Active liquid degassing in microfluidic systems

Karlsson, Johannes; Gazin, Muriel; Laakso, Sanna; Haraldsson, Tommy; Malhotra-Kumar, Surbhi; Mäki, Minna; Goossens, Herman; Wijngaart, Wouter van der

doi:10.1039/c3lc50778e

Cited by 39 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…While pressure has been the prevailing force in pneumatic microfluidics, its complementary force, vacuum, has found less applications in microfluidic operations. Besides used as a degassing module for microfluidics, vacuum‐based degassing has recently been exploited as a pumping mechanism for controlling fluid transport in point‐of‐care microfluidic devices . Vacuum can also indirectly control or pump fluids in microfluidic devices through a gas‐permeable PDMS membrane .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum‐Pressure Accelerated Movement (V‐PAM)

Cheung

Liu

et al. 2016

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Rapid fluid transport and exchange are critical operations involved in many microfluidic applications. However, conventional mechanisms used for driving fluid transport in microfluidics, such as micro-pumping and high pressure, can be inaccurate and difficult for implementation for integrated microfluidics containing control components and closed compartments. Herein we developed a technology termed Vacuum-Pressure Accelerated Movement (V-PAM) capable of significantly enhancing biofluid transport in complex microfluidic environments containing dead-end channels and closed chambers. Operation of the V-PAM entailed a pressurized fluid loading into microfluidic channels where gas confined inside could rapidly be dissipated through permeation through a thin, gas-permeable membrane sandwiched between microfluidic channels and a network of vacuum channels. We systematically studied effects of different structural and operational parameters of the V-PAM for promoting fluid filling in microfluidic environments. We further demonstrated the applicability of V-PAM for rapid filling of temperature-sensitive hydrogels and unprocessed whole blood into complex irregular microfluidic networks such as microfluidic leaf venation patterns and blood circulatory systems. Together, the V-PAM technology provides a promising generic microfluidic tool for advanced fluid control and transport in integrated microfluidics for different microfluidic diagnosis, organs-on-chips, and biomimetic studies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum‐Pressure Accelerated Movement (V‐PAM)

Cheung

Liu

et al. 2016

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“…Furthermore, an active bubble removal technique using an external vacuum pump was suggested to remove air bubbles completely within a short period ($min). 37,38,41 However, loss of sample liquids occurs during active bubble removal using a vacuum pump. In addition, realtime monitoring of fluidic flows is required for the immediate removal of the air bubbles that abruptly appear in a microfluidic channel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, ultrasonic-driven degassing, 34 buoyance of air bubbles, 31,35 bubble trap, [36][37][38] and porous membrane [39][40][41][42] have been used to avoid air bubble accumulation in microfluidic channels. Furthermore, an active bubble removal technique using an external vacuum pump was suggested to remove air bubbles completely within a short period ($min).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery into microfluidic devices

et al. 2014

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The bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery is critical to reliable operation of microfluidic devices. In this study, we propose a new method for stable bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery in a microfluidic device. Gas bubbles are separated from liquid by using the density difference between liquid and gas in a closed cavity. The pulsatile flow caused by a peristaltic pump is stabilized via gas compressibility. To demonstrate the proposed method, a fluidic chamber which is composed of two needles for inlet and outlet, one needle for a pinch valve and a closed cavity is carefully designed. By manipulating the opening or closing of the pinch valve, fluids fill up the fluidic chamber or are delivered into a microfluidic device through the fluidic chamber in a bubble-free and pulse-free manner. The performance of the proposed method in bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery is quantitatively evaluated. The proposed method is then applied to monitor the temporal variations of fluidic flows of rat blood circulating within a complex fluidic network including a rat, a pinch valve, a reservoir, a peristaltic pump, and the microfluidic device. In addition, the deformability of red blood cells and platelet aggregation are quantitatively evaluated from the information on the temporal variations of blood flows in the microfluidic device. These experimental demonstrations confirm that the proposed method is a promising tool for stable, bubble-free, and pulse-free supply of fluids, including whole blood, into a microfluidic device. Furthermore, the proposed method will be used to quantify the biophysical properties of blood circulating within an extracorporeal bypass loop of animal models. V C 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx

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“…40 Improved performance is obtained via external pressure and thermal integration. 41 Alternatively, these bubbles can be used as a means to valve fluidic flow. 42 We were inspired by micropillar liquid-gas separations, 11 hydrophobic venting holes, and microfluidic debubblers to design a polymer-based microfluidic structure with micropillars, as shown in Figure 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A micropillar array for sample concentration via in-plane evaporation

2014

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We present a method to perform sample concentration within a lab-on-a-chip using a microfluidic structure which controls the liquid-gas interface through a micropillar array fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane between microfluidic channels. The microstructure confines the liquid flow and a thermal gradient is used to drive evaporation at the liquid-gas-interface. The evaporation occurs in-plane to the microfluidic device, allowing for precise control of the ambient environment. This method is demonstrated with a sample containing 1 μm, 100 nm fluorescent beads and SYTO-9 labelled Escherichia coli bacteria. Over 100 s, the fluorescent beads and bacteria are concentrated by a factor of 10.

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Active liquid degassing in microfluidic systems

Cited by 39 publications

References 31 publications

Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum‐Pressure Accelerated Movement (V‐PAM)

Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum‐Pressure Accelerated Movement (V‐PAM)

Bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery into microfluidic devices

A micropillar array for sample concentration via in-plane evaporation

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