Issue 17, 2016

Flow control using audio tones in resonant microfluidic networks: towards cell-phone controlled lab-on-a-chip devices

Abstract

Fluid control remains a challenge in development of portable lab-on-a-chip devices. Here, we show that microfluidic networks driven by single-frequency audio tones create resonant oscillating flow that is predicted by equivalent electrical circuit models. We fabricated microfluidic devices with fluidic resistors (R), inductors (L), and capacitors (C) to create RLC networks with band-pass resonance in the audible frequency range available on portable audio devices. Microfluidic devices were fabricated from laser-cut adhesive plastic, and a “buzzer” was glued to a diaphragm (capacitor) to integrate the actuator on the device. The AC flowrate magnitude was measured by imaging oscillation of bead tracers to allow direct comparison to the RLC circuit model across the frequency range. We present a systematic build-up from single-channel systems to multi-channel (3-channel) networks, and show that RLC circuit models predict complex frequency-dependent interactions within multi-channel networks. Finally, we show that adding flow rectifying valves to the network creates pumps that can be driven by amplified and non-amplified audio tones from common audio devices (iPod and iPhone). This work shows that RLC circuit models predict resonant flow responses in multi-channel fluidic networks as a step towards microfluidic devices controlled by audio tones.

Graphical abstract: Flow control using audio tones in resonant microfluidic networks: towards cell-phone controlled lab-on-a-chip devices

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Jun 2016
Accepted
29 Jun 2016
First published
01 Jul 2016

Lab Chip, 2016,16, 3260-3267

Flow control using audio tones in resonant microfluidic networks: towards cell-phone controlled lab-on-a-chip devices

R. H. Phillips, R. Jain, Y. Browning, R. Shah, P. Kauffman, D. Dinh and B. R. Lutz, Lab Chip, 2016, 16, 3260 DOI: 10.1039/C6LC00738D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements