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

微流体是体外诊断、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。到2024年，全球微流控技术市场将以23.2%的复合年增长率增长，达到387亿GB。复杂微通道结构的成功商业开发目前依赖于原型部件的微成形生产。然而，这是为大批量制造量身定做的，不适合快速迭代的设计-测试-原型周期。这推高了行业成本，扼杀了创新。它还阻碍了英国实现巩固在先进诊断、生物医学设备制造和其他关键战略行业的国际领导地位的战略目标。为了解决这一问题，Rapid Fluidics(RF)开发了一种独特的工艺，该工艺采用随处可见的添加剂制造(AM)设备来打印复杂的微流控芯片，其时间和成本仅为当今工业假设的一小部分。在该项目中，RF将在行业领先的测试客户的监督下实现过程自动化，以最大限度地提高用户的精确度和时间/成本效益。一旦得到验证，该平台还将用于探索新的AM树脂配方，为生物科学应用中的用户带来功能上的好处，并改善可持续性。通过提高工业研发效率，该技术将促进关键战略部门的创新。到2028年，它有可能直接节省超过9500万GB的二氧化碳当量和2.5万吨二氧化碳当量。

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.