Mechanical microfluidic manipulation

A microfluidic apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge seating surface;
• a force applicator configured to contact an elastically deformable outer surface of a cartridge when the cartridge is seated in the cartridge seating surface to apply a compression force to the elastically deformable surface of the cartridge;
• a force applicator drive configured to move the force applicator relative to the deformable outer surface of the cartridge to generate a capillary force within an air gap of the cartridge by reducing a height of the air gap within the cartridge so that a fluidic droplet within the air gap follows the force applicator.

A microfluidic apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge seating surface;
• a force applicator comprising a stylus that is configured to contact an elastically deformable outer surface of a cartridge when the cartridge is seated in the cartridge seating surface to apply a compression force to the elastically deformable surface of the cartridge;
• a force applicator drive configured to move the stylus against the deformable outer surface so that the stylus forms a moving region of reduced height within an air gap of the cartridge to pull a fluidic droplet within the air gap so that the fluidic droplet follows the region of reduced height.

A microfluidic apparatus comprising:

• a cartridge seating surface comprising one or more suction ports;
• a force applicator comprising a stylus that is configured to contact an elastically deformable outer surface of a cartridge when the cartridge is seated in the cartridge seating surface to deform a local region of the elastically deformable surface of the cartridge;
• a force applicator drive configured to move the stylus against the deformable outer surface to generate a capillary force within an air gap of the cartridge by forming a moving region of reduced height within an air gap of the cartridge to pull a fluidic droplet within the air gap so that the fluidic droplet follows the region of reduced height.