and emptying in the circulation, film is pressed in the substrate in chamber; Close the ingate and make the film distortion get into lower passage, allow fluid under the outlet restriction, to pass through.Fig. 8 (e) shows triple valve configuration, and wherein when when relative port is exerted pressure, deformable layer is used to close particular port.

Fig. 9 is the indicative icon that has the pumping system of the downstream film that is used for de-bubble or check-valves.Fig. 9 (a) illustrates the pump in upright arrangement that has the downstream bubble trap, and Fig. 9 (b) illustrates the instance of the injection pump that has the downstream check-valves.

Figure 10 has to be used for the sectional view of passage that degasification keeps the exhaust outlet of fluid simultaneously.

Figure 11 is the top view that has the substrate of fluid intake, and it has the passage that is connected to the oval groove with the outlet of linking the exhaust outlet that is used for degasification.

Figure 12 shows the exhaust outlet on continuous passage.Figure 12 (a) is the top view that the bigger surf zone exhaust outlet of comparing with channel size is shown.

Figure 12 (b) is the cross-sectional view along the passage of same exhaust outlet.

Figure 13 (a)-13 (b) shows the operation of deaerator, wherein regulates type valves and is used in the outlet.

Figure 14 (a)-14 (b) shows exhaust outlet and the valve arrangement by the combination of single actuator control, in order to accomplish the loading of passage/groove.

Figure 15 (a)-15 (b) illustrates pellicle, and it is as the obstruction of inlet filter and sample introduction, and force fluid is passed film up to exerting pressure.

Figure 16 shows controlled dosage or accumulator tank scheme, and wherein fluid is introduced into and is retained in the chamber, opens valve and release fluid up to exerting pressure.

Figure 17 (a)-17 (b) shows in the exhaust passage that applies under the situation of fluid pressure forward or backwards, operates as valve or pump.

Figure 18 shows exhaust outlet and how valve makes up to form pumping system.Figure 18 (a) illustrates through fill the fluid in pumping chamber across the negative pressure gradient of exhaust outlet, and negative pressure gradient removes gas and sucks fluid.Figure 18 (b) illustrates the fluid that sprays from the pumping chamber through the normal pressure gradient that applies across exhaust outlet.

Figure 19 (a)-19 (b) shows a plurality of permeable membranes in the network of microchannel, and it is operated as pump or valve under the fluid pressure action that is applied.

Figure 20 illustrates the button-type actuator that has combined electronic pads, and electronic pads is triggered activating operating period.Figure 20 (a) shows the plane of the electrode in the activation zone, and the steam vent that activation zone also is included in core transfers to another layer in the device to trigger another actuated components with authorized pressure.Figure 20 (b) and 20 (c) are respectively before activating and the side view cross section of the electrode structure in the actuation process.

Figure 21 (a)-21 (b) shows the cross section of the button-type actuator that has combined electrode shown in Figure 20 and button-type interface, and steam vent uses valve control entrance and exit to be connected to the pumping chamber via pellicle.

Figure 22 shows the signal of recirculation Flow Control network.

Figure 23 (a)-23 (b) shows two signals of distinct methods, allows the release pressure gradient to form to stop bubble.Especially, these figure illustrate the Flow Control passage of expansion.

Figure 24 shows the top view of multilayer recirculation Flow Control network.Recirculation network is directly connected to pump from inlet, is connected to check valve, sample introduction port subsequently, comprises deformable activation zone, shunting blender, test chamber, the pressure reduction structure of exhaust outlet and check valve and be connected then and be fed back into level.

Figure 25 shows the top view combination picture of the multi-layered devices of the Flow Control network that comprises two controlled dosages, and wherein the Flow Control network has pump, valve, bubble trap, detection groove and pressure reduction structure.

Figure 26 (a) and (b) show the plane and the side view of the card that has the pneumatic pumping that is connected to external instrument and valve control district respectively.

Figure 27 (a)-27 (c) shows the lateral cross section of the microchannel that has at least one flexible wall, and in this instance, top layer is a flexible wall.Figure 27 (a) shows through bearing and makes in the deformable material displacement admission passage, and it has blocked passage effectively and has produced the valve state of closing.Figure 27 (b) shows that on off state that three or more pump in upright arrangement can replace them is to produce pump action.In brief, when valve cut out, the fluid that it promoted was moved, and when valve was opened again, fluid moved the volume of vacating with filling.If the valve near the valve that opens or closes is closed, then limit fluid shift-in over there with shift out, and if valve is opened, then fluid will not flow to or flow out along limiting direction.Figure 27 (c) shows pumping mode, and wherein the fluid of its front of the extruding of the valve through partly or entirely closing along moving axially of passage produces the capable ripple along passage.Can produce through any suitable method according to capable ripple of the present invention.For example, slide or the rolling bearing actuator passes the deformable material of a side that defines passage, can be similarly along the passage circular actuator (thereby in each instance, before the actuator that moves, pushing fluid wave) that rolls.

Figure 28 illustrates the instance of valve configuration.Figure 28 (a)-(c) illustrates the passage that has the single flexible wall, and its degree of depth than passage is thinner.Channel design can be etched in the substrate, and shown in Figure 28 (a), substrate is formed by a plurality of layers; Shown in 2 layers of structure among Figure 28 (b); And can on the top of flexible layer, comprise other layer, shown in Figure 28 (c), wherein cover layer is included in the recess on the passage that covers flexible layer.Deformable material also can be thinner than the degree of depth of passage, and is illustrated to 28 (l) like Figure 28 (d), and can cover more than a passage.The pressure that is applied to the deformable material of adjacent channel can cause deformable material distortion admission passage, and passage and cause valve control effect effectively.Deformable material also can limit through being positioned at the direction of coming in other structure along other.Figure 28 (e) shows the deformable material that is positioned in the recess to 28 (g).Figure 28 (h) shows the deformable material of the tubular section form that presents the structure that is positioned on the microchannel in a similar fashion.Figure 28 (i) illustrates instance to 28 (l), and wherein the layer on deformable material is single protective coating.And Figure 28 (m) illustrates cover layer to 28 (p), its can be used as deformable material and can form or moulding to impel in a particular manner distortion, similar employing button-type contact interface certainly.

Figure 29 illustrates the instance that applies some the above-mentioned valves under the effect of power at the adjacent channel recess.Figure 29 (a) illustrates through the power of the scope that is applied to recess and is out of shape the film that gets into the microchannel.Figure 29 (b) illustrate the scope that applies greater than the effect of the power of microchannel under the thick flexible layer of distortion, deformable material distortion gets into micro-structural.Figure 29 (c) shows the variation by the deformable material of structure qualification to 29 (f), structural limitations the expansion of deformable material under the effect of the power that applies.

Figure 30 illustrates the passage that is formed in the elastomeric material.Figure 30 (a) and (b) and three structures that the side is formed by elastomer layer that (c) show its conduit wall, passage is by the layer sealing of adjacency.Figure 30 (d) shows the passage that is completely formed in the elastomeric substrate.

Figure 31 illustrates the passage that has along the restriction of passage length layout, and this restriction refluxes in order to reduce.

Figure 32 shows linear and the indicative icon of pumping passage radially.Pipe in Figure 32 (a) is straight or linear passageway, the direction of arrow signal movement of valve or row ripple pump.Can adopt other geometry, and in Figure 32 (b), alternative structure has been shown, therein, movement of valve or travelling-wave tubes are radially.The end of pipe joins other passage to or structure flows to realize fluid.

Figure 33 illustrates the top view of multi-layered devices, this device use be connected to extension to the 3-valve position with go into/the radial pump configuration of the Flow Control passage of outbound port.

Figure 34 shows the instance that is used for through the driving mechanism of mechanical device deformable material, and it is mobile therefore to produce fluid through the row ripple.Actuating structure can be a rigidity, or deformable adapts to micro-structural valve element to allow actuation surfaces.They can vertically be applied to valve surface, perhaps parallel the moving along the surface.The instance that shows is: round (Figure 34 (a)); Clavate thing (Figure 34 (b)); Limited the rotational shell (Figure 34 (c)) of some non-rotary spheroids; Bulge-structure on turntable, turntable are arranged as through the pendulum effect and only contact a surface (Figure 34 (d)); Rotating cam (Figure 34 (e)); With apply perpendicular to the rotary scraping (Figure 34 (f)) of power that is parallel to the surface.

Figure 35 illustrates the disassembled view of journal bearing pump, and it has two actuation head in order to the elastomer layer of the device among distortion Figure 33.

Optical measuring device and method

Figure 36 (a)-36 (d) shows the plan view of microfluidic channel structure, and wherein transmissive window is separated to allow electromagnetic wave longshore current control passage longitudinally to advance.Figure 36 (a) has illustrated the plan view of three passages, and its position longshore current control channel arrangement that shows transmissive window gets into or leave the Flow Control passage in suitable distance to allow electromagnetic energy.In this specific embodiment, electromagnetic energy is to adopt the form of light.Figure 36 (b) shows the single Flow Control passage that has the similar transmissive window of arranging suitably, and wherein fluid flow direction changes near window the time.Figure 36 (d) shows the single Flow Control passage that has the similar transmissive window of arranging suitably, and the fluid that wherein gets into or leave passage flows and arrives or leave through mulitpath.

Figure 37 (a) shows the cross sectional view of three bed devices of the optical window that is between passage and the substrate surface.Figure 37 (b) shows the cross sectional view of the multi-layered devices of the light path with the integration between Flow Control passage and apparatus surface.Figure 37 (c) show incorporation of markings for the fusiform structure of (04) in order to longitudinally to guide the cross sectional view of the multi-layered devices of light along passage.

Figure 38 has shown the 3 bed device manufacture processes that combine reflectance coating length by length.

Figure 39 has shown the 2 bed device manufacture processes that combine reflectance coating.

Figure 40 (a)-(c) shows multiple 2 layers and the 3 bed devices structure that uses the reflecting layer.

Figure 41 (a)-(c) provides the instance of the prism that is attached to flow control apparatus.

Figure 42 provides the instance of integrated a plurality of prism systems.

The optical fiber that Figure 43 (a)-43 (b) shows in the device is integrated.Figure 43 (c) shows the fibre bundle near the micro fluidic device location.

Figure 44 (a) and 44 (b) show the sketch of corner cube reflector.

Figure 45 (a) and (b) with (c) show use or the corner cube reflector of use and micro fluidic device.

