Self-powered microfluidic devices, methods and systems

A pumping system to chemically generate pressure for a microfluidic device, comprising:

• a reservoir chamber located in the microfluidic device and containing a reservoir fluid;
• a pin, located in the microfluidic device, the pin adapted to actuate the reservoir fluid to chemically generate an expandible reaction product in the reservoir chamber;
• a buffer chamber located in the microfluidic device and fluidically connected with the reservoir chamber to allow passage of the reservoir fluid between the reservoir chamber and the buffer chamber and to hinder passage of the expandible reaction product from the reservoir chamber to the buffer chamber;
• and
• a sample loading chamber located in the microfluidic device and fluidically connected with the reservoir chamber to allow passage of the expandible reaction product from the reservoir chamber to the sample loading chamber and to hinder passage of the sample from the sample loading chamber to the reservoir chamber.

A pressure generation method for a microfluidic device, comprising:

• providing a liquid in a first microfluidic chamber;
• performing a catalyzed decomposition of the liquid to generate pressure through the decomposition;
• and
• providing a second microfluidic chamber connected with the first microfluidic chamber, to allow movement of the liquid from the first microfluidic chamber to the second microfluidic chamber as a consequence of the generated pressure and to allow movement of the liquid back from the second microfluidic chamber to the first microfluidic chamber when the generated pressure decreases,
• wherein the catalyzed decomposition depends on a level of the liquid inside the first microfluidic chamber, whereby a decreased level of the liquid due to the movement of the liquid from the first microfluidic chamber to the second microfluidic chamber prevents the catalyzed decomposition and an increased level of the liquid inside the first microfluidic chamber due to movement of the liquid from the second microfluidic chamber to the first microfluidic chamber promotes the catalyzed decomposition.

A self-powered microfluidic device comprising:

• an arrangement of microfluidic channels wherein one or more reagents are adapted to flow;
• and
• a pressure source to pump the reagents through the microfluidic channels, the pressure source comprising:
• a reservoir containing a substance adapted to generate a pressure-generating reaction product;
• a trigger, associated with the reservoir, adapted to react with the substance to produce the pressure-generating reaction product;
• a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir, adapted to host the substance upon production of the pressure-generating reaction product;
• and
• a reagent chamber containing the one or more reagents, the chamber connected between the pressure source and the arrangement of microfluidic channels.