9.1 Set of Experiments
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9.1 Set of Experiments
The starting point of each microfluidic network design is a set of experiments to
be realized. An experiment is given as a sequence of operations which has to be
executed on samples [23]. These samples are provided in terms of the payload
droplets.
Example 9.1 Let’s assume that three different experiments have to be realized
which are provided in terms of sequencing graphs as shown in Fig. 9.2a–c. In
the experiment shown in Fig. 9.2a, a mixing operation (m) followed by a heating
operation (h) and a detecting operation (d) is to be executed on the payload
(i.e. φ 1 = (m, h, d)). The experiment shown in Fig. 9.2b is similar to the one
from Fig. 9.2a, except that, instead of the heating, a delaying operation (t) is to
be executed (i.e. φ 2 = (m, t, d)). Finally, in the experiment shown in Fig. 9.2c,
the mixed payload has to be heated and delayed before the detecting operation is
conducted (i.e. φ 3 = (m, h, t, d)).
m
Sample
h
d
Waste
m
Sample
t
d
Waste
(b) f 2
m
Sample
h
t
d
Waste
(c) f 3
(a) f 1
Fig. 9.2 Experiments