Analysis engine and database for manipulating parameters for fluidic systems on a chip

Abstract

A system for performing one or more microfluidic processes includes an integrated fluidic device comprising a plurality of well regions and a plurality of control valves and a workflow manager. The system also includes a transfer robot adapted to transfer the integrated fluidic device between a plurality of stations in response to a series of instructions from the workflow manager and a first station comprising a dispensing robot adapted to dispense at least one of a plurality of sample solutions and at least one of a plurality of reagents into the integrated fluidic device. The system further includes a second station comprising a fluidic controller unit and a third station comprising an inspection station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for performing one or more microfluidic processes, the system comprising:
 an integrated fluidic device comprising a plurality of well regions and a plurality of control valves, at least one of the control valves being coupled to at least one of the well regions;   a workflow manager;   a transfer robot adapted to transfer the integrated fluidic device between a plurality of stations in response to a series of instructions from the workflow manager;   a first station comprising a dispensing robot adapted to dispense at least one of a plurality of sample solutions and at least one of a plurality of reagents into the integrated fluidic device;   a second station comprising a fluidic controller unit adapted to actuate at least one of the plurality of control valves; and   a third station comprising an inspection station adapted to acquire and process an image of at least a portion of one sample well selected from the plurality of sample wells of the integrated fluidic device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second station is further configured to perform screening of the integrated fluidic device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more microfluidic processes comprise one or more crystallization processes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fluidic controller unit comprises a free interface diffusion crystallizer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a fourth station comprising an integrated fluidic device hotel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an input/output stack adapted to house a plurality of integrated fluidic devices, vessels for storing the plurality of sample solutions, and vessels for storing the plurality of reagents. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of sample solutions comprise protein solutions. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the integrated fluidic devices comprise a barcode identification marker. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the integrated fluidic device is an elastomeric microfluidic device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the transfer robot comprises a barcode scanner adapted to read the barcode identification marker present on the integrated fluidic devices.