Patent ID: 8105553
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: B01L,C12Q,C30B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for operating a microfluidic device, comprising a carrier portion, the apparatus comprising: a platen having a platen face with one or more fluid ports therein and one or more check valve purge actuators, the fluid ports spatially corresponding to one or more inlets on a surface of the carrier portion of the microfluidic device and the one or more check valve purge actuators comprising one or more pins; a platform for holding the microfluidic device relative to the platen; a platen actuator for urging the platen against the microfluidic device so that at least one of the fluid ports of the platen is urged against one of the inlets to form a pressure chamber comprising the inlet and the port, so that when pressurized fluid is introduced or removed into or from the pressure chamber though one of the ports, fluid pressure is changed therein; and a fluid line in fluid communication with at least a portion of the platen actuator, wherein the fluid line is configured to deliver a pressurized fluid to at least one of the fluid ports.