Disruptive low-cost automated 3D-printing platform to propel industrial microfluidics research

微流体技术是体外诊断、环境传感和监测以及其他研发密集型市场的快速增长的推动者。全球微流体技术市场将以23.2%的复合年增长率增长，到2024年将达到387亿英镑。复杂微通道结构的成功商业开发目前依赖于原型零件的微成形生产。然而，这是为大批量制造量身定制的，不适合快速迭代的设计-测试-原型周期。这会推高行业成本，扼杀创新。它还阻碍了英国实现战略目标，巩固在先进诊断、生物医学设备制造和其他关键战略领域的国际领导地位。为了解决这个问题，Rapid Fluidics（RF）开发了一种独特的工艺，该工艺采用广泛使用的增材制造（AM）设备来打印复杂的微流体芯片，其时间和成本仅为当今行业所承担的一小部分。在该项目中，RF将在行业领先的测试客户端的监督下，自动化该过程，以最大限度地提高用户的准确性和时间/成本效益。一旦得到验证，该平台还将用于探索新型AM树脂配方，为生物科学应用中的用户提供功能优势，并提高可持续性。通过提高工业研发效率，该技术将促进关键战略领域的创新。到2028年，它有可能直接节省超过95 Mn英镑和25，000吨CO2当量。

Microfluidics are a fast-growing enabler of _in vitro_ diagnostics, environmental sensing and monitoring and other R&D-intensive markets. The global market for microfluidic technologies will grow at a CAGR of 23.2% to reach £38.7Bn by 2024\. Successful commercial development of complex microchannel configurations currently relies on micro-forming production of prototype parts. However, this is tailored to large series manufacturing and ill-suited to rapid iterative design-test-prototype cycles. This drives up industry costs and stifles innovation. It also impedes reaching strategic UK objectives to consolidate international leadership in advanced diagnostics, biomedical device manufacturing, and other key strategic sectors. To address this, Rapid Fluidics (RF) have developed a unique process that employs widely available additive manufacturing (AM) equipment to print complex microfluidic chips at a fraction of the time and cost assumed by industry today. In the project, RF will automate the process to maximise accuracy and time/cost benefits to users under the supervision of an industry-leading test client. Once validated, the platform will also be used to explore novel AM resin formulations with functional benefits for users in biological sciences applications and improved sustainability. By boosting industrial R&D efficiencies, the technology will facilitate innovation in key strategic sectors. It has the potential to directly save more than £95Mn and 25,000 tonnes of CO2-eq by 2028\.There is no change to the overall public description.