Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices

A data acquisition system for performing a chemical reaction in a digital-type micro fluidic device, wherein the micro fluidic device (i) comprises one or more passages for confining one or more micro-droplets, the passages having one or more stable positions for the micro-droplets, (ii) comprises one or more internal components responsive to control signals, the internal components operatively associated with the passages for control and monitoring the micro fluidic device, and (iii) is configured to receive one or more fluid reagents, wherein the fluid reagents comprise reactants necessary for the reaction, the system comprising:

• (a) programmable digital control circuitry interfaced to the micro fluidic device, wherein the digital control circuitry provides control signals to the micro fluidic device, and
• (b) memory accessible to the programmable digital control circuitry comprising stored instructions and data representing one or more micro-droplet processing requests, wherein a micro-droplet processing request specifies performing at least one action on at least one micro-droplet, each micro-droplet processing request comprising two or more actuator processing requests, each specifying performing at least one action associated with at least one passage of the micro fluidic device, wherein one of the actuator processing requests comprises determining the presence or absence of the micro-droplet, wherein the micro-droplet processing requests comprise at least one of:
• (i) creating at least one final micro-droplet from the fluid reagents by providing control signals to the micro fluidic device, wherein the micro-droplets is positioned at a stable position and comprises the reactants necessary for the reaction,
• (ii) determining, utilizing at least one internal component, a presence or absence of the at least one final micro-droplet,
• (iii) moving the at least one final micro-droplet by heating a gas to generate a gas pressure within the micro fluidic device, and
• (iv) after the steps of determining, utilizing the at least one internal components, the presence or absence of the at least one final micro-droplet and moving the at least one final micro-droplet, causing the reaction to occur in the at least one final micro-droplet;
• and
• the memory further comprising stored instructions to add a value indicative of microdroplet presence to the memory when the presence of a microdroplet is determined and to add a value indicative of microdroplet absence to the memory when the absence of a microdroplet is determined.

A control system for a micro fluidic processor, the control system comprising:

• a programmable microprocessor;
• memory;
• and
• peripheral interface circuitry in communication with the micro fluidic processor,
• wherein:
• the micro fluidic processor comprises one or more positions in one or more passages at which a microdroplet of fluid may stably reside;
• the microprocessor is programmed to cause the peripheral interface circuitry to generate control signals controlling one or more internal components operatively associated with the passages for control and monitoring of the microdroplet in the passage corresponding to one or more micro-droplet control operations selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) creating a new micro-droplet from a fluid sample;
• (ii) moving a micro-droplet from a first stable position to a second stable position;
• (iii) mixing one or more micro-droplets, at a stable position;
• and
• (iv) performing a reaction in a micro-droplet at a stable position;
• wherein the control signals comprise two or more actuator processing requests, wherein one of the actuator processing requests comprises determining the presence or absence of the micro-droplet;
• wherein the memory comprises instructions to add a value indicative of microdroplet presence to the memory when the presence of a microdroplet is determined and to add a value indicative of microdroplet absence when the absence of a microdroplet is determined;
• and
• the peripheral interface circuitry is adapted to communicate the control signals to the micro fluidic processor, and to receive one or more sense signals from the micro fluidic processor in response to completion of the one or more micro-droplet control operations.