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Automated Flushing System For Post-processing In Microfluidic Device Fabrication.

Home
Automated Flushing System For Post-processing In Microfluidic Device Fabrication.

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Automated Flushing System for Post-Processing in Microfluidic Device Fabrication.

Sebastian Zapata¹, Brady Goenner², Dallin S Miner¹

¹Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.

|May 27, 2026

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Automating the cleaning of 3D-printed microfluidic devices using Digital Light Processing Stereolithography (DLP-SLA) is now possible with a novel chip-to-chip (C2C) system. This automated flushing platform enhances reliability and simplifies the fabrication of complex microfluidic devices.

Keywords:

DLP-SLA 3D printing automated post-processing chip-to-chip interconnect fluidic circuit model microfluidic valves microfluidics pneumatic control system resin flushing

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Area of Science:

Microfluidics
3D Printing
Biotechnology

Background:

Post-processing of microfluidic devices fabricated with Digital Light Processing Stereolithography (DLP-SLA) is a significant challenge.
Manual flushing methods are inefficient, inconsistent, and risk damaging delicate microfluidic components like valves and pumps.
Increasing device complexity and port count exacerbate these post-processing difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop the first fully automated flushing system for DLP-SLA 3D-printed microfluidic devices.
To address the limitations of manual post-processing by introducing a reliable and scalable solution.
To improve the fabrication workflow for complex microfluidic devices.

Main Methods:

Implementation of a standardized chip-to-chip (C2C) interconnect architecture.
Development of an electronically controlled pneumatic routing platform with pressure controllers, sensors, and rotary valves.
Creation and experimental validation of a fluidic-circuit model to predict pressure drops across device structures.

Main Results:

Demonstration of robust and repeatable flushing of passive and active microfluidic elements, including channels, valves, and pumps.
Successful application of the system to complex devices such as mixers and concentration-gradient generators.
Significant improvement in valve membrane survival rates and elimination of manual handling during post-processing.

Conclusions:

The developed automated flushing system provides a scalable foundation for post-processing 3D-printed microfluidics.
This technology significantly enhances the practicality of DLP-SLA for fabricating complex, multi-layered microfluidic devices.
The system offers improved efficiency, reliability, and component survival in microfluidic device fabrication.