Figure 46 (a) and (b) in order to assist to aim at and the sketch of the prism structure of guiding light.

Figure 47 (a) to (j) shows the instance of the flow unit that has the prism that is used for improved signal response and imaging and catoptric arrangement.

Figure 48 shows and has the flow unit instance that vertical and horizontal detect.

Figure 49 (a)-(c) shows closely positioned detection device and source region on device.

Figure 50 (a)-(b) shows waveguide, and it can be by for example through injecting and solidify optically transparent material then, or the photoconductive tube that will form is placed in the vacuum structure and processes.

The instrument configuration method

Figure 51 is the indicative icon of prior art upgrading approach.To the user AKU is provided, normally adopts the form that the executable file that guide is set is installed, guide guiding user is set accomplishes installation process, new program code is added getting into instrumentation program.

Figure 52 is the indicative icon that the prior art operation has the instrument of removable insert.Instrument comprises the whole procedure that has the whole required subprograms that are used for any desired operation.Insert comprises sequence number or product code, and it allows instrument its program part of release or provides the instruction of " goto " type to allow to carry out the specific section or the subprogram of the code that is kept in the instrument.

Figure 53 is an indicative icon of the present invention, and wherein insert comprises part or all of upgrade information.

Figure 54 is the indicative icon according to distributed structure/architecture of the present invention.

Figure 55 is the indicative icon of an embodiment in path of the present invention, and wherein instrument comprises general program and dedicated program subprogram, but does not comprise the operation code that the required vertical application of operation insert requires.Insert comprises and calls the instrument subprogram is used for intended application with operating instrument instruction.

Figure 56 is the indicative icon according to the path of another embodiment of the present invention.

The specific embodiment

Fluid-operated document and method

Different embodiments of the invention comprise: the controller that flow of control fluid in device; With various fluid handling structures, comprise one or more movable parts, pellicle, electrode, sensor or their combination.

Can adopt any suitable form according to controller of the present invention, and preferably include actuator in order to trigger and the interior related parts of fluid flowing phase of device.

Fluid treatment or actuated components can be processed by any suitable material.For example, they can be processed by substrate or a plurality of substrate of single moulding.Fluid handling structure can adopt any suitable mode to form, and for example, it can be formed in the substrate of monoblock or formed by the substrate of several layers.

Actuator can be in outside or the part of fluid treating device of device, or is formed with outside resolution element by the part of fluid treating device.

Actuating can be carried out through any suitable device, and for example, it can manually directly be carried out by the user, or under instrument is assisted, directly manually or automatically carries out.

According to an embodiment, actuator be through and external instrument between the Pneumatic pressure that provides of interface.

According to the other preferred embodiment of describing, use the exterior mechanical actuator in order on the auto levelizer of exerting pressure in the device internal strain and use the deformable material of pneumatic or fluid pressure, or manually actuated by operating personnel's finger.Therefore, according to these preferred embodiments, deformable substrate can be the integration section of fluid handling structure, and actuation mechanisms is separated.Mechanical actuator can adopt any suitable form, and for example, they can comprise: bearing; Pin; Piston; Oscillating deck; Cam; And scraping blade.The embodiment of other expectation can comprise and use the energy of using through different modes, for example, and through comprising the instrument or the device of light, static, electric, resistance, piezoelectricity, electromagnetism, pneumatic, hydraulic pressure, linearity and magnetic force actuator.

Activation zone can cover whole surface or only the cover part is surperficial.Fig. 1 is the indicative icon that comprises the activation zone (03) of the actuated components (01) that has cross aisle (02).

Activation zone can be on the outer surface of fluid handling component or in the inside of fluid treating device.

According to an embodiment, activation zone or its part can be movable parts, and its (for example) changes shape under the applied pressure effect.Removable material can be elastomer or any removable material that under the applied pressure effect, changes shape that other is fit to.

In another embodiment; Activation zone comprises bistable state or monostable material; For example polymer or composite materials; It can change shape to the predetermined geometry of another kind from predetermined geometry, and in a single day excitation (for example actuation force) is removed or cancels, and still can change back or impelled to return to original state and position.The instance of this layout comprises the button-type actuator, its can be for example manually, heating power ground, electrically or mechanically operation, and formed to allow under the actuation force effect mobile suitably.

Movable part can be out of shape direct entering fluid handling structure, or acts on the part of fluid handling component indirectly, to cause or to prevent pressure or the change in shape in the fluid handling component.

Activation zone can be greater than actuated components.

Actuated components operation including, but not limited to FLOW CONTROL, pumping, valve control, diffusion, droplet transmission, mixing, separation, switching, dosage, injection, sensing, catalysis, absorb water, anhydrate and under the actuation force effect, be triggered or stop other fluid treatment operation of triggering.For illustrative purposes, Fig. 2 shows the indicative icon of some these parts.Fig. 2 (a) representes injection pump (04), and Fig. 2 (b) is pump (05), and Fig. 2 (c) is switch valve or vario valve, and Fig. 2 (d) is a check valve.

Same actuator can be operated more than an actuated components.In Fig. 3-7, instance has been shown.This layout has been simplified the device operation, and has therefore simplified the instrument demand that is used for fluid handling component through reducing actuation control and space requirement.Through a plurality of actuated components of combination by the operation of same mechanism, operating efficiency also can strengthen to be used for difference in functionality, for example pumping, valve control, mixing, injection, controlled dosage, switching and the operation of other fluid treatment.

The indicative icon more than an actuated components by the same type of an activation zone operation has been shown among Fig. 3.Fig. 3 (a) shows three pumps in upright arrangement (09), and it is connected to three separate channels (10) that activated by same mechanism (08).Fig. 3 (b) shows three injection pumps (11) that are connected to by three separate channels (10) of same activation zone (08) operation.Fig. 3 (c) shows three switch valves or the vario valve (12) that is connected to by three separate channels (10) of same activation zone (08) operation.Through by these actuated components of each autonomous channel combination by same activation zone; Output, size, cost and simplicity can be owing to only requiring single actuating mechanism to be improved by same all parts of activation zone operation; And the application regularly of strict actuated components can be by simple and accurately completion.Fig. 3 (d) shows the instance that passage (10) intersects, and wherein four passages have switch or vario valve (12) by same activation zone (08) operation, make controlled dosage can be got into or flow out all valve passages by single operation.Fig. 3 (e) shows two pumps (09 in upright arrangement; 13) instance; It goes up operation by same activation zone (08) at the relative stroke (applied pressure) of same actuating mechanism; Thus when the parallel connection of the passage of drawing (10), improve pumping efficiency through on the forward of actuating mechanism and recycled back, all carrying out pump action from each pump.

In Fig. 4, illustrated at the indicative icon of an activation zone operation more than the more than one actuated components of a type.Fig. 4 (a) shows by the pump in upright arrangement (17) on autonomous channel (15) of same activation zone (14) operation and two switch valves or vario valve (16).Fig. 4 (b) shows switch valve on autonomous channel (15) or the vario valve (16) by same activation zone (14) operation.If setting vario valve is different flow rates, then the fluid of pumping can repeatedly be assigned to arbitrary valve outlet port.Fig. 4 (c) shows and is connected to the injection pump (18) that has by four passages (15) of the switch valve of same activation zone (14) operation or vario valve (16), and the fluid that allows to inject is assigned to each passage.Fig. 4 (d) shows the indicative icon of the pump in upright arrangement (17) in four crossing passages (15), and passage (15) comprises switch valve or vario valve (16), and it is all operated by same activation zone (14).This configuration provides the FLOW CONTROL for pumping fluid entering or elution band valve passage.

Pumping sketch map shown in Fig. 5 has illustrated three types pump, and it is assigned with the fluid from common-use tunnel or container.Fig. 5 (a) shows pump in upright arrangement (21), and it connects by two switch valves on the split tunnel (20) of same activation zone (19) operation or vario valve (22), and according to the valve configuration and the medium branch of institute's pumping is gone into two passages.Fig. 5 (b) shows injection pump (23), and it connects by two switch valves on the split tunnel (20) of same activation zone (19) operation or vario valve (22), and according to the valve configuration and the medium branch that is injected is gone into two passages.Fig. 5 (c) shows two groups of three switches or the vario valve (22) by same activation zone (19) operation on separate channels (20).Through disposing each valve, can realize the crawling type action through the single actuating in arbitrary passage with sequential activation.

According to the present invention, even activated by same actuator, actuated components also can be operated with geometry according to their composition differently.Such instance comprises: the pump of operating with different flow rates owing to their geometry; And valve, some of them are transferred to closed condition in actuation process, and other forwards open mode to; Or vario valve, it is configured to restricting flow is different horizontal; Or parts, it is triggered in different time by same actuator.Be provided for controlled dosage layout instance as shown in Figure 5.This valve can be provided with so that controlled dosage to be provided in many ways.For example, they can be set to close at difference activating cycle period, or are set to limit flow rate, allow to produce controlled volume dosage process effectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, actuated components can be operated according to the same actuator of their configuration using differently.Fig. 3 e shows the instance of this configuration, and wherein two parallel connections of pump are by same actuator operated.Actuated components can as one man or activate the different piece operation of circulation, and for example, a pump is at the downward stroke propulsive fluid that activates circulation, and another pump is at the up stroke propulsive fluid.

In another embodiment, can flow to cause fluid thereby produce peristaltic action by a plurality of valves of same actuator operated through the on off state that replaces a plurality of valves.Be illustrated among Fig. 5 c by three peristaltic-type pump that constitute by the valve that triggers of same actuator operated differently.

Can make up a plurality of activation zone to carry out the fluid treatment operation.The instance of this layout is illustrated among Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, and one of them a fluid stream intersects another, shifts to allow two predetermined volumes between a fluid stream.In the instance of Fig. 6, a fluid stream (23,24) is alternately triggered by pump and valve activation zone (26,27), make that injecting a fluid stream flows, but not the pumping a fluid stream is controlled by valve owing to the actuating of pumping a fluid stream.This prevents that the fluid backflow from getting into the passage of one other fluid, except that the some place that intersects at their, controlled dosage and controlled plug effect for fluid is provided thus, makes fluid can be injected into other fluid stream therein.In the indicative icon of Fig. 7, a fluid stream (30) is by (28) pumping, and if the back pressure in the passage (32) higher, then fluid locates to pass passage (32) and the valve flow through (29) goes out in (31).Therefore,, be pumped along the fluid of passage (32) when (29) when being triggered, and because the triggering of the valve of (29) and the entering (30) that can not reflux.Therefore, if before trigger (29), introduce fluid from (28), the fluid that then stops up at two a fluid streams (31) infall is injected into and is transferred together in company with the fluid from (29) pumping.

