Patent ID: 7814928

Claim:
A microfluidic assembly comprising: a replaceable microfluidic circuit comprising one or more fluidic compartments each comprised of a membrane; and a thermal unit comprising at least one temperature controlling element, wherein the membrane of each of the one or more fluidic compartments is placed on a side of the fluidic compartment to protect the fluidic compartment from an outside environment, and wherein the replaceable microfluidic circuit is adapted to contact the thermal unit by contact between the one or more membranes and the at least one temperature controlling element to achieve temperature control of a substance or substances inside the one or more fluidic compartments, the thermal unit is external to the replaceable microfluidic circuit, and the thermal unit is configured to be maintained in the microfluidic assembly upon replacement of the replaceable microfluidic circuit, thus allowing multiple uses of the microfluidic assembly.