Reconfigurable microfluidic systems: microwell plate interface

A reconfigurable microfluidic system comprising:

• (a) a network of microfluidic cavities connected by hydrophobic microfluidic channels exhibiting, during operation, a hydrophobic threshold pressure, wherein:
• reservoirs are cavities that are connected to only one channel each, and nodes are cavities that are connected to two or more channels each;
• a plurality of the channels connect at most two cavities each;
• a plurality of the cavities are connected to at most four channels each;
• a plurality of the channels have a greater resistance to fluid flow than that of the nodes;
• a plurality of the cavities include a gas pressure port;
• and at least one cavity has an input/output tube disposed above a well of the microwell plate, the input/output tube having a greater resistance to fluid flow than that of the microfluidic channels;
• and
• (b) a pressure sequencer including a set of gas valves, the pressure sequencer configured to connect, by gas tubing, to:
• a first high pressure gas source, a second high pressure gas source, a low pressure gas source, a partial vacuum pressure gas source, and to at least one cavity, wherein the first high gas pressure is greater than the second high gas pressure, the second high gas pressure is greater than the low gas pressure, the low gas pressure is greater than the partial vacuum pressure, and the partial vacuum pressure is less than atmospheric pressure, the pressure sequencer programmed to apply to at least one cavity, according to pressure sequence data following a fluid transfer rule in which:
• the first high gas pressure is applied to a first origin cavity from which a fluid is expelled via its input/output tube and the first high gas pressure is also applied to any other cavity connected to the first origin cavity by a first channel;
• the second high gas pressure is applied to a second origin cavity from which a fluid is transferred and the low gas pressure is applied to a first destination cavity to which the fluid is transferred, and the second high gas pressure is applied to any cavity (other than the first destination cavity) connected to the origin cavity by a second channel and the low gas pressure is applied to any cavity (other than the second origin cavity) connected to the first destination cavity by the second channel;
• and
• the partial vacuum gas pressure is applied to a second destination cavity to which a fluid is drawn via its input/output tube and low gas pressure is applied to any other cavity connected to the second destination cavity by a third channel.