Fig. 8 (a) shows the embodiment of this activation zone (33); Wherein two central passages are linked together by two circular check valves (34); Carry out pumping when allowing to activate; Shown in Fig. 8 (b), wherein the fluid flow direction of arrow indication actuating circulation time alternately (34a) upwards circulates with activating downwards with (34b) representing respectively.And the rectangle actuated components (35) of Fig. 8 (a) is a switch valve, and it allows film (36) thereby distortion stops flowing between period of energization with blocking channel, and shown in Fig. 8 (c), wherein the valve cross section is depicted as out (35a) and (35b) pattern of closing.Another embodiment shown in Fig. 8 (d) shows the operation as two types pump operated valve.Fill action (37) and cause upwards distortion of film (36); Allow fluid to get into the pumping chamber; And in emptying circulation (38), film (36) is pressed in the substrate in chamber of sealing ingate and makes the film distortion get into lower passage, allows to pass through under the effect of the restriction of fluid before exit passageway.The instance of another triple valve is provided among Fig. 8 (e), and wherein deformable layer (40) is used for when from relative port (39) applying pressure, closing particular port, and applied pressure makes the film distortion to cover the not port of applying pressure.Film can navigate to a side of chamber or passage and close particular port with acquiescence, and only when from the port applying pressure of initially closing, opens.

Another aspect of the present invention can comprise one or more pellicles, and it can for example air be mobile through prevent fluid under low pressure effect, to allow as exhaust outlet or check-valves.Instance is including, but not limited to microporous barrier or tunica fibrosa, and it has the bubble point pressure greater than＞0psi.Preferred embodiment is used the hydrophobic membrane of aperture size less than 0.9 μ m, preferably less than 0.5 μ m, and the most preferably less than 0.2 μ m.Wherein work as aperture size less than 0.2 μ m, then film is preferably used for organism and obtains (biologicalorganism trapping).Pellicle can be for example as resulting from the exhaust outlet of fluid treating device de-bubble of the such operation of filling, dead volume and for example pumping, in Fig. 9 (a), this instance has been shown, pump in upright arrangement therein (43) has combined bubble trap (41) in downstream.Pellicle also can be configured to check-valves, in Fig. 9 (b), this instance has been shown, and injection pump (44) has the downstream exhaust outlet (42) that is used for as the check-valves operation therein.This configuration allows the fluid in the structure to obtain reliable memory and processing, and fluid is injected system when activateding only.Figure 10 shows the cross section of the passage that has bubble trap.The fluid (47) that has bubble (45) passes pellicle (46), and wherein bubble (45) preferably passes through film and removes owing to the pressure differential (48) of film both sides, and wherein pressure differential is lower than bubble along the passage needed pressure differential that continues to advance.

In another embodiment, exhaust outlet (50) is arranged as structure (49) degasification, to guarantee the filling fully in passage or chamber (52,53).Filling material can be any suitable type, and for example they can be fluids or solid.Case description among Figure 11 be arranged in the exhaust outlet that is used for degasification of test chamber (53) downstream, when inlet (51) is introduced, initially be present in the air in the structure to remove at fluid.

Guiding liquids was across exhaust outlet when in another embodiment, the use of surface tension and geometry can be used to aid in removal gas.Figure 12 (a) and 12 (b) have described the plane and the cross sectional view of example device (55) respectively, and device (55) has the exhaust outlet (56) of big relatively surface area on microchannel (54), so that carry out gas exhaust.The microchannel extends through the bottom surface of discharge chamber (57), and the surface tension in the passage and in the discharge chamber helps along passage guiding fluid, and gas discharges into the chamber simultaneously, discharges across exhaust outlet (56) then.In another embodiment, Figure 13 shows the instance of exhaust structure, and it uses control valve (60) feature structure to pass through exhaust outlet to prevent air.Liquid only passes through control valve (60) when reaching certain pressure in the discharge chamber (61).Because this adjusting pressure is higher than the bubbling point of permeable membrane, gas (59) will preferably pass through permeable membrane (58) and discharge (Figure 13 (a)).When discharge chamber (61) is full of liquid and applying pressure, deformable film (62) will be out of shape to allow liquid to flow to outlet (Figure 13 (b)).

In another embodiment, exhaust outlet can be combined in the restriction of deformable structure and check valve or loading liquid or pumping.Figure 14 (a) and (b) described the top view and the side view of de-bubble type exhaust outlet (63) respectively for example, as shown in Figure 13, exhaust outlet (63) is combined in check valve (67) under deformable structure (66) effect.Here check valve (67) be configured to through allow air deformable structure (66) when being compressed through (65) and release pressure, and when deformable material returns to its original state, seal.Therefore, in device, produce negative pressure, it sucks fluid to fill chamber (64) with known volume from passage.The fluid that other pumping mechanism can be used to push this known volume then is through the bubble trap in the device, shown in the recirculation network among Figure 22.

In another embodiment, exhaust outlet can dispose in order to sample introduction and filter and fluid control.Figure 15 (a) has described the pellicle (68a) on inlet slot.Under the action of pressure of the bubbling point that is higher than film that applies, enough little in the sample passed film (68a) and access to plant with the composition that passes film.Filtered sample and postpone sample and get into effectively is up to exerting pressure.Figure 15 (b) provides two pellicles on the inlet that is arranged in flow control apparatus.First semi-permeable layer (68b) configuration that contacts with sample initially in the position that limits, to absorb and to hold sample, allows the sample access to plant of controlled dosage volume as absorbing medium thus when pressure puts on filtration semi-permeable layer (68a) both sides.In this example, absorbent material was passed through in wicking (wick) before sample was admitted to device exerting pressure.Under enough barometric gradient effects, have only the sample in the exposure plot directly over the film to move into device.

In another embodiment, pellicle (72) can controlled volume be distributed and storage in order to accomplish.Figure 16 shows instance, and wherein reagent or sample can inject described big chamber (70) through film, and it will fill known volume.Little leaving area (73) provides in order to during filling, to remove air and release pressure, makes outlet valve not be released.When the needs injection device, apply pressure to pellicle (72) (sealing of exhaust oral region or pressure equate), to the flow cavity supercharging, force liquid to pass through pressure-reducing valve (69) and flow out admission passage (71).Similarly method is to come load sample, the exhaust area (73) that need not separate because the pellicle (72) of any exposure can carry out degassing function thus through for example injecting storage chamber (70) through elastic layer.

In another embodiment, fluid can be introduced through pellicle and carry out valve control or pump function.Figure 17 (a) and (b) show the exhaust outlet (72) that is arranged in two passage infalls and channel end respectively.Fluid in device can be controlled through applying one other fluid (73) (for example, liquids and gases), and this another kind liquid can preferably pass pellicle (72) and flow.In this example, the gas of application (73) can pass channel network or mobile in order to stop fluid in order to drive liquid (74).Bubble point pressure (surface tension) stops liquid to pass through film.Geometry also can be in order to flow with limit fluid with the pellicle combination.

In another embodiment, exhaust outlet (78) can make up to form pumping system with check valve (75).The instance of this system is illustrated among Figure 18.Figure 18 (a) described through the negative pressure across exhaust outlet (78) (76a) gradient of removing air and sucking fluid in pumping chamber (77) fill fluid.Figure 18 (b) has described the fluid that penetrates from the pumping chamber through positive pressure (76b) gradient that applies across exhaust outlet.Air moves can be provided by external pneumatic interface or integrated actuator, and button-type pump for example is described in Figure 20.

In another embodiment, use pellicle to be used for the fluid control in the structured network more than one.Figure 19 shows instance, wherein used two pellicles with different bubbling points (81a, 81b).The negative pressure that is applied (79a) can be in order to suck fluid through pellicle (81b) from passage (80a), reduces second pellicle (81a) that pressure or use have the bubbling point that is higher than institute's applied pressure gradient (79a) then and make and stop liquid to pass layer (81a).Malleation (79b) can be applied in (Figure 19 (b)) then and pass outlet (80b) to force fluid, and it can comprise limited part, valve control or other Flow Control characteristic.

In another embodiment, comprised that in activation zone electrode is to be provided for the electric switching that sensor operated, circuit operation or actuation events detect.Instance has been shown in Figure 20, and it has described button-type activation zone (84), and it has combined activating the electronic pads (82) that operating period is triggered.In this example, the hole in substrate (83) is provided for release pressure between the period of energization of structure (84), can be used in then in the device in substrate implementation actuating down by activating caused pressure.

In another embodiment, button-type or other deformable structure and pellicle combination.This is that chemical storage, injection, pumping, valve control and other fluid-operated operation provide advantage through the controlled actuation volume is provided.Figure 21 (a) and (b) described two-stage pumping scheme, wherein fluid pumping chamber (91) keep separating with big actuating volume (90) in the deformable actuating structure (87).These two kinds of geometries can be configured to the pumping of the optimization condition that provides then; Volume in deformable structure (90) is in order to the control pump pressurization pressure, and the fluid pumping volume (91) on the other side of pellicle (86) is in order to limit the pumping volume.In addition, pellicle (86) can for example stop the electrode sensor on the liquid corrosion deformable structure in order to stop corrosive or other fluid harmful to deformable actuating structure (87).In the instance shown in Figure 21, downward actuation force (89) distortion deformable structure (87) reduces to activate volume (90), to the pressurization of pumping chamber, forces fluid to pass through check valve (88) thus and passes through passage (85b) and flow out.Through removing actuation force (89) and making deformable actuating structure (87) return to its original shape, the negative pressure draw fluid gets into fluid pumping chamber (91) through check valve (88).

In alternative situations; Deformable actuating structure (87) can be used as injection pump through in activating volume (90), holding fluid; Said fluid is maintained at outside the passage of device, causes internal pressure to raise above film maintenance point (retention point) up to the actuating that acts on the deformable structure.

In another embodiment, the recirculation flow system is provided.Through using the degasification parts, the air that outlet can be connected to inlet and drawing-in system was removed before fluid flows to functional areas.By this way, fluid can more effectively mix combination and repeatedly pass through functional areas.This has advantage in many application, comprise the detection in sample preparation, the filtration of for example cross flow one, solid chemistry, the micro-fluidic system.Figure 22 shows the indicative icon of the recirculation Flow Control network that has inlet (92), pump (93), bubble trap (94) and test chamber (95).Fluid flow direction during arrow (96) expression pumping.

