Patent ID: 6616823
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
A system comprising:a microfluidic device that comprises a first channel network that includes at least a first microfluidic channel; a flow controller operably coupled to the channel network to control fluid movement through the channel network; a signal detector in sensory communication with a second position of the at least first microfluidic channel; a computer operably coupled to the flow controller and the signal detector for instructing operation of the flow controller and for receiving data from the signal detector, the computer being programmed to: receive a user input flow rate value; instruct the flow controller to inject a detectable signal into a first position in the first microfluidic channel at a first time; receive a detect signal from the detector that corresponds to detection of the detectable signal at the second position at a second time in the first microfluidic channel; determine a flow rate of fluid in the first microfluidic channel from a distance between the first and second positions and the first and second times; and instruct the flow controller to increase or decrease a flow rate in the first microfluidic channel to achieve the user input flow rate value.