Patent ID: 8778696

Claim:
A microfluidic processing unit for the automated processing of liquid samples, comprising: at least one first main channel and at least one second main channel connected to a pump for generating a negative or positive pressure therein; at least one sample channel for supplying liquid sample connectable to a sample vessel containing said liquid sample, said sample channel communicating with said first main channel and being equipped with an on/off valve; one or more reagent channels for supplying one or more reagents, said reagent channels being connectable to reagent vessels containing reagents for reacting with said liquid samples, each of said reagent channels communicating with said first or second main channel and being equipped with an on/off valve; and at least one reaction chamber in which a reaction between a sample and reagent can take place, said reaction chamber being connected to said first and second main channels via at least one on/off valve; wherein said first main channel is equipped with an on/off valve in-between a vent and said pump, wherein said one or more reagent channels communicate with a vent-sided portion of said first main channel and wherein said sample channel communicates with a pump-sided portion of said first main channel; wherein an opening where said sample channel opens into said first main channel is located adjacent to said on/off valve of said first main channel with said on/off-valve of said sample channel being located adjacent to said on/off valve of said first main channel; wherein said first reagent channels are connectable to first reagent vessels containing reagents for reacting with said liquid samples, each of said first reagent channels communicating with said vent-sided portion of said first main channel and being equipped with an on/off valve; wherein said second reagent channels are connectable to second reagent vessels containing reagents for reacting with said liquid samples, each of said second reagent channels communicating with said second main channel and being equipped with an on/off valve; and wherein said second main channel is equipped with one or more on/off valves in correspondence to the number of reaction chambers and associated thereto, wherein each of said on/off valves of said second main channel is arranged in-between an opening where said associated reaction chamber opens into said second main channel and said pump.