# US 2024/0189818 A1 · Systems for automated control of fluidic devices and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0189818 A1 - Document ID: US20240189818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/533,857 - Filed: 2023-12-08 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-08 - Assignees: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Applicants: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Inventors: Alan M. Gonzalez Suarez; Alexander Revzin; XuHai Huang; Alexander Long - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240189818A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)} - B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids} - B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles - B01L 2200/146: Employing pressure sensors - B01L 2300/023: Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using Bluetooth® - B01L 2300/0663: Whole sensors - B01L 2300/087: Multiple sequential chambers - B01L 2300/123: Flexible; Elastomeric - B01L 2300/14: Means for pressure control - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - B01L 2400/0655: pinch valves - B01L 2400/0666: Solenoid valves - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE ## Abstract This document provides integrated systems for controlling fluid flow in a fluidic device. Methods of using such systems are also described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated system for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic device, wherein said system comprises: (a) a first pressure module configured to control pressure within a control layer of said microfluidic device, wherein said control layer comprises one or more valves; (b) a second pressure module configured to control pressure within a flow layer of said microfluidic device, wherein said flow layer comprises one or more flow channels, and wherein said one or more valves of said control layer are configured to control flow within at least one of said one or more flow channels of said flow layer; (c) an electronics module configured to transmit and receive one or more signals between (i) said electronics module and (ii) said first pressure module, said second pressure module, or both said first and said second pressure modules; (d) a housing configured to house said first pressure module, said second pressure module, and said electronics module; and (e) a user interface configured to transmit and receive one or more signals between said user interface and said electronics module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said control layer in a range from about 10 to about 100 psi or greater than about 10 psi. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said second pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said flow layer in a range from about −10 to about 10 psi or about −20 to about 20 psi. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said first pressure module comprises: (i) one or more control valves; (ii) a pump configured to provide increased pressure to at least one of said one or more control valves; (iii) an optional accumulator configured to be in fluidic communication with said pump and at least one of said one or more control valves; (iv) a vent configured to decrease pressure in said first pressure module; and (v) an optional high pressure sensor configured to provide a pressure reading within said first pressure module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more control valves comprises a solenoid valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure to said control layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said second pressure module comprises: (i) one or more control valves; (ii) a pump configured to provide increased pressure to at least one of said one or more control valves; (iii) an optional accumulator configured to be in fluidic communication with said pump and at least one of said one or more control valves; (iv) a vent configured to decrease pressure in said second pressure module; (v) a vacuum source configured to provide decreased pressure to at least one of said one or more flow channels in said flow layer; and (vi) an optional low pressure sensor configured to provide a pressure reading within said second pressure module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said one or more control valves comprises a solenoid valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said second pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure, negative pressure, or both positive and negative pressure to said flow layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said electronics module further comprises: (i) a controller configured to provide instructions to said first pressure module, said second pressure module, or both said first and said second pressure modules; (ii) an optional driver configured to receive instructions from said controller and to transmit said instructions to a pump in said first pressure module, a pump in said second pressure module, or a pump in said first pressure module and a pump in said second pressure module; (iii) an optional power module configured to receive instructions from said controller and to transmit said instructions to a vent in said first pressure module, a vent in said second pressure module, or a vent in said first pressure module and a vent in said second pressure module; (iv) an optional transistor array configured to receive instructions from said controller and to transmit said instructions to one or more control valves of said first pressure module or of said second pressure module or to at least one valve of said first pressure module and at least one valve of said second pressure module; and (v) an optional pressure sensor configured to receive pressure information from said first pressure module, from said second pressure module, or from said first and said second pressure modules and to transmit said pressure information to said controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises: (i) a first port configured to provide a connection between said first pressure module and said control layer of said microfluidic device and (ii) a second port configured to provide a connection between said second pressure module and said flow layer of said microfluidic device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said housing further comprises a third port configured to provide a connection between said electronics module and said user interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a data transmitter configured to transmit or receive data between said user interface and said electronics module; or between said user interface and a storage medium. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said system does not include an external pressure source or an external pressure regulator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic device, said method comprising: (a) providing a system of claim 1; (b) fluidically connecting a first pressure module to a control layer of said microfluidic device, wherein said control layer comprises one or more valves; (c) fluidically connecting a second pressure module to a flow layer of said microfluidic device, wherein said flow layer comprises one or more flow channels; and (d) adjusting a pressure within said first pressure module, said second pressure module, or both said first and said second pressure modules to control fluid flow within at least one of said one or more flow channels, wherein (b) and (c) can be conducted at the same time or in any order. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting the pressure within said first pressure module comprises actuating at least one of said one or more valves in said control layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting the pressure within said second pressure module comprises flowing a fluid in at least one of said one or more flow channels in said flow layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said control layer in a range from about 10 to about 100 psi; or wherein said second pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said flow layer in a range from about −20 to about 20 psi; or wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said control layer in a range from about 10 to about 100 psi and said second pressure module is configured to provide pressure to said flow layer in a range from about −20 to about 20 psi. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure to said control layer; or wherein said second pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure, negative pressure, or both positive and negative pressure to said flow layer; or wherein said first pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure to said control layer and said second pressure module is configured to provide positive pressure, negative pressure, or both positive and negative pressure to said flow layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting in (d) comprises: delivering a test sample to at least one of said one or more flow channels, optionally reacting, treating, or preparing said test sample; and optionally imaging said microfluidic device.