microfluidic
Microscale fluid manipulation
Microfluidic describes systems and devices that manipulate extremely small volumes of fluids—typically measured in microliters or nanoliters—through tiny channels.
The technology enables precise control of liquid behavior at scales where surface tension and capillary forces dominate over gravity.
Microfluidic chips, sometimes called "lab-on-a-chip" devices, have transformed fields like medical diagnostics, drug discovery, and chemical analysis by miniaturizing processes that once required full laboratories.
The microfluidic platform can run hundreds of tests from a single drop of blood.
Submillimeter-scale fluid pathway
- micropumpTiny device moving fluids
- microreactorMiniature chemical processing vessel
- biochipMolecular-scale diagnostic platform
- biosensorBiological chemical detection device
microarray · lab-on-a-chip · cartridge · microelectrode · manifold · substrate · PDMS · microstructure
One-billionth liter
- microliterOne-millionth liter unit
- microdropletExtremely small liquid globule
- dropletTiny liquid sphere
- capillarySmallest blood vessel
Manufacturing miniature structures precisely
- MEMSMicroscale electromechanical devices
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- moldingDecorative architectural edging
bonding · PDMS · silicon · polymer · cleanroom · microengineering · thin-film
Field-driven particle separation
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- separationState of being apart
- detectionAct of finding something
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
spectroscopy · electrochemical · high-throughput · multiplexing · quantification
Arranged in thin layers
- hydrodynamicRelating to fluid motion
- electrokineticRelating to charge-induced motion
- pneumaticUsing pressurized gas
- mixingCombining into one mass
Compositional evaluation procedure
- point-of-careAt the treatment site
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- single-cellHaving one cell only
- clinicalEmotionally detached, medically precise
microchannel
Submillimeter-scale fluid pathway
- micropumpTiny device moving fluids
- microreactorMiniature chemical processing vessel
- biochipMolecular-scale diagnostic platform
biosensor · microarray · lab-on-a-chip · cartridge · microelectrode · manifold · substrate · PDMS · microstructure · inlet
nanoliter
One-billionth liter
- microliterOne-millionth liter unit
- microdropletExtremely small liquid globule
- dropletTiny liquid sphere
microfabrication
Manufacturing miniature structures precisely
- MEMSMicroscale electromechanical devices
- photolithographyLight-transfers patterns onto silicon
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
molding · bonding · PDMS · silicon · polymer · cleanroom · microengineering · thin-film
electrophoresis
Field-driven particle separation
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- separationState of being apart
- detectionAct of finding something
fluorescence · spectroscopy · electrochemical · high-throughput · multiplexing · quantification
laminar
Arranged in thin layers
- hydrodynamicRelating to fluid motion
- electrokineticRelating to charge-induced motion
- pneumaticUsing pressurized gas
mixing · diffusion · emulsion · two-phase · shear · viscosity
assay
Compositional evaluation procedure
- point-of-careAt the treatment site
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- single-cellHaving one cell only