Pneumatic Computers for Embedded Control of Microfluidics

TL;DR

This paper introduces pneumatic finite state machines built with microfluidic valves for embedded control of microfluidic systems, enabling reprogrammable, power-efficient, and user-interactive control directly on-chip.

Contribution

It presents the design and implementation of pneumatic microfluidic finite state machines that are reprogrammable and suitable for embedded control of physical systems.

Findings

Finite state machines with up to four bits of memory demonstrated.

Reprogrammable logic achieved by changing membrane hole-punch patterns.

Systems operate with only external vacuum power and user input via pneumatic ports.

Abstract

Alternative computing approaches that interface readily with physical systems are well suited for embedded control of those systems. We demonstrate finite state machines implemented as pneumatic circuits of microfluidic valves, and we employ these controllers to direct microfluidic liquid handling procedures such as serial dilution on the same chip. These monolithic integrated systems require only power to be supplied externally, in the form of a vacuum source. User input can be provided directly to the chip by covering pneumatic ports with a finger. State machines with up to four bits of state memory are demonstrated, and next-state combinational logic can be fully reprogrammed by changing the hole-punch pattern on a membrane in the chip. These pneumatic computers demonstrate a new framework for the embedded control of physical systems.