Patent ID: 7527767

Claim:
A parallelized micro-fluidic system, comprising: a plurality of mutually similar fluid paths connected in parallel, wherein the plurality of paths are branched from a common input point and later merged at an output point, the plurality of mutually similar fluid paths having a first undisturbed state in which none of the mutually similar fluid paths are clogged or fouled and a second disturbed state in which at least one of the mutually similar fluid paths is fouled or clogged, wherein in the first undisturbed state a same mass rate of flow is present in all the parallel-connected fluid paths; sensors configured to measure at least one physical or chemical parameter influenced by a fluid stream in the fluid paths and respectively assigned to fluid paths at corresponding respective locations of the fluid paths, wherein in the first undisturbed state the measured parameters are respectively same in value; and an evaluation unit connected to the sensors and configured to evaluate a change in the operating state of the micro-fluidic system based on at least the parameter measured in at least one of the fluid paths in the second disturbed state differing in value from the parameters measured in the other ones of the fluid paths in the second disturbed state.