Manufactured for a university biotech start-up company, this consumable diagnostic chip was designed for the analysis of multiple biological samples in parallel, where only a minimal sample volume was provided via on-chip reservoirs.

Fabricated for an international pharmaceuticals company, these large area, large microchannel chips enabled high throughput whilst providing long (in-channel) reaction times. Microfluidic channels many metres long were defined on the chips, where custom designed connectors were used to provide a stackable format.

Fabricated as part of the UK Government Department of Trade & Industry’s ‘Lab-on-a-Chip’ programme, Epigem integrated an embossed diffraction grating into one of its Fluence microfluidic chips. The device was used to develop a ‘leaky waveguide’ on-chip optical spectrometer.

C. Malins et al, Analyst,2001,vol126,pp1293-1297

This prototype analytical microfluidic chip was designed to offer a combination of sensing technologies on a single chip. Leaky waveguide spectroscopy coupled with electrical impedance measurements (via integral electrodes) enabled changes in process fluid characteristics to be interrogated. Two analysis chips can be used to determine fluid characteristics before and after a Mixer-Reactor or catalyst chip.

Fabricated for an international healthcare products and chemicals manufacturer, these custom built hydrophobic microfluidic chips were designed to assess their future integration in process machinery, and involved custom designed metal and polymer connectors.

This device was designed to combine microfluidics with electrochemistry. Microfluidic channels fed an array of microwell chambers, where a corresponding array of integral gold electrodes enabled electrochemical measurements to be undertaken in parallel.

This device was designed to combine microfluidics with micro-optics, where a microlens array allows light to be coupled into microfluidic channels. The device was used for increasing sensitivity in optical absorption measurements across a number of parallel reaction streams.

This device is used to split two fluid input streams, A and B, into six independent output streams with balanced flow rates. The device was used with a further microfluidic chip to realise three parallel reaction streams, each with inputs A and B. The device was manufactured using a combination of PMMA and PEEK materials.

Fluence microfluidic chips can be integrated with commercially available thin film heaters, where heated elements are designed into microfluidic chips for controlling elevated process temperatures. Depending on the fluid, the flow rate, and on material characteristics, heated elements provide fluid temperature control from room temperature up to around 100ºC. Custom chips up to the maximum size of 260x180mm can be heated using this approach.

This device enables direct interaction with the process fluid through an access port. Fluid enters the base layer, fills a central chamber and then flows into the top layer. Finally, the fluid is directed out through the base layer. The device can be used for providing a solid support mechanism for catalytic reactions or filtering, and also enables in-line transducers to be fitted, e.g. temperature or pressure monitoring. Other functions include valving, flow restriction and fluid sampling.

This type of device allows a central flow stream to be fully enclosed by another flow stream. Useful for enhancing diffusive mixing and preventing wall contact of the core fluid stream. Specific microchannel features at the mixing point are often required to promote and maintain co-axial flow.

For applications requiring multiple parallel streams of the same fluid, flow splitters are used. One application area is that of enhanced diffusive mixing via smaller channel sizes, whilst retaining high reaction throughput. Other application areas include reaction quenching, multiple fluid sampling ports and the effective introduction of multiple reactants into a flow stream.