US Patent 9029131 Automatic microfluidic processor

In a microfluidic processor with integrated active elements for handling process media, the active elements act by changes in their volume, swelling degree, material composition, their strength and/or viscosity. The procedures to be performed are defined already by the constructive configuration of the microfluidic processor by an appropriate logic connection of the individual active elements defined in their function, by the sequence of the temporal activation of the individual elements, and with respect to their processing speed and their precision. The process is enabled by action of a substantially non-directional collectively acting environmental parameter, in particular, the presence of a solvent or environmental temperature or both.