Patent ID: 8361410

Claim:
A microfluidic analyzer system comprising: an analyzer unit; a fluidic circuit having an input port in fluid communication with the analyzer unit; a first flow sensor positioned within the analyzer unit; a second flow sensor positioned within the fluidic circuit and in fluid communication with the first flow sensor; a pump/pressure source having an output connected directly to the first flow sensor; and a processor connected to the flow sensors and the fluidic circuit; and wherein each of the flow sensors include an upstream temperature sensor, a thermally isolated heater, and a downstream temperature sensor, wherein the upstream and downstream temperature sensors are positioned on either side of the heater; wherein a fluid flow rate is proportional to the temperature difference between the upstream and downstream temperature sensors; and wherein a first flow rate at the first flow sensor and a second flow rate at the second flow sensor are compared to detect a leak between an interface of the analyzer unit and the fluidic circuit.