Patent ID: 8768517

Claim:
A system configured for controlling a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises a substrate comprising a micro-channel configured to contain a micro-volume of liquid having a volume between one nano-liter and one micro-liter, a reaction chamber, and an actuator comprising a grouping of active components, said active components configured for coordinated operation to achieve a desired functionality, the system comprising: memory comprising stored instructions corresponding to a user-selected reaction program, wherein the stored instructions comprise: a user level function corresponding to the reaction program; a microdroplet level function corresponding to an operation performed on a micro-volume of liquid contained within a microfluidic device; an actuator level function corresponding to an actuator operation; and a component level instruction directing the generation of a control signal for an individual component of the microfluidic device; an interface configured for allowing an operator to select a desired reaction program for the microfluidic device, wherein the desired reaction program corresponds to a user level function comprising a microdroplet level function, wherein the microdroplet level function comprises an actuator level function, and the actuator level function comprises a component level function; and control circuitry configured for creating and transmitting the control signal responsive to a component level function for controlling the component of the microfluidic device.