Microfluidic devices for the rapid and automated processing of sample populations

A multiplexer microfluidic device comprising:

• (a) a main channel;
• (b) a plurality of sample reservoirs;
• (c) a plurality of inlet channels;
• (d) a plurality of valves positioned along the inlet channels to regulate fluid flow through the inlet channels;
• and
• (e) a sample processing element;
• wherein each inlet channel fluidly connects with the main channel to form an intersection;
• wherein each inlet channel fluidly connects a single sample reservoir to the main channel;
• wherein at least a first valve and a second valve are positioned along each fluid inlet channel to regulate fluid flow through the inlet channel, wherein the first valve and the second valve are independently operable, and wherein the first valve is positioned in proximity to the intersection of the inlet channel and the main channel;
• wherein the plurality of valves in the device are configured such that operation of one or more of the plurality of valves selectively directs fluid flow through a predetermined inlet channel in the device;
• wherein the sample processing element is fluidly connected to the main channel downstream from the inlet channels, the sample processing element configured to individually process multicellular organisms, and the sample processing element comprising:
• (a) a loading chamber fluidly connected to the main channel downstream from the inlet channels;
• (b) a staging chamber fluidly connected to the loading chamber to form an intersection;
• (c) a trapping chamber fluidly connected to the staging chamber to form an intersection;
• (d) a first valve positioned in proximity to the intersection of the loading chamber and the staging chamber to regulate fluid flow between the loading chamber and the staging chamber;
• and
• (e) a second valve positioned in proximity to the intersection of the staging chamber and the trapping chamber to regulate fluid flow between the staging chamber and the trapping chamber;
• wherein a height, a width, and a length of the staging area are selected in accordance with dimensions of the multicellular organisms so as to permit only one of the multicellular organisms to be present within the staging chamber at a time, and
• wherein the first and second valves of the sample processing element are configured such that sequential operation of the first valve of the sample processing element and the second valve of the sample processing element selectively directs a single organism first from the loading chamber into the staging chamber, and subsequently from the staging chamber into the trapping chamber.