Patent ID: 7842248

Claim:
A microfluidic system comprising: (A) a microfluidics platform comprising: a compliant body having a microfluidic channel defined therein; an elongate chamber defined by a section of said microfluidic channel, said chamber having a membrane wall defining at least part of an outer surface of said body; and a plurality of compression members spaced apart along said membrane wall, each compression member being configured for pinching a respective part of said membrane wall against an opposed wall of said chamber; and (B) a MEMS integrated circuit bonded to said outer surface of said body, said MEMS integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of moveable fingers, each finger engaged with a respective compression member, each finger being configured to urge said respective compression member between a closed position in which said respective part of said membrane wall is sealingly pinched against said opposed wall, and an open position in which said respective part of said membrane wall is disengaged from said opposed wall; a plurality of thermal bend actuators, each finger comprising a thermal bend actuator for controlling movement of a respective finger, and control circuitry for controlling actuation of said actuators, wherein: actuation of each actuator causes its respective finger to move away from said body, thereby disengaging a respective part of said membrane wall from said opposed wall; and deactuation of each actuator causes said respective finger to move towards said body, thereby sealingly pinching a respective part of said membrane wall against said opposed wall.