Sample flow switching techniques on microfluidic chips

Biosens Bioelectron. 2006 Feb 15;21(8):1644-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2005.07.013. Epub 2005 Aug 19.

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation into electrokinetically focused flow injection for bio-analytical applications. A novel microfluidic device for microfluidic sample handling is presented. The microfluidic chip is fabricated on glass substrates using conventional photolithographic and chemical etching processes and is bonded using a high-temperature fusion method. The proposed valve-less device is capable not only of directing a single sample flow to a specified output port, but also of driving multiple samples to separate outlet channels or even to a single outlet to facilitate sample mixing. The experimental results confirm that the sample flow can be electrokinetically pre-focused into a narrow stream and guided to the desired outlet port by means of a simple control voltage model. The microchip presented within this paper has considerable potential for use in a variety of applications, including high-throughput chemical analysis, cell fusion, fraction collection, sample mixing, and many other applications within the micro-total-analysis systems field.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation*
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Flow Injection Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Flow Injection Analysis / methods
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods