Embedded screen-printed transducers in bulk polymer microfluidic devices

Abstract

We present a low-cost method to fabricate microfluidic devices with embedded transducers suitable for rapid prototyping on a lab scale and potentially also for mass production. To achieve this goal, a method for fabricating passive microfluidic devices using a solvent bonding technique for sealing is introduced. To avoid clogging, liquid metal (gallium) is utilized as a sacrificial layer during this bonding process. A sensor fabrication method compatible with the rapid prototyping ambitions is screen printing. Sensors based on thermal, capacitive and mechanical effects are fabricated by screen printing and are embedded into channels. The proposed processing methods can be easily adapted to achieve specific requirements associated with different tasks in lab-on-a-chip devices.