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Design and Implementation of a Bespoke Robotic Manipulator for Extra-corporeal Ultrasound

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A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector.

Jan Durrer¹, Prajwal Agrawal¹, Ali Ozgul¹

¹Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature Communications

|October 26, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) to bridge macroscale robotics and microscale lab-on-a-chip systems. This novel system enables automated liquid handling, particle trapping, and viscous liquid mixing for versatile laboratory applications.

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Area of Science:

Robotics
Microfluidics
Biotechnology

Background:

Macroscale liquid handling is well-established, but microscale liquid manipulation faces challenges in cost and sample preparation.
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems offer microscale solutions but lack automation and multi-functionality.
A gap exists in seamlessly integrating macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system.
To integrate macro-level robotic capabilities with microfluidic functionalities.
To demonstrate the RAEE's potential for automated laboratory processes.

Main Methods:

Development of a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system combining a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector.
Experimental validation including fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping.
Demonstration of mobile mixing for complex viscous liquids and automated mixing in well plates.

Main Results:

Successful integration of robotics and microfluidics through the RAEE system.
Demonstrated capabilities in fluid pumping, precise particle and zebrafish embryo trapping.
Effective mobile mixing of viscous liquids and automated execution of mixing processes in well plates.

Conclusions:

The RAEE system effectively bridges macroscale robotics and microfluidics, overcoming previous limitations.
The developed system offers enhanced automation and multi-functionality for microscale liquid manipulation.
The RAEE shows significant versatility for automated chemical and biological processes in laboratory settings.