Microfluidics system

Abstract

Provided herein are a system and method for using a microfluidics device. The system includes: a plurality of pumps and a plurality of sensors; a first communication line to select a pump from the plurality of pumps and select a sensor from the plurality of sensors; a second communication line selectively connected to the selected pump; and a third communication line selectively connected to the selected sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making microfluidics measurements, the method comprising:
 using a single communication line, selecting a sensor from a plurality of sensors and a pump from a plurality of pumps;   activating the selected pump; and   obtaining a sensor measurement from the selected sensor during the activation of the selected pump.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a bubble pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, with the selected pump, receiving an activation sequence that varies based on the selected sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selection of a first sensor automatically selects a corresponding first pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising serially operating the single communication line to select the sensor from the plurality of sensors and the pump from the plurality of pumps. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a plurality of transistors connected to the single communication line to activate the selected pump and enable the selected sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the selected pump further comprises receiving a signal on a second communication line with branches that connect to each pump in the plurality of pumps such that the signal on the second communication line operates the selected pump. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , with a third communication line with branches that connect to each sensor in the plurality of sensors, transmitting output of the selected sensor on the third communication line. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving a signal to drive the selected pump through a single connection pad at which the second communication line terminates. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising outputting a signal from the selected sensor to a single connection pad at which the third communication line terminates. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making microfluidics measurements in a microfluidics system that comprises a plurality of pumps and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:
 with a first communication line, selecting a pump from the plurality of pumps and a sensor from the plurality of sensors, the first communication line connected to a plurality of transistors that are connected to selectively enable operation of the selected pump and selected sensor in response to a signal on the first communication line;   operating the selected pump with a signal on a second communication line with branches that connect to each pump in the plurality of pumps such that a signal on the second communication line operates the selected pump selectively enabled through the plurality of transistors; and   transmitting output of the selected sensor on a third communication line with branches that connect to each sensor in the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising simultaneously enabling multiple pumps from the plurality of pumps in response to a selection signal on the first communication line. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , selectively enabling both a first pump and a first sensor based on a state of a first transistor. wherein the first transistor amongst the plurality of transistors is connected to both the first pump of the plurality of pumps and the first sensor of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, with a plurality of flip-flops connected to the plurality of transistors, upon receipt of a clock signal, transferring a state of a first transistor to a next transistor in the plurality of transistors. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising having a greater number of flip-flops in the plurality of flip-flops than transistors in the plurality of transistors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each transistor in the plurality of transistors has a gate connected to a different flip-flop in the plurality of flip-flops. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making microfluidics measurements, the method comprising:
 inputting a selection signal to a single communication line, the selection signal selecting and enabling a sensor from a plurality of sensors and a pump from a plurality of pumps;   operating the selected pump to move fluid; and   obtaining a sensor signal measuring a parameter of the fluid from the selected sensor during the operation of the selected pump; and   outputting the sensor signal from the selected sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, with the selected pump, receiving an activation sequence that varies based on the selected sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein selection of a first sensor automatically selects a corresponding first pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising serially operating the single communication line to select the sensor from the plurality of sensors and the pump from the plurality of pumps.