Abstract

Microfludics offers the opportunity to reduce laboratory scale experiments into chip based systems. In doing so sample and reagent volumes and costs can be minimised, and portability can be offered so that medical diagnostics can occur at the point-of-care. Key tasks in building such technologies include the handling of both samples and suspended matter. This seminar will address these tasks through the use of ultrasonic actuation. The key mechanisms available will be compared an applied in order to achieve particle collection. Particle sorting will also be shown by using a combination of these mechanisms, in open fluidic chamber and proximity of an oscillating microbubble. Finally, two aspects of sample handling will be examined. Firstly the injection of picoliter droplets of sample into an oil filled channel will be shown using the application of an ultrasonic pulse, and secondly the subsequent merging of droplets with the potential to instigate chemical reactions on chip.