US 12,246,317 B2
Microfluidic test system and microfluidic test method
Chen-Yi Lee, Hsinchu (TW); and Yun-Sheng Chan, Hualien (TW)
Assigned to NATIONAL YANG MING CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY, Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by Chen-Yi Lee, Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/695,515.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/240,225, filed on Sep. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/163,226, filed on Mar. 19, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 110119564 (TW), filed on May 28, 2021; and application No. 111101835 (TW), filed on Jan. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0297120 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 9/04 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0819 (2013.01); B01L 2300/18 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
 
1. A microfluidic test system, comprising:
a control apparatus, storing a test protocol of a biomedical test; and
a microfluidic chip, comprising:
a top plate; and
a microelectrode dot array, being arranged under the top plate, and a space being defined under the top plate and above the microelectrode dot array so that a test sample can be moved with the space under the control of the control apparatus, wherein the microelectrode dot array comprising a plurality of microelectrode devices connected in a series, and each of the microelectrode devices comprises:
a microfluidic electrode, being arranged under the top plate;
a multi-functional electrode, being arranged under the microfluidic electrode; and
a control circuit, being arranged under the multi-functional electrode and comprising:
a microfluidic control and location-sensing circuit, being coupled to the microfluidic electrode;
a storage circuit; and
a temperature control circuit, being coupled to the multi-functional electrode;
wherein the control apparatus provides a location-sensing signal to the microfluidic chip, the location-sensing signal is enabled within a first time interval, each of the microfluidic control and location-sensing circuits detects a first capacitance value between the top plate and the corresponding microfluidic electrode and stores the first capacitance value in the corresponding storage circuit during the first time interval,
wherein the control apparatus further provides a clock signal to the microfluidic chip, the clock signal is enabled within a plurality of sub-time intervals of a second time interval, and the storage circuits output the first capacitance values during the sub-time intervals of the second time interval respectively,
wherein the control apparatus further determines a size and a location of the test sample within the microfluidic chip according to the first capacitance values, generates a test control signal according to the test protocol, the size, and the location, and provides the test control signal to the microfluidic chip.