Tubing-free, sample-to-droplet microfluidic system and chip

A sample-to-droplet microfluidic system, comprising:

• a sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip;
• a valve control system connected to said sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip;
• a vacuum system fluidly connected to said sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip;
• and
• a droplet formation pressure system fluidly connected to said sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip,
• wherein said sample-to-droplet microfluidic chip comprises:
• a sample-to-droplet interface section;
• a droplet mixing section in fluid connection with said sample-to-droplet interface section to received droplets therefrom;
• an incubation section in fluid connection with said droplet mixing section to receive droplets therefrom;
• and
• a detection section in fluid connection with said incubation section to receive droplets therefrom;
• wherein said sample-to-droplet interface section comprises:
• a first sample input channel with a first open port configured to receive a sample input,
• a vacuum channel fluidly connected to said first sample input channel when a pair of intermediate valves therein are open, a first droplet forming region being between said pair of intermediate valves,
• a first fluid pressure channel arranged to intercept said first droplet forming region with a valve prior to said first droplet forming region, said first fluid pressure channel further intercepting a droplet channel with a valve therebetween, said droplet channel leading to said droplet mixing section,
• wherein said sample-to-droplet interface section further comprises:
• a second sample input channel with an open port configured to receive a sample input, said vacuum channel being further fluidly connected to said second sample input channel when a pair of intermediate valves therein are open, a second droplet forming region being between said pair of intermediate valves, and
• a second fluid pressure channel arranged to intercept said second droplet forming region with a valve prior to said droplet forming region, said second fluid pressure channel further intercepting said droplet channel with a valve therebetween.