Heat-reduction methods and systems related to microfluidic devices

Abstract

A system and method for preventing or reducing unwanted heat in a microfluidic of the device while generating heat in selected regions of the device. In one example, current is supplied to a heating element through electric leads, wherein the leads are designed so that the current density in the leads is substantially lower than the current density in the heating element. This may be accomplished using conductive leads which have a cross-sectional area which is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the heating element. In another example, unwanted heat in the microfluidic complex is reduced by thermally isolating the electric leads from the microfluidic complex. This may be accomplished by running each lead directly away from the microfluidic complex, through a thermally isolating substrate. After the leads pass through the thermally isolating substrate, they are then routed to the current source. Thus, the thermally isolating substrate substantially blocks the transfer of heat from the leads to the microfluidic complex. In another example, unwanted heat is removed from selected regions of the microfluidic complex using one or more cooling devices. One or more Peltier cooling devices may be attached to a substrate to remove heat generated by heating elements and/or other electronic circuitry.

1 . An integrated microfluidic processing system comprising a microfluidic device, the device comprising:
 a microfluidic complex comprising a thermally actuated component;   a thermally insulating substrate comprising a heating element configured to actuate the thermally actuated component;   a Peltier cooler configured to remove heat from specific regions of the microfluidic complex.   
   
   
       2 . An integrated microfluidic system comprising a microfluidic device, the device comprising:
 first and second substrates defining, therebetween, a microfluidic complex;   a heating element configured to heat a portion of the microfluidic complex; and   one or more Peltier devices abutting one or both of the first and second substrates.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more Peltier devices are attached to the substrates with a heat-transfer paste. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the Peltier devices is configured to cool the entire microfluidic complex. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the Peltier devices is configured to cool a specific region of the microfluidic complex. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the specific region includes a microchamber in the microfluidic complex. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising multiple Peltier devices abutting one of the first and second substrates. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising two or more Peltier devices, wherein the two or more Peltier devices are independently controllable. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element is contained within an insulating layer disposed between the first and second substrates. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an insulating layer adjacent one of the first and second substrates, wherein at least one of the one or more Peltier devices is attached to the insulating layer. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more Peltier devices are controlled electronically, or are battery operated. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a conductor in electrical communication with the heating element wherein at least a portion of the conductor is separated from the microfluidic complex by one of the first or second substrates.