Patent ID: 6951632

Claim:
A microfluidic device comprising: a body structure comprising an elastomeric polymer substrate; a microfluidic channel disposed within said elastomeric polymer substrate; a port on a surface of said body structure and in fluid communication with said microfluidic channel for introducing or dispensing a fluid to or from said microfluidic channel; a means for transporting the fluid to and from said microfluidic channel; and at least one valve system which comprises: a control channel disposed within said elastomeric polymer substrate; and one or more valves operatively connected to said microfluidic channel to regulate fluid flow through said microfluidic channel, wherein each of said valves comprises a portion of said elastomeric polymer substrate that is located between said control channel and said microfluidic channel, and wherein each of said valves is capable of being deflected into or retractable from said microfluidic channel upon which said valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to said valve, said valve when positioned in said microfluidic channel is capable of affecting fluid flow therethrough, wherein: said means for transporting the fluid comprises a fluid pump comprising at least one of said valve system; said fluid pump comprises a single control channel; and said fluid pump control channel further comprises at least one capacitor which is capable of delaying actuation of said control channel.