Microfluidic Control Technologies for In Situ Sensing Applications

探路者申请的目的是通过英国专利局获得资金，支持两项关键技术的专利申请，这些技术将被纳入国家海洋学中心正在开发的下一代芯片实验室微流体化学传感器中。这两种技术都与流体控制有关：第一种技术是基于膜的阀门，可以配置为被动单向流动或主动控制，当有电源供应时，第二种技术是带有定制控制电子设备的注射泵，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的商业化的主要受益者。关键词：微流控片上阀；微泵技术；微流控试剂化学分析仪；原位传感器；芯片技术实验室

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