Method and system for coordination on optically controlled microfluidic systems

A method for controlling and coordinating the movement of one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects, comprising:

• using one or more of a light source, an optically controlled microfluidic system, and an optoelectronic tweezer system comprising a continuous photoconductive surface to produce reconfigurable virtual electrodes when light interacts with the continuous photoconductive surface, the reconfigurable virtual electrodes holding the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects;
• using a processor coupled to one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system, applying a motion planning algorithm utilizing input regarding one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system to control and/or coordinate the movement of the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects over the continuous photoconductive surface and position the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects while avoiding undesired collisions by actuating the one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system;
• and
• using the one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system, moving the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects to a desired position or configuration over the continuous photoconductive surface in accordance with output of the motion planning algorithm;
• wherein the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects are not constrained to movement between physically predefined positions or regions or along physically predefined paths and may move to any desired positions or regions over the continuous photoconductive surface via any desired paths.

A system for controlling and coordinating the movement of one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects, comprising:

• a light source and an optically controlled microfluidic system comprising a continuous photoconductive surface producing reconfigurable virtual electrodes when light interacts with the continuous photoconductive surface, the reconfigurable virtual electrodes moving the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects;
• and
• a processor coupled to one or more of the light source and the optically controlled microfluidic system applying a motion planning algorithm utilizing input regarding one or more of the light source and the optically controlled microfluidic system to control and/or coordinate the movement of the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects over the continuous photoconductive surface and position the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects while avoiding undesired collisions by actuating the one or more of the light source and the optically controlled microfluidic system such that the light source interacts with the continuous photoconductive surface as directed by the motion planning algorithm;
• the one or more of the light source and the optically controlled microfluidic system moving the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects to a desired position or configuration over the continuous photoconductive surface in accordance with output of the motion planning algorithm;
• wherein the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects are not constrained to movement between physically predefined positions or regions or along physically predefined paths and may move to any desired positions or regions over the continuous photoconductive surface via any desired paths.

A system for controlling and coordinating the movement of one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects, comprising:

• one or more of a light source, an optically controlled microfluidic system, and an optoelectronic tweezer system comprising a continuous photoconductive surface producing reconfigurable virtual electrodes when light interacts with the continuous photoconductive surface, the reconfigurable virtual electrodes holding the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects;
• and
• a processor coupled to one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system applying a motion planning algorithm utilizing input regarding one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system to control and/or coordinate the movement of the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects over the continuous photoconductive surface and position the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects while avoiding undesired collisions by actuating the one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system;
• the one or more of the light source, the optically controlled microfluidic system, and the optoelectronic tweezer system moving the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects to a desired position or configuration over the continuous photoconductive surface in accordance with output of the motion planning algorithm;
• wherein the one or more droplets, beads, nanostructures, or biological objects are not constrained to movement between physically predefined positions or regions or along physically predefined paths and may move to any desired positions or regions over the continuous photoconductive surface via any desired paths.