Patent ID: 7799278

Claim:
A microfluidic system for performing fluid analysis, comprised of: a submersible housing having a fluid analysis means and a power supply to provide power to said system; and a substrate for receiving a fluid sample, having embedded therein a fluid sample inlet, a reagent inlet, a fluid sample outlet, and a mixing region in fluid communication with said fluid sample inlet, said reagent inlet, and said fluid sample outlet, and wherein said substrate includes a fluid drive means that is one of a passive fluid drive means or a active fluid drive means for moving the fluid sample through said substrate, and wherein said substrate interconnects with said housing, such that the fluid drive means provides for a pressure-balanced contact with one or more external environment pressure to ensure that at least one reagent is subject to an approximate pressure as the fluid sample, such that the microfluidic system is inherently pressure-balanced as the fluid sample inlet and the fluid sample outlet are exposed to the one or more external environment.