Disposable Optical Stretcher Fabricated by Microinjection Moulding

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Biotechnology
• Manufacturing Engineering

Background:

• Microfluidic devices, such as lab-on-chip, offer revolutionary potential in healthcare and diagnostics.
• Microinjection moulding with removable inserts is a promising manufacturing technique for these devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and test a compact, disposable plastic optical stretcher.
• To demonstrate a feasible manufacturing approach for mass-producing microfluidic devices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized micro electro discharge machining (µEDM) for capillary tube connections with high aspect ratios.
• Employed femtosecond laser micromachining (FLM) for precise microfluidic channels and fiber slots.
• Tested the optical stretcher with microbead and red blood cell solutions.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed and fabricated a plastic optical stretcher prototype.
• Demonstrated the functionality of the optical stretcher using biological samples.
• Validated the combined use of µEDM and FLM for microfluidic mould insert fabrication.

Conclusions:

• The developed manufacturing process is feasible for mass production of lab-on-chip devices.
• This approach facilitates the creation of ready-to-use microfluidic devices for healthcare.
• The plastic optical stretcher shows potential for advanced diagnostic systems.