Patent ID: 9410975
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B01L,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of equalizing pressure over all wells of a microfluidic device that are interconnected by microfluidic channels, the method comprising: providing the microfluidic device comprising a plurality of wells that are interconnected by microfluidic channels, wherein the plurality of wells comprise all the wells that the microfluidic channels interconnect, loaded with a liquid in the interconnected microfluidic channels; disposing over the plurality of wells a gas manifold block, the gas manifold block comprising a first surface having at least one opening therein, a port, and a channel within the gas manifold block connecting the port to each of the at least one opening in the first surface, wherein the at least one opening in the first surface covers the plurality of wells of the microfluidic device such that the gas manifold block and wells form an enclosed volume filled with gas that communicates with the external environment only via the port; and pressurizing the enclosed volume over the plurality of wells by supplying pressurized gas through the port on the gas manifold block, whereby the pressure over the plurality of wells is equalized.