In other embodiment, inner pressure relief structure (97) is in order to prevent in undesirable zone, forming bubble.For example, Figure 23 has described two such structures, and it can use in passage (98), near the outlet of recirculation network, separates the fluid chain with the suction force of avoiding pump at place, next minimal pressure force.In some instance, this is to be in or near detection zone, and it can receive negative effect owing to the formation of bubble.Through introducing these extra wide zones (97), fluid preferably separates at this some place, rather than is separating near the surveyed area place.

Figure 24 shows the top view of multilayer recirculation Flow Control network.The order of connection of recirculation network is: from comprising inlet (108) beginning that is used to filter the pellicle that loads with sample; Be directly connected to the pump in upright arrangement (99) in the activation zone (102); Then be check valve (100); The sample introduction port has the check valve (101) that is used for anti-backflow; Comprise pressure-reducing valve and the deformable activation zone (102) that is used for removing the exhaust outlet (103) of bubble and has the check valve (104) of air return system (109), this has guaranteed that the positive pressure in the activation zone discharges through air return system (109) and negative pressure loads from the sample that sample inlet (101) inlet flow body is used for controlled volume; Cut apart, transform and and then the combination flow to be used for the improved shunting blender (105) of mixing based on diffusion; Test chamber (106); Pressure reduction structure (107); And connection is fed back into level (108) then, is used for the fluid re-circulation of flow control system.

In another embodiment, Figure 25 has described the top view combination picture of the multi-layered devices (110) that comprises two controlled dosage Flow Control networks, and the Flow Control network has pump, valve, bubble trap, detection groove and pressure reduction structure.The conveying of the output of each network in the input of another network, and if do not have pressure reduction structure, empty the groove of coming in and going out and will in the outlet of relative Flow Control network, produce suction force, therefore possibly cause in detection zone, producing bubble.Two buttons at top allow the fluid of pumpings from their inlet slots separately, and provide check valve to produce when preventing at a time only to have a pump to activated to reflux.Two pumps of bottom are configured to provide the injection fluid from the controlled volume of interior groove to get into through the fluid of network from other groove pumping, and mode is similar to stream and injects analytical technology.Detailed says, when activating, pump in upright arrangement (111) and (112) pumping fluid pass the check valve (113a or 113b) that anti-backflow gets into arbitrary pump.The actuation control of pump (111,112) has been confirmed from the ratio of two kinds of fluids of they input slot (114,115) pumpings separately.Gas is removed from the fluid of the pumping of passing bubble trap (116a).Through the fluid of de-bubble then pumping pass pressure-reducing valve (118b), and arrive the inlet slot (119) of pump in upright arrangement (120) then through test chamber (117a).Pump in upright arrangement (120) then in order to move through check valve (125b) pumping, through shared injection chamber (121), pass the delivery fluid that activates stop valve (122b), passes through bubble trap (116b), pressure-reducing valve (118a) and drain tank (114).Check valve (125a) prevents to deliver fluid and flows into pump in upright arrangement (123), and actuating stop valve (122b) is activated to prevent that fluid flow to groove (124) during flow circuit by pump in upright arrangement (120).When pump in upright arrangement (123) was operated, the fluid in groove (124) was through check valve (125a), injection chamber (121), the actuating stop valve of opening (122b) and get back to groove (124) recirculation.In activating circulation, check valve (125b) prevents to flow into pump (120), and actuating stop valve (122b) is triggered in case fluid flow to bubble trap (116b).

In one embodiment, pumping and valve control are activated by the external pneumatic instrument on the plate of device, and Pneumatic instrument has by blocking configurable pneumatic interconnected that (126) provide.Said configuration provides strong and platform very flexibly, and it can be configured to adopt the card that is used for multiple different application, since not only inner valve and the pump setting of configuration of card, the valve connection (131) of going back configuring external.Figure 26 shows the plan view of example device, and (Figure 26 a) and side view (Figure 26 b); Wherein through hole (130) from external pressure source to shared chamber (127) supercharging (malleation and negative pressure) on pumping district (128), to provide shared pump action down in shared pressure chamber (127) effect to all pumps (can use more than one also the pressure chamber of independent operation).Allow or do not allow the fluid in card to move based on the configuration of the valve control in the card, card is pneumatically controlled by external instrument valve (129).The pressure that is applied to the inner valve structure is by external valve (129) control and because they can be forward, negative sense or atmospheric pressure with supercharging pumping chamber (127) with being connected of atmosphere, and this can be disposed by card.Instrument valve (129) passes seal washer (133) via port (132) and is connected to card.

The present invention also comprises the multiple fluid Processing Structure, and it comprises deformable component, and deformable component can be used as pump or valve.Deformable component can be out of shape the entering fluid handling structure, or acts on the part of fluid handling structure, increases to produce for restriction of flowing or pressure.

Part or all of fluid handling structure can be out of shape.This restriction can be seen Figure 27 (a), Figure 27 (b) and Figure 27 (c) respectively in order to the control fluid stable state single valve, many valves or moving in mobile valve operation.In Figure 27, passage is limited substrate (203) and deformable material (202).In Figure 27 (a), single bearing (201) moves perpendicular to the length of passage (204), the distortion elastomeric material (202) and the therefore part of seal channel (204).In Figure 27 (b), three bearings (201) distortion deformable material (202) admission passage structures (204) are to form crawling type pumping action through the actuating that replaces them to advance/to go out passage.In Figure 27 (c), bearing (201) moves along the length direction of passage (204), and distortion deformable material admission passage (204) is with along the fluid in the bearing moving direction squeezing passage.

According to an embodiment, external component comprises actuation part, and it contact with fluid handling component, makes passage that the part distortion take place, and produces passage and clamps, and therefore permission is through making passage and open (Figure 28) or closing (Figure 29) and carry out valve and operate.

Figure 28 shows the different embodiment before activating of the present invention, and its combination of using deformable material (205) and indeformable material (206) is to produce fluid handling structure (208).Deformable material can be elastomer (205), like Figure 28 (a) to shown in 28 (h), or other material (207), like Figure 28 (m) to 28p) shown in, it is in the change shape down of institute's applied pressure equal excitation effect for example.Figure 28 (i) shows to 28 (1) and how to make up deformable material (205,207) and make it be used to form fluid handling structure (208).

Figure 29 shows deformable material (210) and is activating skew entering different fluid Processing Structure under (209) effect.The different external actuator can use or make up use separately.They should be preferably by design size suitably under brake function, to produce the most effectively distortion.An instance is that round bearing skew deformable material gets into semi-circular channel.Be moulding and or limit deformable material in the alternative method shown in Figure 29 (c) to29 (f) to guarantee material (210) skew entering fluid handling structure under actuating (209) effect.

Deformable material according to aspect of the present invention can have any suitable type.A preferred embodiment comprises it being elastomeric deformable material.Preferably, deformable material is resilient, in case so that remove the excitation of distortion then return to its predeformation shape and position.Therefore, for example, after removing actuator, utilize actuator to be compressed the deformable elastomeric material that gets into passage and will most preferably automatically return to the outer position of passage.

In another embodiment; Deformable material is bistable state or monostable material; For example polymer or composition metal; In a single day it can change shape to another predetermined geometry from predetermined geometry, and removes or cancel excitation then, can recover or impel to return to initial state and position.Such instance can comprise manually, calorifics ground, the button-type actuator of operation electrically or mechanically, and it has formed convexity or recessed structure suitably.

The liquid handling parts can be processed by substrate or a plurality of substrate of single moulding.Fluid handling structure can be formed into the substrate of monoblock or limited and formed the several layers of substrate.

Fluid handling structure (211) can partly or be integrally formed in the deformable material (212), as shown in Figure 30.Figure 30 (a) and 30 (b) show deformable material (212), and it comprises the fluid handling structure (211) that is partly limited substrate (213).In Figure 30 (a), deformable material (212) is on the surface of substrate (213), and in Figure 30 (b), deformable material (212) joins with substrate (213) and gets in the substrate (213).Figure 30 (c) and 30 (d) show and are formed in the deformable material (212) and by another deformable layer (212) sealed fluid flow Processing Structure (211), and in Figure 30 (d), fluid handling structure (211) is integrally formed in the deformable material (212).

Deformable material can be the thin film of ratio deviation distance, or the deformable material of monoblock, and wherein the degree of depth of deformable material is greater than needed skew.Bigger deformable material provides through allowing the bigger district that exerts pressure to simplify the advantage of actuating mechanism, and this can cause that distortion gets into littler structure.

Deformable material can be on the outer surface of fluid handling component or in fluid treating device.

Deformable material can cover whole surface or part surface.For example, it can comprise packing ring or O type circle geometry.

Deformable material can be concordant with the surface or be extended in the surface of passage.

Deformable material can be out of shape the one or more fluid handling structures of entering.

In another embodiment, a plurality of stable state valves of processing by deformable material can in order to through their open/close state alternately to produce crawling type action causing fluid flow (Figure 27 (b)).

Deformable or micro-fluidic structure can be combined in other fluid restricted element, and for example divergent nozzle or valve are to form the part of pump or pumping mechanism.These valve control structures can be adjacent to the pumping chamber and arrange, shown in arrow among Figure 28 (o) and Figure 28 (p), or along the length layout of pumping chamber or passage.The valve of arranging along the length of passage can comprise that directed flow suppresses structure, for example aisle limit or check valve step by step.Figure 31 shows the passage (217) that is formed in the substrate (215), and it has profiled surface, and check valve control effect is provided when deformable material (214) squints.In this example, the rolling bearing (218) that moves along the direction of arrow is squeezed in the fluid (216) before the bearing along profiled surface (217).The fluid pressure of before bearing, setting up makes film (214) skew, pushes fluid (216) along profile.

According to another embodiment, cause that in fluid handling structure the moving of actuator of distortion can produce pump action through causing wavy action, wavy action forces fluid along channel flow.Figure 32 (a) and 32 (b) provide the indicative icon in pumping district, and it is by the linearity (220) that causes fluid mobile (219) or radially (221) actuation motion generation on longshore current body treating apparatus surface.Figure 33 has described the top view of multi-layered devices, and its use is connected to radial pump (224) configuration of microfluidic channel (225), and microfluidic channel (225) leads to three valve positions (222) and goes into/export (223).Because elastomeric distortion is carried out along the length of passage, therefore in many cases,, do not need valve to stop backflow because kept the distortion admission passage.

