Parametric analysis of a novel semi-circular microfluidic CD-ELISA valve

CD-ELISA uses the microfluidic ranking method and centrifugal force to control the testing solution as it flows into the reaction region. The most challenging part of CD-ELISA is controlling the flow process for different biological testing solutions, i.e. the controlling sequence for the microfluidic channel valves. The microfluidic channel valve is therefore the most important fluid channel structure for CD-ELISA. In this study, we propose a valve design suitable for a wide range rotational speeds which can be applied for mass production (molding). Together with supporting experiments, simulation based on two-phase flow theory is used in this study, and the feasibility of this novel valve design is confirmed. Influencing design factors for the microfluidic channel valves in CD-ELISA are investigated, including various shapes of the arc, distance d, radius r, the location of the center of the circle, and the contact angle. From both the experimental results and the simulated results, it is evident that the narrowest channel width and the contact angle are the primary factors influencing valve burst frequency. These can be used as the main controlling factors during the design.