Method to regulate pressure driven flow in fluidic passages by sealing junctions via application of a phase change material

Stanford researchers have discovered a way of regulating pressure-driven flow in fluidic passages by utilizing phase change materials to seal fluidic passages. Unwanted small differences in the hydrostatic pressure in reservoirs result in unwanted pressure-driven flows in the channels, and these flows may disturb on-chip processes including chemical and biological separations and analysis. This method controls flow in a microfluidic system by adding a phase-change material at the interface between the local atmosphere and the fluid in a channel. The method does not change the hydrostatic or ionic resistance in the channel, so it does not influence separations and analysis occurring in the channel. The method is also compatible with electrode reactions at the sealed reservoir.