Modular Microfluidic Chip with Transition Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic chips face challenges in flexibility and repairability, as existing devices require redesigning operation regions for different reactions and are difficult to repair locally, leading to waste when damaged.
Innovation Solution
A modular microfluidic chip design comprising multiple units with operation and transition regions, allowing for flexible combination and local repair or replacement of units, with second sub-electrodes in transition regions enabling droplet movement between units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If microfluidic chips are designed with fixed operation regions for specific reactions, then the device can perform specialized functions, but it cannot adapt to different reactions and requires redesign for each application
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip is divided into multiple independent microfluidic units, each capable of performing different operations. These units can be freely combined to create customized chip configurations for different reactions, eliminating the need to redesign entire chips for each application while maintaining functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic units are designed with universal interfaces and standardized structures that allow them to be combined in various configurations. Each unit can serve multiple functions depending on its position and combination with other units, enabling a single set of modular components to handle diverse reaction types.
2Ease of repair
If microfluidic chips are designed as integrated whole units, then they can perform multiple functions, but local repair and damage repair become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the chip into replaceable microfluidic units, only the damaged or obsolete units need to be removed and replaced, rather than discarding or repairing the entire chip. This significantly reduces waste and repair time while maintaining the functionality of intact units.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables easy discarding of damaged microfluidic units and recovery/reuse of functional units. Healthy units can be extracted and reused in new chip configurations, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different reactions require different operation regions, then each reaction can be optimized, but the chip cannot flexibly adapt to various reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The chip manufacturing process is simplified by producing standardized microfluidic units that can be mass-produced using the same fabrication procedures. These pre-fabricated units are then assembled into different chip configurations depending on the required reaction, separating the manufacturing complexity from the application-specific customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The chip configuration is made dynamic and reconfigurable through the modular unit system. Instead of manufacturing different fixed designs for each reaction, the same set of modular units can be dynamically assembled into different arrangements to suit various reaction requirements, providing manufacturing flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables adaptable microfluidic chips for various biological detections, reduces waste by allowing unit-level repair, and facilitates efficient droplet manipulation and movement between units.
Implementation Method 1
at least one second sub-electrode located in the transition region, and the at least one second sub-electrode being configured to drive a droplet to move from one of the plurality of microfluidic units to an adjacent microfluidic unit
Implementation Method 2
each of the plurality of microfluidic units further includes a first dielectric layer disposed on the first electrode layer, and the first dielectric layer is made of a material having hydrophobicity
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a micro-fluidic chip, and belongs to the field of chip technology. The microfluidic chip provided in the present disclosure includes a plurality of microfluidic units, each microfluidic unit includes an operation region and a transition region located on at least one side of the operation region, the transition regions at adjacent side of two adjacent microfluidic units are disposed opposite to each other. Each microfluidic unit includes: a first substrate; a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate, the first electrode layer including a plurality of first sub-electrodes located in the operation region and at least one second sub-electrode located in the transition region, and the at least one second sub-electrode configured to drive a droplet to move from one of the plurality of microfluidic units to an adjacent microfluidic unit.