Temperature-cycling microfluidic devices

A temperature-cycling microfluidic device, comprising:

• a driver chip having a top surface;
• a heat exchange chip having a top surface coplanar with the top surface of the driver chip;
• a fluid chamber located on the top surface of the driver chip;
• a first microfluidic loop having a fluid driving end and a fluid outlet end connected to the fluid chamber, wherein the first microfluidic loop includes a first heat exchange chamber over the heat exchange chip, wherein the first heat exchange chamber has a greater chamber height than a remainder of the first microfluidic loop;
• a first fluid actuator on the driver chip associated with the fluid driving end of the first microfluidic loop to circulate fluid through the first microfluidic loop;
• a second microfluidic loop having a fluid driving end and a fluid outlet end connected to the fluid chamber, wherein the second microfluidic loop includes a second heat exchange chamber over the heat exchange chip, wherein the second heat exchange chamber has a greater chamber height than a remainder of the second microfluidic loop;
• and
• a second fluid actuator on the driver chip associated with the fluid driving end of the second microfluidic loop to circulate fluid through the second microfluidic loop.

A system for heating and cooling a fluid, comprising:

• a temperature-cycling microfluidic device, including:
• a driver chip comprising a temperature sensor, a heater, and an electrical interface electrically connected to the temperature sensor and heater,
• a heat exchange chip coplanar with the driver chip and separated from the driver chip by a substrate, wherein the heat exchange chip comprises a temperature sensor, a heater, and an electrical interface electrically connected to the temperature sensor and heater,
• a fluid chamber located over the driver chip,
• multiple microfluidic loops, wherein individual microfluidic loops have a fluid driving end and a fluid outlet end connected to the fluid chamber, and wherein the individual microfluidic loops include a portion thereof located on the heat exchange chip, and
• multiple fluid actuators on the driver chip, wherein individual fluid actuators are associated with the fluid driving end of individual microfluidic loops to circulate fluid through the microfluidic loops;
• and
• a reading device comprising electrical interfaces to connect to the electrical interfaces of the driver chip and the heat exchange chip, wherein the reading device includes a processor to drive the fluid actuators, measure temperatures using the temperature sensors, and heat the driver chip and heat exchange chip to control the temperature of the chips within a temperature range.