These specific embodiments use mechanical brakes applying pressure on the deformable channel design perpendicular to channel direction, and make that to be parallel to the power of be out of shape basalis be zero or make its reduction to reduce friction.Deformable substrate can be the integration section of micro flow chip, and rotating part or actuator can be the parts of attached or subsidiary instrument or such controlled device.The instance of mechanical actuator is illustrated among Figure 34, and can for example comprise round (227) and bearing assembly (228), pin and piston (226), oscillating deck (229), cam (230) and scraper plate (231).Other alternate preferred embodiment can comprise manual activation; For example use operating personnel's finger; Or through using the energy that is applied by instrument or device, these instruments or device comprise static, electric, resistive, light, piezoelectricity, electromagnetism, pneumatic, hydraulic pressure, linearity and magnetive attraction actuator.Case description shown in Figure 35 the decomposition view of journal bearing pump, it has two actuation head that are used for the device that Figure 32 describes in order to the distortion elastomer layer.A bearing head assembly is used to carry out pump action, and another is operated near valve.Bearing assembly comprises the round (234) that is contained in the housing (232), and housing (232) is installed on the gear assembly (235,236) that is connected to drive rod (238).Whole assembly driven in translation half-twist with the swivel bearing assembly, and is maintained at together through the steady pin (233) that housing (237) is connected instrument.

Optical measuring device and method

Below about the description of some preferred embodiment with light as the electromagnetic wave that uses in the device.But, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some embodiment can be applicable to other electromagnetic wave comparably.

The purpose of optical fluid detecting unit is a guiding light ray access way, with analysing fluid, by flow through or enhancing detection sensitivity when being contained in the handled material of fluid in the unit, thereby and improve detector response.The vertical and horizontal that structure disclosed herein, apparatus and method can be applicable in the fluid detection unit are measured.

In order to analyze the incident light that crosses after the fluid that holds in the detecting unit, analytical method is colorimetric method, luminous (phosphorescence and fluorescence), absorption process and transmission beam method in the passage.

Fluid in the detecting unit can be static or move.

By the molecule analyzed can be in passage the optional position, for example, they can be bonded to the detecting unit wall in fluid, or are attached to the another kind of material in the detecting unit.

The outer optical element (for example lens and filter) of sheet also can be in order to assemble and device is incided in adjustment and from the ray of the light of device transmission.

Can combine any known electromagnetic radiation transmission, reflection, refraction, correction or partition member according to device of the present invention.The instance of these parts is including, but not limited to absorption, reflection, refraction or the diffractive part of following part as single-piece (singlet) or a plurality of optical elements; Diffuser is (by discontinuity of material; The fine structure on surface produces), lens (concave surface, convex surface, sphere, aspheric surface, Fresnel lens), prism (being used for guiding and separated light, spectroscope, collimator), refractive surface (material with different refractivity, formation moth eye fine structure is with the reflection of minimizing surface), be used to change face coat (the for example optical coating of thin metal layer), diffraction grating, speculum (plane, sphere, aspheric surface, Fresnel, corner cube speculum) and the optical filter (absorption, dichroism, binary optical filter) of refractive index.

According to an embodiment, this device is a multi-layered devices, and the monoblock device is a polymer partly or entirely.Flow Control or optics can be through removing in the monoblock device or alternate material or pass layer and excise fully and process.According to device of the present invention can by in batches, production technology sequence or continuous and making.Such technology including, but not limited to impression, injection moulding, punching press, roller cut, ion or chemical etching, laser treatment and hot forming.

In one embodiment, any or the both of light source S and detector D can deliver channel location perpendicular to fluid.Figure 36 (a) shows the top view of microfluidic channel (401 and 402) to 36 (d), microfluidic channel (401 and 402) on top surface, have transmissive window (301) be used for illumination with or detect.In these embodiment, detection zone is along longitudinally locating through the microfluidic channel (402) between the transmissive window (301).

The cross section that has a device of vertical detection zone be illustrated in Figure 37 (a) and (b) with (c) in, wherein photon is redirected element and passes through device in order to direct electromagnetic radiation.S and D refer to light source and photodetector respectively.Figure 37 (a) shows the angled reflector (412) at the place, arbitrary end of passage (403), and it is being redirected the light path (302) through the waveguide (301) in the device (303) between the vertical and horizontal direction substantially.Figure 37 (b) shows instance, and wherein angled reflecting surface (412) is in order to guiding light path in device (303).Light path (302) can through redirecting light pass between transmissive window or the layer port (405) and transversal Flow Control or non-Flow Control waveguide (404,406) and in device layer between pass.Device can also combine rib body shape (prismatic) structure with the light in the guiding device.In conjunction with the exemplary means (303) of rib body shape or refraction structure be illustrated among Figure 37 (c).In this example, the sense channel (304) of having filled fluid has angled end wall with the top layer of guiding light path (302) through device, along sense channel (304), and through the bottom ejaculation.

In one embodiment, reflection part (minute surface or more the material of high index of refraction) add microfluidic channel to wall to avoid loss through conduit wall.Figure 38 and 39 provides the instance that is used for depositing through reflectance coating the manufacturing step of the reflection part of making microfluidic channel.Figure 38 shows through excising whole layer and makes four steps of 3 bed devices to produce space or Flow Control passage (307).Coating (306) is added before layer is being bonded together or intermediate steps after, at the microfluidic channel (408) of final sealing applying coating some layer that bond before.And Figure 39 shows the manufacturing step of 2 bed devices, and 2 bed devices pass through for example impression (embossing) or injection moulding, follow the technology shaping of reflecting layer deposition and assembling then.In this example, going up execution at basalis (305) in assembling before with the microfluidic channel (407) that produces coating makes up and applies.Reflectance coating (306) can adopt sputter or chemical vapour deposition technique after making up, or deposits through for example drop stamping (like what in printing industry, often use, being used for ornamental coating) method.Drop stamping provides in simple punching course sedimentary facies to thick metal film; And deposit complex multilayered structures in some cases, simple punching course is easy to be integrated in the continuous production decision (web-based) for example Network Based or that reel-to-reel (reel to reel) is produced.Drop stamping can be carried out the film with further structure or coating deposition before or after impression or lamination process.

In a further embodiment, in device, set up photoconductive tube (or waveguide) to be used for guiding light ray, and be length direction guiding light in some situation along detecting unit to detecting unit.Figure 40 (a) and (b) shown in cross section show the instance of the detecting unit that has the coating passage that is used to strengthen internal reflection.Figure 40 (a) shows the instance of three basalises (309), and basalis (309) has formed the micro-fluidic waveguide (409) that has reflecting surface (308).Longitudinally guided along channel-length direction perpendicular to the top in the microfluidic channel or lower surface and near the light of angled surface texture approx, and in place, the other end reflection of passage with through penetrating with the inlet surface facing surfaces.Figure 40 (b) shows the instance of 4 basalises (310), and basalis (310) combination is passed a plurality of layers waveguide to provide.In this example, waveguide structure (410) has reflecting surface (311) and can be formed by the space in the layer.These spaces can be empty, also can fill up transmission material.Shown in Figure 40 (c); On the laminar surface that coating also can be applied to not with waveguide or Flow Control structure (313) contact; Wherein, Cremasteric reflex on the bottom substrate surface (312) layer in order to allow incident radiation passing microfluidic channel or space (314) afterwards, is reflected perpendicular to end face approx.

Dichromatic, absorb and other wave filters also can combine one or more layers surface through coating unit for example.

In a further embodiment, in conjunction with different refractive component, it is including, but not limited to prism and the material with different refractivity.Figure 41 (a) shows prism (411) and lens (319) structure, and it was stamped in the layer before forming three layers of (315) micro fluidic device in bonding.In the present embodiment, incident light (317) is conducted through the rib structure and gets into two relative microfluidic channels (316), is reflected at arbitrary end place of passage then, externally focuses on this device through concave mirror structure (319).Reflecting layer or coating (318) are used to improve photon output (photon yield).Among Figure 41 (b) similar structure has been shown, wherein three layers of (324) micro fluidic device combine concavees lens (320) and convex lens (325) in order to optically focused (322), and have combined reflecting surface (321) to pass through space or Flow Control passage (323) in order to guiding light.Figure 41 (a) and (b) on the top surface of device, combined lens in order to help optically focused.And Figure 41 (c) has combined lenticular unit, in order to the light in the focusing arrangement, for example gets into waveguide in its alignment (in-line) detecting unit, perhaps arrives external component or next from external component.In the present embodiment, shown 3 layers of substrate (326) device, it has concavees lens (331) with the focusing incident radiation, and has convex lens (327) in order to focused radiation when detecting unit is crossed in radiation.The light (329) that reflecting surface (328) is used to minimize along passage (330) wall decreases.

According to another aspect of the present invention, integrated lenticular unit can be made in the single or multiple lift system.These lens combinations can with microfluidic channel coplane or coplane not.In a lot of instances, this allows to adopt and simply produces lenticular unit in order to the identical method of method that forms passage.

Additional embodiments can be held fluid and carry passage or the outer light shift component of detecting unit.For example: Figure 41 (a), 41 (b) and 41 (c) have shown the lens of in the part identical with the fluid detection unit, making, but are not integrally formed with detecting unit.Other lenses, for example Fresnel or aspherical mirror can likewise fine uses.

The poly-lens system also can make in device, to improve the guiding function to light, sees Figure 42.This instance shows the poly-lens element, and it is used for collimated telescope (335), comprises the convex lens (333) and concavees lens (334) parts of alignment channel or space (332).

Some embodiment has used optical fiber, and it can adopt or not adopt other lenticular unit to be used for the enhancing signal coupling.Figure 43 (a) and (b) show the flow control apparatus (336) that has the independent optical fiber of longitudinally arranging with respect to microfluidic channel (337) (338).Fibre bundle also can be used, and in certain preferred embodiment, externally extends to the Flow Control part.In such instance, Figure 43 (c) shows conic optic fiber beam (340,341), and it is adjacent to micro fluidic device (339) location and is used for signal and obtains and/or throw light on.

