Microfluidics pressure-based switching and valving array

A fluidics processing unit comprising:

• a microfluidics card having an inlet line, an outlet line, and one or more microchannels in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet lines;
• at least one pressure source for driving fluid in the inlet and outlet lines;
• and
• a controller for actuating the at least one pressure source in a timed sequence of steps to selectively advance at least a portion of the fluid to one or more targeted locations through the microchannels.

A method for advancing a portion of a fluid in a first microfluidics card comprising:

• providing the first microfluidics card, the card having:
• one or more wells each having an input channel and an output channel;
• and
• a fluid circuit including a plurality of microchannels in selective fluid communication with one another, said plurality of microchannels including input and output channels of the one or more wells, an input line, and an output line;
• and
• a pressure system for selectively applying pressure to fluid in the fluid circuit to direct the fluid in one of multiple possible flow paths in the plurality of microchannels;
• establishing a timed sequence of pressure condition events, each pressure condition event in the sequence creating one or more pressure differentials for either imparting to the portion of the fluid a moving force in which the portion is moved from a first to a second location, or establishing an equilibrium in which a position of the portion remains stationary.