Optimization of device geometry in single-plate digital microfluidics
Optimization of device geometry in single-plate digital microfluidics
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DOI：
10.1063/1.3117216
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发表时间：
2009-05-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Wheeler, Aaron R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Abdelgawad, Mohamed;Park, Philip;Wheeler, Aaron R.
数字微流体是用于芯片实验室应用的流行工具，并且通常以两种形式之一实现：单板（“开放”）装置或双板（“封闭”）装置。单板装置相对于更常见的双板形式具有一些优势，例如更快的混合，在给定的占地面积上移动更大体积的能力，以及更容易接近液滴以进行处理或光学检测。与通常经由顶部电极供应接地电位的双板形式相比，在单板形式中，已经使用了许多不同几何形状的接地线/电极。直到目前的研究，一直没有度量，以确定这些几何形状是最适合液滴驱动。在这里，我们结合数值模拟和实验测试来比较六种不同的单板设计。我们应用有限元分析，使用商用COMSOL软件包来计算每个不同设计中的电动致动力，并使用结果来优化器件设计。电动模型预测的力与使用机电模型预测的力一致。更重要的是，使用允许间接估计数字微流体装置上的致动力的独特技术，实验验证了结果。这项工作说明了使用数值建模来提高数字微流体装置的设计和性能的希望。(C)2009年美国物理学会。[DOI：10.1063/1.3117216]
Digital microfluidics is a popular tool for lab-on-a-chip applications and is typically implemented in one of two formats: single- plate ("open") devices or two-plate ("closed") devices. Single-plate devices have some advantages relative to the more common two-plate format such as faster mixing, the capacity to move larger volumes on a given footprint, and easier access to droplets for handling or optical detection. In contrast with the two-plate format, in which ground potential is generally supplied via a top electrode, in the single- plate format, many different geometries of ground wires/electrodes have been used. Until the present study, there has been no metric to determine which of these geometries is best suited for droplet actuation. Here, we present a combination of numerical simulations and experimental tests to compare six different single- plate designs. We applied finite element analysis, using the commercially available COMSOL software package to calculate the electrodynamic actuation forces in each of the different designs and used the results to optimize device design. Forces predicted by the electrodynamic model were in agreement with forces predicted using electromechanical models. More importantly, results were verified experimentally using a unique technique that permits indirect estimation of actuation forces on digital microfluidic devices. This work illustrates the promise of using numerical modeling to enhance the design and performance of digital microfluidic devices. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3117216]