Other rib and catoptric arrangement can be used for focusing on or guiding light is used to improve signal response.For example corner cube reflector as shown in Figure 44, provides directional light to return, and can be used in and strengthen exposure and signal obtains.Figure 44 (a) provides single corner cube unit (342), and it is parallel to incident path reflected radiation (343).Similarly, Figure 44 (b) shows the cross section of the corner cube cell array (344) of reflection incident radiation (343).Reflector can laterally or longitudinally be positioned in the micro fluidic device; Perhaps in the fluid passage or approach the Flow Control passage; For example, Figure 45 (a) shows the longitudinally reflector of location, and it is formed on the end of the micro-fluidic detection flow unit that has reflecting wall.(347) indication of passing through the fluid flow direction of detecting unit is provided.The radiation (346) that is incident to the surface has in entering before the Flow Control passage of reflecting wall and corner cube end (345), by surface texture (349) collimation.Radiation (346) is reflected along detecting unit then, and ejecting device (348).Shown in the method such as Figure 45 (b) that substitutes, wherein flow control apparatus (350) has combined the reflector array (354) of laterally locating with respect to detecting unit (352).Radiation (351) at first by parallel surfaces structure (353) collimation, is crossed flow channel then, and is reflected in approaching returning on the light path then.Reflector (358) also can be positioned at the micro fluidic device outside, shown in Figure 45 (c), to simplify the manufacturing of this device.In this example, 3 layers of micro fluidic device (355) have combined detecting unit (356), and this unit approaches the reflective array location, allow radiation (359) before reflection, can pass through device (355) fully.

Use collimator (349,353,357) to help guide radiation, make light approximate parallel and perpendicular to the surface.

Similarly, other reflector and edge surface combination can improve photon density through the guiding radiation.Figure 46 has described the ray trace instance of rib and collimation surface texture respectively.These two kinds of technology can both be in order to providing the more light beam of collimation, and when with other textural association, can cause improved signal response.Figure 46 (a) has described the prism array on the substrate surface, and it is according to incident angle refraction or reflected radiation (360), so that control gives off firing angle.Figure 46 (b) shows surface texture (362), and the wall of this structure is perpendicular to substrate surface (361), with collimation incident radiation (364).Refraction on the structural walls (362) or internal reflection provide the radiation output (363) of collimation.

Some instances that rib and collimation surface texture can be used in the flow control apparatus are illustrated in Figure 47 (a) in (j).These structural diagrams are 2 layers of foundation arrangement, but are equally applicable to other multi-layered devices.These structures also can be used in the instance of single layer device, microslide for example, and wherein the surface of slide or cover glass is formed pattern.The instance of this structure is to adopt corner cube reflector in the microslide bottom surface, only through reflection in a large number perpendicular to the light beam of slide surface to strengthen microarray (microarray) and other fluorescence imaging on the slide apparent surface.Detecting unit or space (371) can be the parts of Flow Control network, and described here be cross section or vertical section.Body structure surface (365) and or reflecting surface (366) configuration be used to guide photon transversely, vertically or not only laterally but also longitudinally through the Flow Control passage.

Figure 47 (a) shows the use near the collimating structure (365) of Flow Control passage (371) location.This structure has reduced because of scattering through the photon of calibrating these surface textures of process and has launched the light loss that produces at random.

Figure 47 (b) shows the use near the collimating structure (365) of Flow Control passage (371) location that has reflecting wall (366).In this example, in the wall reflection admission passage (371) that the photon of the terminal admission passage of collimating structure (365) is tilted.The photon that reflecting wall (366) has improved in the passage (371) keeps (containment).Photon penetrates passage (371) at the channel end place near the reflection inclined wall, is calibrated once more and separating device by (365) at this photon.This method also is not suitable for the imaging session of passage (371), but from whole passage (371) image data the time, has improved photon output.

Figure 47 (c) shows the use of the fusiform structure (367) in the passage (371).These structures (367) also can be used for helping calibrate the photon of the structure of passing them through reflection with respect to the photon that their normal direction on surface has big incidence angle.Therefore the angle of rib shape surface texture has determined the angle of accepting of photon.This signal to noise ratio response in improve using is particularly useful, for example excites through separation and launches the luminous of photon.The excitation photon through collimation perpendicular to patterned surface incident is reflected, and part emission photon at random passes through fusiform structure.

In Figure 47 (d), can add reflecting surface (366), to make it cross passage (371) retroeflection to improve photon output through the reflection photon, the form of structure reflector (368) also can be adopted in these surfaces, for example corner cube, sphere, or aspheric surface reflector.Through making reflector become the part of channel surface, shown in Figure 47 0, the light loss at material boundary place reduces, and in some applications, can be in structure attach material to improve point-sourcre imaging, like microarray or microballoon surface imaging.But placement surface structure and be not suitable for some and use in passage because its hinders the interaction of fluid, and also can need farther photocentre.

Figure 47 (g) and (h) comprise respectively and approach passage (371) surface and at passage (371) lip-deep rib shape layer (367).In Figure 47 (g),, reflecting layer (366) provide the photon that has passed through fusiform structure (367) through reflection to improve the collimater of photon output for adding fusiform structures (367).

Lens also can be combined in the structure, advance/go out the light of flow control apparatus with focusing.Instance among Figure 47 (i) and 47 (j) illustrates the device that combines aspheric surface type lens (369) and Fresnel type lens (370) respectively.

Instance among Figure 48 is used for the light path of longitudinal illumination and point-sourcre imaging (377) and follows the tracks of (372).Incident light from the source is focused on the reflecting wall (375) by non-spherical lens (376), and this makes light path turn 90 degrees partially with the point of irradiation light source along passage length.The excitation photon of passing passage (373) is reflected at the wall place on the end relatively of passage then, and scioptics (376) externally focus on.The emission of point source in passage can be calibrated to improve signal response by (375) reflection and (374).Combination is used vertically has many advantages with horizontal photon induction element, and some instances have been shown in Figure 47 and Figure 48.

This structure can provide the single detector unit, and it is applicable to the photon detection method of most of types.For example a lot of Technology Needs increase optical path length and are used for the analysis of high-resolution scheme for the basis, or need be along the imaging of passage length.

The different detection methodology can make up and be used for measuring multiple parameters.For example be used for the analysis of fluorescence microarray, vertically absorptiometry can be concluded the introducing of a certain reagent or the appearance of detection bubble, and the luminous point light source in analyzing is by laterally imaging.

The signal to noise ratio that can be improved under a lot of situation, this is to particularly important based on luminous measurement, and wherein excitation wavelength and emission wavelength are very approaching.Interference from excitation wavelength can be minimized through vertically exciting with laterally detecting.

Be arranged in the instance of the same side of device in some detector and source, encapsulate minimized instrument and be simplified.

In one embodiment, detector and source region are positioned on the device contiguously.Figure 49 (a) shows the such instance in the device (378), and wherein photon (383) gets into clear area (379), and photon longitudinally can be conditioned before the reflection here, and penetrates through another transparent (380) district.Such adjusting can comprise grating, prism, fluorescer, illuminator or change the spectral content of wave beam or the wave filter of shape.Vertically reflection can be carried out through external waveguide pipe (381), shown in 49 (b), or in device, carries out through internal wave conduit (382), shown in Figure 49 (c).The advantage that makes light path (383) pass the light regulating element on the device by this way is that card can be designed for the demand of proprietary application.This realizes multiple insert of instrumentation or device, and needn't change the instrumental optics structure.

Figure 50 (a) and 50 (b) show the other instance that is used to make waveguide.Waveguide is operated incident light through reflection or transmission on material boundary.In the manufacturing approach in the typical in the past micro fluidic device, related to and used whole planar materials, directly optical fiber has been inserted sensing system, or should the surface with the mode photoetching composition that is similar to the semiconductor device manufacturing.In the instance of Figure 50 (a), adopt proper implements (386) to use refractive material (387) and arrive the preparatory formation passage (384) in the flow control apparatus (385).This refractive material is cured to form activity (reactive) waveguide (388) of the solidified forming in the flow control apparatus.Preformed waveguide (389) is inserted into flow control apparatus (390) among Figure 50 (b).Included waveguide (393) is then by waveguide and the flow control apparatus (392) of sealant (391) sealing with the generation combination.

A kind of method that is used to improve the guide properties of transparent material is the refractive index difference that is increased in the material boundary place.Change of refractive in that the variation of the surface characteristic of these boundaries can cause is used for improving reflection or transmission.In specific thin film deposition, can provide improved surface to be used for waveguide and reflecting surface, for example, deposition (tens or hundreds of nanometer) silver coating is to provide negative refractive index.

For in complex geometric shapes, guiding electromagnetic energy, the layer that can enoughly make up in advance forms passage.If desired, formed passage can be filled then.These structures can be passed through to inject and curing transparent material filling then, or arrange that established waveguide gets into the vacuum structure filling, as shown in Figure 50.

The instrument configuration method

The present invention also provides method; Whereby; Whole or some upgrade information, operating data or software architecture that is used for instrument can be included in the insert or be included in insert; Instrument can comprise some or all the software module that is used for template or base program operation thus, but does not comprise the needed total data of complete operation instrument, and some this type data are provided by removable insert.Insert can be identified when being connected to instrument, and according to the data reprogramming operation that is encoded in one or more inserts.

Insert can or can mainly not be used for needed other purpose of standard of instruments operation, for example is used for the SIM of mobile phone or is used for the micro flow chip of analytical equipment.Insert is identified when inserting the coupling instrument, and carries out the function program of instrument according to the functional of instrument and the cooperation of the data of coding entering insert.

In one embodiment, insert comprises visit and authorization message, allows the certain function or the characteristic of user's service access instrument, for example new application and protocol data, user's setting, equipment energy characteristic or functional.

In another embodiment; The invention provides by providing data to improved user-operable property and the operation automation that the insert of instrument with automatic part or whole application operatings brings; And user-defined setting is provided; Therefore simplified user interactions, this has strengthened system reliability and has simplified instrumentation.

In another embodiment, insert comprises visit or authorization message, and it allows user's service access remote nature.These remote nature can comprise and be used to upgrade, the internet site of tentative or application message, or are used for the LAN of instrument and computer system accesses.

Embodiments of the invention can comprise the data that are included in the insert, and it relates to the use of insert or instrument.Data can be stored on the insert at production period also can comprise user, tentative and application message.The instance of this categorical data comprises that data, sensing data, setting, sampling or operating position information (for example, the GPS of sample follows the tracks of), time and date postmark, creation data and quality control that factory set, calibration information, user profile, device use, collect, tracking and other can be by the information of instrument, user or instrument/device/insert manufacturer use

In another embodiment, data can by user or instrument before use, use in or use the scene, back to write or upgrade.The information that the scene writes also can comprise user data, pass through sample or operating position information, result, instrument setting, experimental condition, application message and other user or the instrument data of global positioning system input by the user or by instrument.

