Patent ID: 7396444
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: B01J,B01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A device for operating a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, the device comprising: a supply unit for supplying the potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures, an interface element, a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second supply lines being adapted to be connected to the first supply lines, the interface element having coupling structures for supplying the potentials from the second supply lines to the potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the coupling structures in response to the first and second supply lines being connected and the potentials being supplied to the first supply lines, the interface element and the holder structure for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder being arranged so that the coupling structures of the interface element between the second supply lines and the corresponding potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) physically connected together in response to the physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a first surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the first surface of the interface element having a surface area that is not substantially different from the surface area of the facing surface of the microchip, the interface element having a second surface that faces only a segment of the holder while the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element.