Patent ID: 6890493

Claim:
A microsystem comprising a microfluidic manifold for distributing fluids in microfluidic systems, the manifold comprising a common port adaptable for fluid communication with one or more fluid sources or sinks, 2 n terminal ports adaptable for fluid delivery to or fluid recovery from 2 n microcomponents, n being an integer not less than 2, and a microfluidic distribution channel providing fluid communication between the common port and each of the 2 n terminal ports, the distribution channel having a hydraulic radius of not more than about 2.5 mm and comprising 2 n −1 channel sections connected with each other through 2 n −1 binary junctions, each of the 2 n −1 channel sections having at least three access ports serving as the common port, as a connection port for a binary junction, or as a terminal port, the distribution channel having a flow conductance that is substantially the same for each of the flow paths between the common port and each of the terminal ports, the manifold being further characterized by one or more of the features selected from the group consisting of (i) the 2 n −1 channel sections are linear channel sections, (ii) n is an integer of not less than 6, and (iii) the 2 n microcomponents are arranged in a substantially planar array with a planar density of not less than about 1 microcomponent/cm 2 , and 2 n microcomponents adapted for receiving fluids from or discharging fluids to the respective 2 n terminal ports.