In another embodiment, insert comprises User Profile information.Allow the user based on the automatic configure instrument of user's personal settings, or teach the operation that instrument is carried out or required usually about the user.This can directly be carried out by the instruction on insert, or learns the algorithm of the software on the instrument usually, analyzes active user or user's former operation in addition.

One embodiment of the present of invention have been described instrument and insert framework, and one or more therein inserts become the part of the software upgrading approach that is used for instrument, and more particularly, insert comprises upgrade information.The instance of framework has been shown among Figure 53.The method that new software information is integrated on the insert allows instrument to accept new insert application, demarcation or routine data at once, and does not need the user via other media upgrade software, has therefore simplified user's operation and has reduced manufacturer's expense.The additional advantage of utilizing the consumer insert to carry upgrade data is that requiring to mate instrument has correct interface to be connected to the inserted device of coupling, has increased safety features.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides operating system software, its be built with core engine management function and in build the proprietary application module, and as desired or when requiring to some extent, satisfy market or client's needs by insert control with configure instrument,

In one embodiment, adopted object-oriented method, wherein instrument comprises program subprogram and function to carry out whole general and bottom operations, for example image data, selection data channel, pumping, switch valve, design temperature, template GUI etc.In one embodiment, the generalized subroutine in the instrument can be operated to carry out the actions below one or more: image data, select acquisition channel, control pumping, control valve switching, design temperature, graphic user interface configuration, and realize that the instrument operation is used for the one or more of the program code of the insert of application-specific, data or instruction

One or more inserts comprise application for instrument subprogram and function calls and variable.This method is illustrated by the instance shown in Figure 54.This method allows the operation of insert control instrument and is used for the GUI of the special application of insert.The instance of program circuit can see in Figure 55 and Figure 56, and wherein insert starts application program and transmits, or is implemented in and transmits between program, service data or the variable to accomplish function by instrument.

In another embodiment, can adopt non-OO method, wherein instrument comprises in order to carry out program code all shared and bottom operation, for example image data, selection acquisition channel, pumping, transfer valve, design temperature, template GUIs etc.One or more inserts comprise code with or variable be used for the insert application-specific to realize instrumentation.This method allows the operation of insert control instrument and is used for the GUI of insert application-specific.

This distributed structure/architecture (for example, Figure 54) has minimized the software development that is associated with the new application and development of the insert that is used for instrument and is associated.The instrument of programming then can be accepted new application generally, and does not need customer upgrade software.

In addition, the invention provides extra software security, because executable program instructions is not present in the instrument.Insert only carries the instruction that is used for the specialized application of specific insert in order to configure instrument.This method provides more difficult reverse engineering path, because need the execution of complete prehension program.If instrument and insert be reversed engineering alternately, then result's executable program only discloses the data of the proprietary application of the insert that is used for manufacturing.

Other purpose of the present invention is that the information and the data that are included in the insert can write or read, and perhaps not only write but also read.

According to another embodiment; The volatile memory of whole operation codes that insert can transmit it to the instrument; The sign and storage and the data read functions that only keep it; Therefore make it become " disposable " in case device and insert remove from instrument, then destroy whole operation codes.This has prevented for the unauthorized access that is included in the command code in the insert; Because it can only be read by the coupling instrument; And because when insert is inserted into, command code only is present in the volatile memory of mating instrument, and in case close instrument or remove insert or the complete operation program; No matter which takes place at first, and command code is forever wiped automatically.

Insert described herein can be single or a plurality of.Insert can be a mobile storage means, for example flash disk, sensor or micro-fluidic box.Data on insert can store with multiple different form, carry memory, microprocessor or other integrated circuit, electrical interconnection or resistance, radio frequency, optics, machinery or electromagnetic form including, but not limited to bar code, plate.

Aforementioned is specific embodiment of the present invention, particularly micro-fluidic embodiment.Should understand the embodiments described herein only for purposes of illustration, those skilled in the art can carry out a large amount of replacements and modification under prerequisite without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Because they are included in the scope of claim of the present invention or its equivalent text, intention comprises whole this type modifications and the replacement in the scope here.

In the full text of this specification, (comprise appended any claim); Only if requirement in addition in the context; Then speech " comprises " and variation " comprises " like " having comprised " and illustrative and will be interpreted as to mean and comprise definite integral body or step or integral body in groups or step, does not comprise any other integral body or step or integral body in groups or step but do not get rid of.

The referenced drawings mark

01 Actuation component actuated components

02 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passage

03 Actuation Area activation zone

04 Injection Pump injection pump Symbol injection pump symbol

05 In-Line Pump Symbol pump symbol in upright arrangement

06 On/Off Valve Or Variable Flow Valve Symbol switch valve or variable flow rate valve symbol

07 One Way Valve Symbol check valve symbol

08 Actuation Area activation zone

09 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

10 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

11 Injection Pump injection pumps

12 On/Off Valve Or Variable Flow Valve switch valve or variable flow rate valves

13?In-line?pump?actuated?on?opposite?actuation?cycle?to?other?Inline?Pump

The pump in upright arrangement that in the actuating circulation relative, activates with other pump in upright arrangement

14 Actuation Area activation zone

15 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

16 On/Off Valve Or Variable Flow Valve switch valve or variable flow rate valves

17 In-Line Pump pump in upright arrangement

18 Injection Pump injection pumps

19 Actuation Area activation zone

20 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

21 In-Line Pump pump in upright arrangement

22 On/Off Valve Or Variable Flow Valve switch valve or variable flow rate valves

23 Stream of fluid a fluid streams

24 Stream of fluid a fluid streams

25 Stream crossover/intersection point a fluid stream exchange/crosspoints

Injection pump and two valves in the same activation zone of 26 Injector pump and two valves in same Actuation Area

Injection pump and two valves in the same activation zone of 27 Injector pump and two valves in same Actuation Area

28 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

Injection pump and two valves in the same activation zone of 29 Inline Pump and two valves in same Actuation Area

30 Stream of fluid a fluid streams

31 Stream crossover/intersection point a fluid stream exchange/crosspoints

32 Stream of fluid a fluid streams

33 Actuation Area activation zone

34 One Way Valves check valves

35 Membrane stop valve film stop valves

36 Deformable Membrane deformable films

37 Inlet Fluid flow inlet fluids flow

38 Outlet Fluid flow outlet fluid flows

39 Inlet port with Applied force apply the inlet of power

40 Deformable Layer deformable layer

41 Debubbler bubble traps

The exhaust outlet of 42 Vent With Check valve band check-valves

43 In-Line Pump pump in upright arrangement

44 Injection Pump injection pumps

45 Gas gases

46 Semi-permeable Membrane Or Vent pellicle or exhaust outlets

47 Fluid flow fluids flow

The gas flow that 48 Gas flow from pressure gradient are caused by barometric gradient

49 Substrate substrates

50 Vent exhaust outlets

51 Inlet Port inlet

52 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

53 Chamber chambeies

54 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

55 Layered Device deckers

56 Vent exhaust outlets

57 Vent Chamber discharge chambers

58 Semi-permeable Membrane Or Vent pellicle or exhaust outlets

59 Gas Bubble bubbles

60 Regulating valve control valves

61 Venting chamber discharge chambers

62 Deformable Membrane deformable films

63 Semi-permeable Membrane Or Vent pellicle or exhaust outlets

64 Fluid chamber flow cavities

65 Air passage air flues

66 Deformable structure deformable structures

67 One-way Valve check valves

68 Semi-permeable Membranes pellicles

69 Pressure Relief Valve pressure-reducing valves

70 Fluid Reservoir fluid slots

71 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

72 Semi-permeable membrane pellicles

73 Gas Flow Path gas flow paths

74 Fluid Flow Path fluid flowing paths

75 One Way Valves check valves

76 Applied pressure gradient applied pressure gradients

Fluid in the 77 Fluid Flow in pump chamber pump chambers flows

78 Semi-permeable Membrane pellicles

79 Applied pressure gradient applied pressure gradients

80 Fluid Flow fluids flow

81 Semi-permeable membrane pellicles

82 Conductive Material conductive materials

Hole in the 83 Hole in substrate layer basalises

84 Deformable Actuation Structure deformable actuating structures

85 Fluid flow direction fluid flow directions

86 Semi-permeable membrane pellicles

87 Deformable Actuation Structure deformable actuating structures

88 Pressure Relief Valve pressure-reducing valves

89 Actuation direction of deformable structure deformable structure direction of actuation

90 Actuation volume activate volume

91 Fluid Pumping Chamber fluid pumping chambeies

92 Inlet port inlet

93 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

94 Debubbler bubble traps

95 Detection chamber test chamber

96 Direction Of Fluid Flow fluid flow directions

97 Pressure relief structures pressure reduction structures

98 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

99 In-line Pump pump in upright arrangement

100 One Way Valve check valves

101 Sample introduction with one way valve utilize the check valve sample introduction

102 Actuation Area activation zone

103 Debubbler bubble traps

104 One way valve pressure relief valve check valve pressure-reducing valves

105 Split flow Mixer shunt blender

106 Detection Chambers test chamber

107 Pressure relief structure pressure reduction structures

108 Sample introduction Port with semi-permeable membrane have the injection port of pellicle

109 Air return return-airs

110 Multi-layer fluidic device multilayer flow control apparatus

111 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

112 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

113 One-way valves check valves

114 Fluid storage well fluid storage grooves

115 Fluid storage well fluid storage grooves

116 Debubbler bubble traps

117 Detection chambers test chamber

118 Fluid pressure relief structures fluid pressure structures

119 Fluid storage well fluid storage grooves

120 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

121 Injection Chamber inject the chamber

122 Actuation stop valve activate stop valve

123 Inline Pump pump in upright arrangement

124 Fluid storage well fluid storage grooves

125 One-way valves check valves

126 Fluidic Card Flow Control cards

127 Pressure chamber pressure chambers

Pump on the 128 On-card Pumps cards

129 Instrument Valves gauge valves

130 Pressurization port boost port

131 External valve interface external valve interfaces

132 Valve interface port valve interface ports

133 Gasket packing rings

201 Ball Or Roller Bearing ball bearing or roller bearings

202 Flexible Wall flexible walls

203 Rigid Substrate rigid basement

204 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

205 Elastomer material elastomeric materials

The indeformable substrate of 206 Non-deformable substrate

207 Deformable material deformable materials

208 Fluidic Channel Or Chamber Flow Control passage or chambeies

209 Direction Of Applied Force apply the direction of power

210 Deformable Material deformable materials

211 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

212 Deformable Material deformable materials

213 Substrate substrates

214 Deformable Material deformable materials

215 Substrate With Suitable Restrictions Or contoured surface have the suitable restriction or the substrate of profiled surface

