Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic devices that include a reliable seal between a substrate of the device and a fluid transport mechanism. The devices of the invention include at least one internal channel, and at least one port in fluid communication with the channel. A seal is associated with the port and is configured to receive a fluid transport mechanism. The seal is formed from an elastomeric material that is compatible for use with fluorinated oil and resists flaking and degradation.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to light-interacting components suitable for use in chips and other reactor systems. These components may include waveguides, optical fibers, light sources, photodetectors, optical elements, and the like. If waveguides are used, they may be fashioned out of any material able to transmit light to or from the reaction site. The chip may contain a reaction site having a volume of less than about 1 ml. In some embodiments, the chip may be constructed in such a way as to be able to support a living cell. The chip may be used for imaging or analysis, or the chip may be used to facilitate a chemical or biological reaction, which may be light-sensitive or light-activated in certain cases. Other facilitated reactions may include the production or consumption of a chemical or biological species. In some embodiments, the chip may include more than one component or component type, or more than one reaction site.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to chemical, biological, and/or biochemical reactor microreactors and other reaction systems such as microreactor systems, as well as systems and methods for constructing and using such devices. In one aspect, a reactor on a chip has a container in fluid communication with a channel, and the channel is in fluid communication with a port for connecting the container to a source of fluid to be introduced into the container. The container can be very small, for example, with a volume of less than about 2 milliliters, and the fluid channel can have a channel volume of less than 1.5 percent of the container volume. According to another aspect, the combined volume of the port volume and the channel volume can be less than about 10 percent of the container volume. Such a configuration may increase the percentage of added fluid that reaches the container.

Abstract: Fluid transfer devices described herein can include a body portion and a tip portion. A fluid pathway extends through the body and tip portions through which fluid may be transferred, for example, from a fluid-dispensing apparatus to a fluidic chamber of a microreactor. In some embodiments, the fluid transfer device is connected to the fluid-dispensing apparatus with an engaging element. The engaging element may be part of the body, and can enable the dispensing apparatus to repeatedly engage the body at one predetermined position. The body is capable of storing the fluid received from the dispensing apparatus. The tip portion may be formed of a rigid material (e.g., a metal), and/or may be configured to repeatedly pierce a septum without damaging either the tip or the body. Advantageously, in certain embodiments, the fluid transfer device can controllably transfer small volumes of fluid (e.g., 1 ?L) with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to chemical, biological, and/or biochemical reactor chips and/or reaction systems such as microreactor systems, as well as methods for constructing and using such systems. In some cases, humidity control materials are utilized to provide beneficially high rates of gas exchange. The humidity control materials may be used, in certain instances, to provide at least adequate, and in certain embodiments superior, gas exchange for systems having small volumes. In some cases, the currently disclosed materials include certain polymers, e.g., poly(acetylene)s such as poly(alkylacetylene)s. The polymers may be at least partially halogenated (for example, fluorinated) in some instances. In certain embodiments, a chip and/or a reaction system may be constructed so as to promote cell growth within it. In some embodiments, the chips may include one or more reaction sites. The reaction sites can be very small, for example, with a volume of less than about 1 ml.

Abstract: Chemical, biological, and/or biochemical reaction systems, including chips or reactors, may be configured so as to restrain immiscible materials such as gas bubbles from interfering with the determination of environmental factors associated with the chip according to one aspect of the invention. In another aspect, a chip or other reaction system may be configured to maintain a gas headspace in the chip or other reaction system. In certain embodiments, impediments such as physical barriers may be used to contain gas bubbles within a gas containing region, or otherwise away from a detection region. In other embodiments, surface tension properties may be used to control the location of gas bubbles. The chip or other reaction systems may include reaction site containers that can be very small, for example, having a volume of less than about 2 ml.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to chemical, biological, and/or biochemical reactor chips and other reaction systems such as microreactor systems, as well as systems and methods for constructing and using such devices. In one aspect, a chip or other reaction system may be constructed so as to promote cell growth within it. In certain embodiments, the chips or other reaction systems of the invention include one or more reaction sites. The reaction sites can be very small, for example, with a volume of less than about 1 ml. In one aspect of the invention, a chip is able to detect, measure and/or control an environmental factor such as the temperature, pressure, CO2 concentration, O2 concentration, relative humidity, pH, etc. associated with one or more reaction sites, by using one or more sensors, actuators, processors, and/or control systems. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to materials and systems having humidity and/or gas control, for example, for use with a chip.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for conveniently and reliably storing and/or retrieving data associated with a chemical, biological, or biochemical chip, reactor, or reaction system. The data can pertain to the reactor; to chemical, biological, or biochemical species introduced into, taken from, or otherwise associated with the reactor; to conditions to which the reactor and/or some or all of its contents has been, is being, or will be exposed to, or the like. Various aspects of the present invention relate to memory and data storage components suitable for use in chips or other reaction systems. These components may include silicon integrated circuits, magnetic media, optical media, radio-frequency tags, smart cards, bar-codes and other kinds of data storage devices. The chip may contain a reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml. In some embodiments, the chip may be constructed in such a way as to be able to support a living cell.