Ratiometric dilution devices and methods

A substantially sealed microfluidic device for pipettorless ratiometric dilution, the device comprising:

• a first fluidic inlet port;
• a mixing chamber in selective fluid communication with the fluidic inlet port;
• a first receiving chamber in selective fluid communication with the mixing chamber;
• a second receiving chamber in selective fluid communication with the mixing chamber;
• and
• a third receiving chamber in selective fluid communication with the mixing chamber;
• wherein the mixing chamber has a mixing chamber volume, the first receiving chamber has a first volume, the second receiving chamber has a second volume, and the third receiving chamber has a third volume, and the mixing chamber volume is greater than any of the first volume, second volume, and the third volume.

A system for performing pipettorless ratiometric dilution in a microfluidic device, the system comprising:

• a microfluidic device having a plurality of microfluidic chambers and a plurality of valves;
• a first sample source in fluid communication with at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers;
• a diluent source in fluid communication with at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers;
• valve actuation means in sensory communication with the plurality of valves;
• and
• a material transport system for transporting sample, diluent, and combinations thereof within the device.

A non-electrokinetic microfluidic system for mixing a discrete volumes of a plurality of liquids, the system comprising:

• a first microfluidic chamber and a second microfluidic chamber being in at least intermittent fluid communication;
• a first microfluidic channel disposed between the first microfluidic chamber and the second microfluidic chamber;
• a second microfluidic channel in fluid communication with first microfluidic chamber;
• and
• a reversible fluid transport system in fluid communication with the second microfluidic channel.

A method for performing pipettorless ratiometric dilution in a microfluidic device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a microfluidic device having a plurality of chambers and a plurality of valves;
• substantially filling a first chamber of the plurality of chambers with a sample;
• substantially filling a series of chambers of the plurality of chambers with diluent;
• establishing fluid communication between the first chamber and a second chamber of the series of chambers;
• mixing the contents of the first chamber and the second chamber to form a first mixture;
• isolating at least two portions of the first mixture;
• establishing fluid communication between the second chamber and a third chamber of the series of chambers;
• and
• mixing the contents of the second chamber and the third chamber to form a second mixture.

A method for performing pipettorless ratiometric dilution in a microfluidic device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a microfluidic device having a mixing chamber, a plurality of receiving chambers in selective fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a plurality of valves;
• substantially filling the mixing chamber with a sample;
• establishing fluid communication between the mixing chamber and a first receiving chamber, of the plurality of receiving chambers;
• supplying diluent to the mixing chamber, thus displacing a portion of the contents of the mixing chamber into the first receiving chamber;
• mixing the contents of the mixing chamber;
• establishing fluid communication between the mixing chamber and a second receiving chamber of the plurality of receiving chambers;
• supplying diluent to the mixing chamber, thus displacing a portion of the contents of the mixing chamber into the second receiving chamber;
• and
• mixing the contents of the mixing chamber.