Patent ID: 8211709

Claim:
A method of controlling communication between multiple ports in a microfluidic device, comprising: providing a first channel network in the microfluidic device, the first channel network including a first channel having a first input port, a second channel having a second input port, and an output port communicating with the first and second channels; providing a second channel network in the microfluidic device, the second channel network including a channel input port in proximity to the output port of the first channel network and an output port; filling the first and second channel networks with a fluid; providing air-liquid interfaces at the output ports of the first and second channel networks, the air-liquid interfaces having radii of curvatures; depositing a first input droplet having a radius of curvature on the first input port, the first input droplet flowing toward the output port of the first channel network in response to the first input droplet having a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of the air-liquid interface and forming a first output droplet having a dimension on the output port of the first channel network; depositing a second input droplet having a radius of curvature on the second input port, the second input droplet flowing toward the output port of the first channel network in response to the second input droplet having a radius of curvature less than the radius of curvature of the air-liquid interface and increasing the dimension of the first output droplet on the output port of the first channel network; and wherein the first output droplet flows into the input port of the second channel network towards the output port of the second channel network in response to the dimension of the first outlet droplet exceeding a threshold.