What is claimed is:

1.

A microfluidic regulating device comprising: a first channel segment defined in a first layer of the device and containing a fluid flow ; a second channel segment defined in a second layer of the device, the second channel segment being in fluid communication with the first channel segment; and a membrane separating the first channel segment and the second channel segment at a regulatory region; wherein the presence of a pressure differential between the first channel segment and the second channel segment causes the membrane to deform toward and into the channel segment having a lower internal pressure, thus reducing fluid flow capability through the first channel segment or the second channel segment.

2.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first device layer and the second device layer comprises a sandwiched stencil layer.

3.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the membrane has an adhesive surface.

4.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first device layer, the second device layer, and the membrane comprises a selfadhesive tape material.

5.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 3 wherein, when a pressure differential of sufficient magnitude is attained, the deformable membrane contacts and is adhered to either the first device layer or the second device layer.

6.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 1 wherein the membrane is elastically deformable.

7.	The microfluidic regulating device of claim 1 wherein the membrane is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polycarbonates, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polypropylenes, polyimides, polysilanes, polymethylmethacrylates, and polyesters.

8.

A microfluidic flow control device comprising: a first microfluidic channel defined in a first stencil layer a valve seating surface defining an aperture; a second microfluidic channel defined in a second stencil layer, the second microfluidic channel capable of fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel through the aperture; and a deformable membrane substantially centrally disposed above or below the aperture and capable of being deformed to seal against the valve seating surface, thus preventing fluid flow through the aperture; wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the aperture when the deformable membrane is in an undeformed state.

9.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the deformable membrane and the valve seating surface has a selfadhesive surface.

10.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 8, further comprising a control channel bounded by the deformable membrane, wherein pressure within the control channel may be manipulated to deform the membrane.

11.

A microfluidic flow control device comprising: a microfluidic channel bounded from below by a lower surface and laterally by channel walls ; a first deformable membrane defining an upper surface of the microfluidic channel, the first membrane capable of being deformed into the microfluidic channel; and actuation means capable upon activation of deforming the first membrane into the microfluidic channel and into contact with the lower surface; wherein at least one of the lower surface and the first membrane has an adhesive surface capable of maintaining contact between the lower surface and the first membrane after disactivation of the actuation means.

12.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 11 further comprising a stencil layer defining the channel walls that serve as the lateral boundaries of the microfluidic channel, wherein the lower surface is distinct from the stencil layer.

13.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 11 wherein the lower surface cornprises a second deformable membrane capable of being deformed into the microfluidic channel.

14.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 11 wherein the actuation means is selected from the group consisting of: manual, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, magnetic, and thermoelectric actuation.

15.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 11 wherein at least one of the lower surface and the first membrane comprises a selfadhesive tape material.

16.

A microfluidic flow control device comprising: a first control layer defining a plurality of first control layer channel segments; a second control layer defining a plurality of second control layer channel segments; a channel layer disposed between the first control layer and the second control layer, the channel layer defining a microfluidic channel network in fluid communication with a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports; a first membrane separating the first control layer and the channel layer at a plurality of valve regions; and a second membrane separating the second control layer and the channel layer at a plurality of valve regions; wherein fluid flow paths between one or more specific inlet ports and one or more specific outlet ports may be selectively established by manipulating the pressure within individual control layer channel segments to cause deformation of the first membrane and/or the second membrane toward and into the channel network at one or more valve regions.

17.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first control layer, the second control layer, and the channel layer comprises a stencil layer.

18.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first control layer, the second control layer, the channel layer, the first membrane, and the second membrane has an adhesive surface.

19.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 16 wherein the first membrane or the second membrane comprises a plurality of different membrane materials to provide different valve characteristics at specific valve regions.

20.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 16 wherein the plurality of first control layer channel segments are oriented substantially orthogonal to the plurality of second control layer channel segments.

21.	A microfluidic flow control system comprising the microfluidic flow control device of claim 16 and at least one pressure source.

22.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 21 further comprising a controller for controlling pressure within individual channel segments.

23.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 22, wherein particular fluid flow paths may be selectively programmed via the controller.

24.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 22 further comprising a sensor, wherein the controller receives a feedback signal from the sensor.

25.

A microfluidic flow control device comprising: a first microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel capable of being in fluid communication with the first microfluidic channel; at least one deformable membrane capable of affecting fluid flow between the first microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel; at least one magnetic element associated with the at least one deformable membrane; wherein application of a magnetic field deforms the at least one deformable membrane.

26.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 25 wherein the at least one magnetic element is bound to or laminated within the at least one deformable membrane.

27.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 25 wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a discrete magnetic element.

28.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 26 wherein the at least one magnetic element defines a first aperture, the at least one membrane defines a second aperture, and deformation of the membrane selectively permits fluid to flow through the first aperture and the second aperture.

29.	The microfluidic flow control device of claim 25 further comprising a valve seating surface, wherein the membrane may selectively contact the seating surface.

30.	A microfluidic flow control system comprising: the microfluidic flow control device of claim 25; and at least one magnetic field generator.

31.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 30 wherein the at least one magnetic field generator includes a field concentrating element.

32.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 30, further comprising a controller for controlling the at least one magnetic field generator.

33.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 32 wherein the controller is programmable.

34.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 32, further comprising a sensor, wherein the controller receives a feedback signal from the sensor.

35.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 34 wherein the system functions to regulate pressure or fluid flow within at least a portion of the microfluidic device.

36.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 32, wherein the at least one field generator comprises a plurality of field generators each having an associated field concentrating element, and wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a plurality of discrete magnetic elements.

37.	The microfluidic flow control system of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of fluidic inlet ports and a plurality of fluidic outlet ports, wherein fluid flow paths between one or more specific inlet ports and one or more specific outlet ports may be selectively established.

38.

A configurable microfluidic device comprising: a network of interconnected microfluidic channels; a plurality of first control channels; a plurality of second control channels; wherein the first control channels and the second control channels are separated by one or more deformable membranes from the network of interconnected microfluidic channels at one or more regulatory regions.

39.	The configurable microfluidic device of claim 38, further comprising a control system for controlling the pressure in said first control channels and in said second control channels.