US Patent 10235489 Method for optimizing the design of micro-fluidic devices

Methods and systems for fabricating micro-fluidic devices include determining a target cost function value based device design parameters. The performance of one or more chosen design candidates is simulated in a selected simulation model. A design candidate is identified with a cost function value closest to the target cost function value as a best initial design candidate. Design parameters of the best initial design candidate are iteratively modified to provide a modified design candidate having design parameters differing from the design parameters of the best initial design candidate, a cost function value is iteratively calculated for the modified initial design candidate, and optimized device design parameters are iteratively derived from a modified design candidate, until a computed cost function value for the modified design candidate meets the determined target cost function value. An optimized micro-fluidic device is fabricated using the modified design candidate and the optimized device design parameters.