Microfluidic Manipulation and Pumping

Introduction

Microfluidic systems are becoming an increasingly important tool for chemical, biochemical and biological analysis, as reported by a variety of publications in recent years. Microchannels, reaction chambers, reservoirs, micro barriers and even detection mechanisms can be integrated in a small microfluidic system. It's desirable to integrate microfluidic devices for the following functions including sampling, sample transport, necessary chemical reactions, separation and detection. We develop a series of novel designs for microfluidic manipulation and pumping.

A novel electrolysis-based micropump using air bubble to achieve indirect actuation is proposed and demonstrated. Compared with other electrochemical micropumps, our micropump could drive microfluid without inducing the pH-value variation in the main channel and the choking/sticking phenomena of electrolytic bubbles. It is promising for biomedical applications, especially for application like blood transportation. Our proposed on-chip electrolysis-bubble actuator with the features of room temperature operation, low driving voltage, low power consumption and large actuation force not only can minimize the possibility of cell-damage but also may enable portable and implantable lab-on-a-chip microsystems.

 

 


  

*  Visualisation of Human Whole Blood Pumping (published on Lab on Chip as a cover image)

 


 

 



Selected Publication

[1] Sheng-Hung Chiu and Cheng-Hsien Liu, “An air-bubble-actuated micropump for on-chip blood transportation,” Lab Chip, 2009, 9, 1524

[2] Chih-Ming Cheng and Cheng-Hsien Liu “An Electrolysis-Bubble-Actuated Micropump based on the Roughness Gradient Design of Hydrophobic Surface,” Journal of MicroElectroMechanical Systems 16 (5), pp. 1095-1105, 2007

[3] Chih-Ming Cheng and Cheng-Hsien Liu, “A Capillary System with Thermal-Bubble-Actuated 1×N Micro Fluidic Switches via Time-Sequence Power Control for Continuous Liquid Handling,” Journal of MicroElectroMechanical Systems, Vol. 15, n. 2, pp. 296-307, April 2006