Positional tracking and encoding in microfluidic devices

A microfluidic device configured for synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides having desired nucleotide sequences, the microfluidic device comprising:

• a substrate having a plurality of microfluidic channels, each microfluidic channel configured for fluid flow therein;
• the plurality of microfluidic channels comprising a primary microfluidic channel and a plurality of branch microfluidic channels fluidically connected to the primary microfluidic channel by one or more branch points;
• wherein:
• the microfluidic channels are each configured for transporting a fluid carrying a plurality of beads through the channels, the beads adapted as mobile solid support units for the synthesis of the DNA oligonucleotides;
• the plurality of microfluidic channels and the beads are each sized such that, when the beads fluidically move through the channels, the beads flow in a relative positional order without passing one another;
• and
• one or more routers, each router comprising a distributor disposed at a respective one of the branch points and positioned to contact fluid flowing through the respective one of the branch points, and adapted for routing each of at least a subset of the beads from the primary microfluidic channel into one of the branch microfluidic channels based on the relative positional order of the beads in the primary microfluidic channel;
• wherein:
• each of the plurality of branch microfluidic channels comprises a reaction chamber adapted to provide reagents therein for performing phosphoramidite addition of one of four DNA bases to nascent chains of the DNA oligonucleotides attached to the respective beads, within each respective branch microfluidic channel;
• the one or more routers are further adapted, following the addition of one of the four DNA bases to the nascent chains of the DNA oligonucleotides, for returning at least a subset of the beads from the branch microfluidic channels to the primary microfluidic channel;
• and
• the microfluidic device is configured to perform a plurality of cycles of the synthesis of the DNA oligonucleotides, wherein each cycle comprises:
• the routing of each of at least a subset of the beads from the primary microfluidic channel into one of the branch microfluidic channels;
• the addition of one of four DNA bases to the respective nascent chains of the DNA oligonucleotides within each respective branch microfluidic channel;
• and
• the returning of the at least a subset of the beads from the branch microfluidic channels to the primary microfluidic channel.