Enhanced versatility of fluid control in centrifugal microfluidic platforms using two degrees of freedom

Abstract

Centrifugal microfluidic platforms have significant potential in commercial applications because of their operational flexibility and minimal external infrastructure requirements. However, the dynamic and real-time control of fluid flow within traditional centrifugal microfluidic platforms is problematic. To address this significant limitation, we propose a two degrees of freedom platform, in which a digital servo is located at each end of an arm driven by a motor. This allows for reversible inward pumping between multiple chambers with perfect efficiency. Furthermore, the addition of a second degree of freedom allows position-based pressure controlled burst valves to be accessed and operated in an independent fashion. To demonstrate the efficacy of this technical innovation, we show rapid and configurable flow switching between three target chambers within a centrifugal microfluidic device.