Microfluidic device for serial fluidic operations

An integrated microfluidic device for carrying out a series of fluidic operations comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of n microfluidic conduits, wherein n is at least three;
• and
• a rotating valve having an internal channel with an entrance port and an exit port that are angularly separated;
• wherein the rotating valve is positionable in a first position to connect two of the n fluidic conduits via the internal channel, and upon rotating the valve to a second position, two of the n fluidic conduits, including at least one fluidic conduit different from the fluidic conduits connected in the first position, are connected by the internal channel;
• and
• wherein in either the first position or the second position, two sequentially adjacent fluidic conduits are connected via the internal channel;
• and
• further comprising a second rotating valve having an internal channel with an entrance port and an exit port that are angularly separated, wherein at least one of the rotating valve and second rotating valve can be rotated such that the rotating valve and second rotating valve are in fluid communication with each other via a fluidic conduit.

A microfluidic cartridge for performing a full blood cell count comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of fluidic conduits;
• a plurality of fluidic chambers in fluid connection with respective ones of the plurality of fluidic conduits, wherein the plurality of fluidic chambers includes at least one blood sample input chamber, a plurality of blood reagent chambers, and a plurality of blood sample mixing chambers;
• at least one blood cell counter connectable to at least one of the plurality of fluidic conduits capable of counting at least one of white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets;
• a first rotating valve having a first internal channel for connecting in fluid communication pairs of the plurality of fluidic conduits;
• wherein the first rotating valve is rotatable to a first position for metering a first portion of the blood sample from the blood sample input chamber, rotatable to a second position for transferring reagents from blood reagent chambers to the first metered portion of the blood sample, rotatable to a third position to transfer the first metered portion of the blood sample and blood reagents to one of the blood sample mixing chambers to generate a first prepared blood sample, and rotatable to a fourth position to transfer the first prepared blood sample to the at least one blood cell counter for counting the white blood cells;
• and
• a second rotating valve having a second internal channel for connecting in fluid communication pairs of the plurality of fluidic conduits;
• wherein the second rotating valve is rotatable to a fifth position for metering a second portion of the blood sample from the blood sample input chamber, rotatable to a sixth position for transferring reagents from blood reagent chambers to the second metered portion of the blood sample, rotatable to a seventh position to transfer the second metered portion of the blood sample and blood reagents to another one of the blood sample mixing chambers to generate a second prepared blood sample, and rotatable to an eighth position to transfer the second prepared blood sample to the at least one blood cell counter for counting the red blood cells and platelets.