Patent ID: 8617488

Claim:
A microfluidic device comprising: a rigid base layer; an elastomeric layer on the base layer, wherein the elastomeric layer comprises at least part of: (i) a fluid channel for transporting a liquid reagent, and (ii) a vent channel that accepts gas diffusing through the elastomeric-layer from the fluid channel and vents it out of the elastomeric layer; a rigid plastic layer on the elastomeric layer; a mixing chamber at least partially formed within the elastomeric layer or rigid plastic layer, the mixing chamber being fluidly connected to the fluid channel; and a control channel overlapping with a deflectable membrane that defines a portion of the fluid channel, wherein the control channel is operable to change a rate at which the liquid reagent flows through the fluid channel; wherein the vent channel is separated from the fluid channel by a gas permeable membrane.