Organ on chip integration and applications of the same

A rotary planar peristaltic micropump (RPPM), comprising:

• (a) an actuator, comprising:
• a shaft engaged with a motor such that activation of the motor causes the shaft to rotate;
• and
• a bearing assembly engaged with the shaft, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a bearing cage defining a plurality of spaced-apart openings thereon, and a plurality of rolling-members accommodated in the plurality of spaced-apart openings of the bearing cage, such that when the shaft rotates, the plurality of rolling-members of the bearing assembly rolls along a circular path;
• (b) a fluidic path in fluidic communication with a first port and a second port, wherein the fluidic path is positioned under the actuator and is coincident with the circular path, such that when the shaft of the actuator rotates, the plurality of rolling-members of the bearing assembly rolls along the fluidic path to cause a fluid to transfer between the first port and the second port;
• (c) a substrate have a first surface and a second surface;
• (d) an elastomer member positioned between the bearing cage and the first surface of the substrate;
• (e) motor alignment/attachment pins vertically positioned on the first surface of the substrate such that the actuator is located between the motor alignment/attachment pins,
• wherein the fluidic path is formed on the first surface of the substrate by a hot-embossing, or an injection-molding, or an etching process, or in an elastomer member.

A rotary planar valve (RPV), comprising

• (a) an actuator, comprising:
• a shaft engaged with a motor such that activation of the motor causes the shaft to rotate;
• and
• a bearing assembly engaged with the shaft, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a bearing cage defining a plurality of spaced-apart openings thereon, and a plurality of rolling-members accommodated in the plurality of spaced-apart openings of the bearing cage, wherein the number of the plurality of rolling-members is less than that of the plurality of spaced-apart openings of the bearing cage such that the bearing assembly has at least one no-rolling-member opening that accommodates a no-rolling-member;
• and
• (b) a plurality of selectively controllable fluidic paths coupled to each other, positioned under the actuator in relation to the plurality of equally spaced-apart openings of the bearing cage such that at least one selectively controllable fluidic path is positioned under the at least one no-rolling-member opening so that a fluid flow is allowed through the at least one selectively controllable fluidic path, while the other selectively controllable fluidic paths are respectively positioned under the openings having the rolling-members so that no fluid flows are allowed through the other selectively controllable fluidic paths.

An integrated MicroFormulator, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of inlets for providing a plurality of solutions;
• (b) a plurality of outlets;
• (c) a plurality of fluidic switches in fluid communication with the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• (d) one or more on-chip pumps in fluid communication with the plurality of fluidic switches;
• (e) a microfluidic chip having a mixer region and a plurality of fluid connections in fluid communication with the at least one pump, the plurality of valves, the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• and
• (f) a power and control unit programmed to selectively and individually control the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches for providing a desired substance that is a mixture of selected solutions from the plurality of solutions for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of a bio-object, wherein the integrated MicroFormulator operably has a Load Sample mode, a Sample to Mixer mode, a Mix mode, and a Sample Output mode,
• wherein the one or more on-chip pumps comprise a rotary planar peristaltic micropump (RPPM), wherein each of the plurality of fluidic switches comprises a rotary planar valve (RPV), and wherein each RPV comprises a normally closed (NC) rotary planar valve.

An integrated MicroFormulator, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of inlets for providing a plurality of solutions;
• (b) a plurality of outlets;
• (c) a plurality of fluidic switches in fluid communication with the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• (d) one or more on-chip pumps in fluid communication with the plurality of fluidic switches;
• (e) a microfluidic chip having a mixer region and a plurality of fluid connections in fluid communication with the at least one pump, the plurality of valves, the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• and
• (f) a power and control unit programmed to selectively and individually control the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches for providing a desired substance that is a mixture of selected solutions from the plurality of solutions for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of a bio-object, wherein the integrated MicroFormulator operably has a Load Sample mode, a Sample to Mixer mode, a Mix mode, and a Sample Output mode,
• wherein the one or more on-chip pumps comprise a rotary planar peristaltic micropump (RPPM), wherein each of the plurality of fluidic switches comprises a rotary planar valve (RPV)
• wherein the plurality of fluidic switches comprises:
• an input RPV fluidically connected to the plurality of inlets;
• a first RPV having five ports fluidically connected to the input RPV, the mixer region, and the RPPM, a sample output port of the outlets, and a first waste port of the outlets, respectively;
• and
• a second RPV having three ports fluidically connected to the mixer region, the RPPM, and a second waste port of the outlets, respectively.

An integrated MicroFormulator, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of inlets for providing a plurality of solutions;
• (b) a plurality of outlets;
• (c) a plurality of fluidic switches in fluid communication with the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• (d) one or more on-chip pumps in fluid communication with the plurality of fluidic switches;
• (e) a microfluidic chip having a mixer region and a plurality of fluid connections in fluid communication with the at least one pump, the plurality of valves, the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets;
• and
• (f) a power and control unit programmed to selectively and individually control the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches for providing a desired substance that is a mixture of selected solutions from the plurality of solutions for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of a bio-object, wherein the integrated MicroFormulator operably has a Load Sample mode, a Sample to Mixer mode, a Mix mode, and a Sample Output mode,
• wherein the one or more on-chip pumps comprise a rotary planar peristaltic micropump (RPPM), wherein each of the plurality of fluidic switches comprises a rotary planar valve (RPV)
• wherein the microfluidic chip further has a shuttle region.

A method for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of one or more bio-objects, each bio-object including an organ, a tissue construct, or a group of cells, comprising:

• (a) providing a platform having one or more integrated bio-object microfluidics modules fluidically interconnected to each other, each integrated bio-object microfluidics module comprising:
• i. one or more on-chip pumps;
• ii. a plurality of fluidic switches;
• and
• iii. a microfluidic chip in fluid communication with the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches, comprising at least one chamber for accommodating the bio-object and a plurality of fluidic paths connecting the chamber, the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches;
• and
• (b) selectively and individually controlling the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches of each integrated bio-object microfluidics module to perform bio-object microfluidics functions for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of the respective bio-object, wherein the bio-object microfluidics functions comprise perfusion of the respective bio-object, analysis of metabolic activities of the respective bio-object, and formulation of custom media to support the respective bio-object and guide stem cell differentiation.