A customizable, scalable control solution for digitally-based reconfigurable magnetic microfluidic systems

Recent trends in microfluidic technologies are leaning to more streamlined and integratedplatforms that can perform a variety of tasks. In order to achieve this, a continuous-flowintegrated microfluidics system needs to be made portable through the use of componentsthat are digitally controllable. The proposed device will use magnetic-based microfluidicscomponents, such as valves and mixers, which will require an electromagnetic based modelof actuation.The scope of this thesis is to design and optimize an FPGA-based control system comprisedof a user interface, device libraries and circuitry to connect to the physical components.Particular focus is given to optimizing the actuation system for magnetic microvalves toensure power efficiency, a trait that is paramount for a portable device such as the proposedmicrofluidics platform. Theoretical models and simulations are evaluated throughexperimentation to determine which best correlate with the physical system. This enablesthe selection of a set of parameters that result in a power-efficient actuation system. Thesimulations and evaluations are used to define a procedure for parameter selection.The selection criteria for these parameters are evaluated for an example system and theresulting actuation system behaves as predicted in a physical demonstration. The actuationsystem is integrated with the user interface through a software framework designed to bemodular, scalable and easy to upgrade.