Microfluidic Control Technologies for In Situ Sensing Applications

Pathfinder申请的目的是通过英国专利局获得资金，以支持国家海洋学中心目前正在开发的下一代芯片实验室微流控化学传感器中的两项关键技术的专利申请。这两种技术都涉及流体控制：第一种技术是基于膜的阀，可以配置为在供电时进行被动单向流动或主动控制，第二种技术是注射泵，具有定制的控制电子设备，用于精确的流体剂量和优化的功耗，使其适合在现场长期自主操作。海洋科学界将是这套技术及其随后商业化的主要受益者。关键词：微流控芯片阀;微泵技术;微流控试剂基化学分析仪;原位传感器;芯片实验室技术

The purpose of the Pathfinder application is to secure funding to support patent application through the UK patent office for two key technologies incorporated within the next generation of the lab-on-chip microfluidic chemical sensor currently under development at the National Oceanography Centre. Both technologies relate to fluidic control: The first technology is a membrane based valve that can be configured for either passive one-way flow or active control when power is supplied, and the second is a syringe pump with bespoke control electronics for accurate fluid dosage and optimised power consumption that make it suitable for long term autonomous operation in the field. The ocean science community will be the primary beneficiary of this set of technologies and their subsequent commercialisation.Keywords: microfluidic on-chip valve; micro pump technology; microfluidic reagent-based chemical analyser; in situ sensors; lab on chip technology