Issue 20, 2010

Fabrication of membrane-type microvalves in rectangular microfluidic channels via seal photopolymerization

Abstract

Rectangular fluidic channels have rarely been used in microfluidic devices which use PDMS membrane-type microvalves, since the rectangular channel shape does not perfectly match the round shape of the membrane deformation. We present a polymer sealing method to fabricate PDMS membrane-type microvalves for rectangular microchannels. After fabricating the microfluidic device, photocurable oligomer is introduced into the fluidic channel and gas pressure is applied to the pneumatic channel to deform the membrane. The polymer seal is then locally polymerized by photolithography producing a structure matching the shape of the deformed membrane curvature. We compare the flow leakage between the membrane-type microvalve with and without a polymer seal. We also demonstrate a micropump and droplet generator using this embedded polymer membrane-type microvalve in a rectangular microfluidic channel. This polymeric seal technique enables the use of easily fabricated rectangular channel membrane microvalves with all the functionality of their curved channel counterparts with negligible flow leakage.

Graphical abstract: Fabrication of membrane-type microvalves in rectangular microfluidic channels via seal photopolymerization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Technical Note
Submitted
21 Apr 2010
Accepted
29 Jul 2010
First published
18 Aug 2010

Lab Chip, 2010,10, 2814-2817

Fabrication of membrane-type microvalves in rectangular microfluidic channels via seal photopolymerization

W. Park, S. Han and S. Kwon, Lab Chip, 2010, 10, 2814 DOI: 10.1039/C005173J

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