Design of microfluidic networks

Abstract

Microfluidics is a relatively new and fast growing research area in fluid mechanics. The devices in question are thin wafers containing etched or printed interconnecting channels through which fluids are pumped, which can mix and/or react at various nodes to produce an output product. Microfluidic devices have applications in many manufacturing and chemical detection processes. For example, they can be used to manufacture monodisperse droplets with very well defined properties for pharmaceutical applications; or form the basis for miniaturised ‘lab-on-a-chip’ sensor arrays for detecting biological substances or toxins.