216 Flowing Fluid flowing fluids

217 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

218 Bearing bearings

219 Direction Of Movement And Flow move and flow direction

220 Linear pumping zone linear pump districts

221 Radial pumping zone radial pump districts

222 Valve Locations valves location

223 Inlet/Outlet Ports inlet/outlet ports

224 Radial Pumps radial pumps

225 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

The shaft-like driving mechanism of 226 Rod Like Driving Mechanism

227 Spherical Objects rounds

228 Rotating Housing rotary shells

229 Rotating Platform (Wobble Board) rotation platforms (oscillating deck)

Rotating cam on the 230 Rotating Cams On Rod Structure bar structures

231 Rotating Wiper rotary scrapings

232 Rotating Housings rotary shells

233 Fixing Pins steady pins

234 Spherical Objects rounds

235 Drive Gears driven wheels

236 Drive GearsIMotor driven wheel/motors

The solid anchoring base of 237 Solid Fixing Base

238 Drive Rods/Bearings drive rod/bearings

301 Transmissive Windows transmissive window

302 Photon Pathways light paths

303 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

304 Detection Channel sense channels

305 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

306 Reflective Layer or Coating reflecting layer or coatings

Excision or space in the 307 Cut-Out or Void In Layer layers

308 Reflective Layers or Coatings reflecting layer or coatings

309 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

310 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

311 Reflective Layers or Coatings reflecting layer or coatings

312 Reflective Layer or Coating reflecting layer or coatings

313 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

314 Void or Fluidic Channel space or Flow Control passages

315 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

316 Void or Fluidic Channel space or Flow Control passages

317 Photon Pathways light paths

318 Reflective Layers or Coatings reflecting layer or coatings

The recessed structure of 319 Concave Structure

The recessed structure of 320 Concave Structure

321 Reflective Layers or Coatings reflecting layer or coatings

322 Photon Pathways light paths

323 Void or Fluidic Channel space or Flow Control passages

324 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

325 Convex Structure male structure

326 each basalises of Individual Substrate Layers

The recessed flat structure of 327 Concave-Planar Structure

328 Reflective Layers or Coatings reflecting layer or coatings

329 Photon Pathways light paths

330 Void or Fluidic Channel space or Flow Control passages

331 Plano-Convex Structure plano-convex structures

332 Void, Refractive Inclusion or Fluidic Channel space, refraction are mingled with or the Flow Control passage

333 Convex Structures male structure

The recessed structure of 334 Concave Structures

335 Photon Pathways light paths

336 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

337 Void or Fluidic Channel space or Flow Control passages

338 Light Fiber or Wave Guide optical fiber or waveguides

339 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

340 End Of Fiber Optic Bundle fibre bundles are terminal

341 Fiber Optic Bundle Drawn Into Smaller Diameter are condensed to the more fibre bundle of minor diameter

342 Prismatic Structure-Reflective or Refractive prism structure-reflections or refraction

343 Photon Pathways light paths

344 Reflective Surface reflecting surfaces

345 Reflective Surfaces reflecting surfaces

346 Photon Pathways light paths

347 Direction Of Fluidic Flow fluid flow directions

348 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

349 Collimating Surface Structures collimation surface textures

350 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

351 Photon Pathways light paths

352 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

353 Collimating Surface Structures collimation surface textures

354 Reflective Surfaces reflecting surfaces

355 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

356 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

357 Collimating Surface Structures collimation surface textures

358 Reflective Surfaces reflecting surfaces

359 Photon Pathway light paths

360 Photon Pathways light paths

361 Device Layer device layers

362 Collimating Surface Structures collimation surface textures

363 Collimated Transmitted Radiation collimation transmitted radiation

364 Random Incident Radiation incident radiations at random

365 Collimating Surface Structures collimation surface textures

366 Reflective Surfaces reflecting surfaces

367 Refractive/Reflective Prismatics refraction/reflection prisms

368 Reflective Surface structures reflecting surface structures

369 Surface Lens Structures surface lens arrangement

370 Fresnel Lens Structures fresnel lens structures

371 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

372 Photon Pathways light paths

373 Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

374 Surface Collimating Structures surface collimating structure

375 Reflective Layer or Coating reflecting layer or coatings

376 Surface Lens Structures lens arrangements surface

Relevant particle in the 377 Particles Of Interest In Fluidic Channel Flow Control passages

The signal of 378 Representation Of A Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

379 Photon Transparent Region optical transparency districts

380 Photon Transparent Region With Photon Conditioning Element have the optical transparency district of light regulating element

381 External Wave Guide external waveguides

382 Internal Wave Guide inner waveguide

383 Photon Pathways light paths

384 Preformed Channel preform passages

385 Fluidic Device flow control apparatus

386 Suitable Tool suitable tools

387 Refractive Material refractive materials

The refraction waveguide that 388 Cured And Formed Refractive Wave Guide solidify and are shaped

389 Preformed Wave Guides form waveguide in advance

390 Partially Complete Fluidic Substrate partly accomplish the Flow Control substrate

391 Containment Layer accommodating layers

The flow control apparatus that 392 Completed Fluidic Device accomplish

393 Wave Guides In Situ original position waveguides

401 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

402 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

403 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

404 Waveguide waveguides

405 Transmission Port transmission mouths

406 Waveguide waveguides

407 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

408 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

409 Fluidic Channels Flow Control passages

410 Waveguide waveguides

411 Prismatic Structure fusiform structures

The angled reflecting surface of 412 Angular reflective surfaces

Claims (22)

1. method that adopts instrument to carry out function, said method comprises:

Insert is associated with said instrument, and said insert comprises realize to carry out one or more in said functional programs code, data or the instruction;

Wherein, said insert comprises micro fluidic device or other sensory package.

2. the method for claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises: digital multimeter, oscillograph, frequency spectrograph, chemical analyzer, biological analyser, dna sequencing appearance, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, electrochemical analysis device, mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant or digital multimedia player.

3. like each the described method among the claim 1-2, it is one or more that one or more in wherein said program code, numeral or the instruction are encoded as in insert: electrode connection, resistance value, integrated circuit, light readable code, magnetic readable code or mechanical-readable code.

4. like each the described method among the claim 1-3, comprising the said instrument that has generalized subroutine and offer the one or more application of said insert proprietary routine data or operating data.

5. like each the described method among the claim 1-4; Wherein said insert comprises one or more authorization messages, and it allows user capture remote nature, user data, factory's setting, calibration information, device to use data, collected data, sensing data, time and date information, positional information, creation data, quality control data, tracking data, software upgrading code and/or out of Memory.

6. like each the described method among the claim 1-5, wherein also be included in carry out before the said function, during or afterwards data are write said instrument or insert.

7. method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said generalized subroutine in said instrument can be operated in order to carry out one or more in the following action: request msg; Select acquisition channel; The control pumping; The switching of control valve; Temperature is set; The graphical interface of user configuration; One or more with program code, data or the instruction of the insert of the instrumentation of realizing being used for application-specific.

8. like each the described method among the claim 1-7; Wherein also comprise: some or all code, data or the instruction that will realize the characteristic of said function are sent to the volatile memory that is arranged in said instrument from said insert; In said insert, only keep identification, storage and data read functions, in case and remove said insert or said instrument from said instrument and close then destroy some or all operation code, data or the instruction that resides in the said insert.

9. a configuration is used for instrument carrying out the insert of function, and said insert comprises realizes carrying out one or more in said functional programs code, data or the instruction;

Wherein, said insert comprises micro fluidic device or other sensory package.

10. insert as claimed in claim 9, one or more in wherein said program code, data or the instruction are encoded as in said insert: electrode connection, resistance value and integrated circuit, light readable code, magnetic readable code or mechanical-readable code.

11. like each the described insert among the claim 9-10; Wherein said insert comprises one or more authorization messages, and it allows user capture remote nature, user data, factory's setting, calibration information, device to use data, collected data, sensing data, positional information, time and date information, creation data, quality control data, tracking data, software upgrading code and/or out of Memory.

12. a combination comprises like each the described insert among the claim 9-11, and instrument.

13. combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein said instrument comprises: digital multimeter, oscillograph, frequency spectrograph, chemical analyzer, biological analyser, dna sequencing appearance, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, electrochemical analysis device, mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant or digital multimedia player.

14. like claim 12 or 13 described combinations, wherein said instrument comprises generalized subroutine, and said insert comprise to the concrete program of using carry out or operating data in one or more.

15. combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein the said generalized subroutine in said instrument can be operated in order to carry out one or more in the following action: request msg, select acquisition channel, control pumping, control valve switching, temperature, graphical interface of user configuration are set and realize being used for one or more in program code, data or the instruction of insert of instrumentation of application-specific.

16. the software of the instrument of upgrading or the method for firmware, said method comprises: insert is associated with said instrument; And one or more in convey program code, data or the instruction, thereby accomplish said upgrading to said instrument;

Wherein, said insert comprises micro fluidic device or other sensory package.

17. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said instrument comprises: digital multimeter, oscillograph, frequency spectrograph, chemical analyzer, biological analyser, dna sequencing appearance, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, electrochemical analysis device, mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant or digital multimedia player.

18. like each the described method among the claim 16-17, it is one or more that one or more in wherein said program code, data or the instruction are encoded as in said insert: electrode connection, resistance value and integrated circuit, light readable code, magnetic readable code or mechanical-readable code.

19. like each the described method among the claim 16-18, wherein said insert is the expendable consumed product that configuration is used for one or more uses.

20. like each the described method among the claim 16-19; Wherein said insert comprises one or more authorization messages, and it allows user capture remote nature, user data, factory's setting, calibration information, device to use data, collected data, sensing data, positional information time and date information, creation data, quality control data, tracking data, software upgrading code and/or out of Memory.

21. a flow control apparatus comprises at least one passage, it defines and is used for electromagnetic path of advancing.

22. a fluid handling structure comprises:

The fluid passage; With

Deformable material;

Wherein, said fluid passage is defined by deformable material at least in part, and deformable material is arranged in said passage, to produce restriction.

Images