Patent ID: 8337783

Claim:
A magnetic connector assembly for microfluidic devices comprising: a first magnetic connector comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; an orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector; a microfluidic chip comprising a first side surface and a second side surface; an orifice in said first side surface of said microfluidic chip; a microchannel in said microfluidic chip in flow communication with said orifice in said first side surface of said first magnetic connector; a second magnetic connector configured to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector with microfluidic chip disposed therebetween; one of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet and the other of said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector comprises at least one of a ferromagnetic material, a permanent magnet, and an electromagnet; a seal configured and disposed to seal said first side surface of said first magnetic connector to said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon said first magnetic connector being placed on said first side surface of said microfluidic chip and said second magnetic connector being placed on said second side surface of said microfluidic chip and disposed to magnetically engage said first magnetic connector; said orifice extending from said first side surface to said second side surface of said first magnetic connector being configured to sealingly cooperate with a fluid transport device at its opening in said second side surface, said fluid transport device being configured to provide fluid flow into or out of said orifice and said micro-channel, in said microfluidic chip, through said orifice in said first magnetic connector; said first magnetic connector and said second magnetic connector being axially polarized and configured to provide an attracting force therebetween throughout a full 360° rotation of said first magnetic connector with respect to said second magnetic connector; said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween sufficient for sealing said first side surface of said first magnetic connector with said first side surface of said microfluidic chip, with said seal therebetween; said first and said second magnetic connectors being configured to provide a magnetic force therebetween wherein said first magnetic connector is releasable from said first side surface of said microfluidic chip upon a force being applied by hand to said first or said second magnetic connector.