Patent ID: 7476361

Claim:
A centripetally-motivated microsystems platform comprising: a) one or a plurality of sample reservoirs, b) an overflow reservoir, c) one or a plurality of diluent reservoirs, d) one or a plurality of dilution reservoirs, e) a metering manifold, wherein the metering manifold is fluidly connected to each of the plurality of dilution reservoirs and the manifold is further fluidly connected to the overflow reservoir, and f) a plurality of microchannels embedded in the microsystems platform and in fluidic contact with each of the sample reservoirs, the metering manifold, each of the diluent reservoirs, and each of the dilution reservoirs, wherein rotation of the platform motivates flow of a sample from the sample reservoir and a diluent from the diluent reservoir through the metering manifold and into one or a plurality of dilution reservoirs, wherein the platform is rotated about an axis of rotation, wherein the sample is diluted from a first concentration in the sample reservoir to a lesser, more dilute sample concentration in the one or plurality of dilution reservoirs, wherein the microsystems platform further comprises a means for mixing fluidly connected to the metering manifold or the dilution reservoir, wherein sample and diluent are mixed, wherein the means for mixing comprises one or a plurality of side microchannels running substantially parallel to a main microchannel that is fluidly connected to the one or a plurality of dilution reservoirs and to the metering manifold, wherein the side microchannels are fluidic contact with the main microchannel, each side microchannel having first and second openings to the main microchannel, wherein the second opening is at a position in a main microchannel wall distal from the center of the axis of rotation compared with the first opening, wherein fluid movement in the main microchannel at each of the first openings of the side microchannels splits fluid flow into each of the side microchannels, and continued fluid flow recombines the fluid from each of the side microchannels into the main microchannel at the position of the second opening of each of the side microchannels.