Abstract: Various kinds of fluid can be handled and delivered accurately in infinitesimal amounts through microchannels formed in an elastic polymeric substrate by periodically squeezing selective portions of the microchannel using a rotor to apply an external force on the elastic substrate. The delivery rate of the fluid is in the range from pL/sec to mL/sec determined by the rotation speed of the rotor which presses the microchannels and the dimensions of the microchannel. Regardless of physical properties of the fluid to be delivered, various kinds of fluids can be accurately delivered through the microchannels in the desired amount.

Abstract: Various kinds of fluid can be handled and delivered accurately in infinitesimal amounts through microchannels formed in an elastic polymeric substrate by periodically squeezing selective portions of the microchannel using a rotor to apply an external force on the elastic substrate. The delivery rate of the fluid is in the range from pL/sec to mL/sec determined by the rotation speed of the rotor which presses the microchannels and the dimensions of the microchannel. Regardless of physical properties of the fluid to be delivered, various kinds of fluids can be accurately delivered through the microchannels in the desired amount.

Abstract: Minute or infinitesimal amounts of fluid can be accurately delivered through microchannels formed in an elastic polymeric substrate. External (mechanical) force is applied on the substrate to progressively squeeze the microchannel along its length to push or pull the fluid through the microchannel. Fluids can be delivered at a constant rate and amount regardless of the kind of the fluid since fluid delivery is not affected by the physical properties of the fluid. The delivery rate of the fluid is determined in the ranges between femtoliters/sec and milliliters/sec by the size of the microchannel and the area of the substrate being pressed by the applied external (mechanical) force. Such techniques of fluid delivery can be applied to various fields including lab-on-a-chip technology, monitoring of chemical and biological processing, portable analyzing instruments, fine chemistry, clinical diagnosis and development of new medicines.