title: Fixed-volume metering microdispenser module.
abstract: In this work, we present a novel fixed-volume metering microdispenser module using the sPROMs (structurally programmable microfluidic systems) technology. We have designed, simulated, fabricated and characterized an array of microdispensers with volumes ranging from 50 nL [nanoliter] to 150 nL. We have characterized several key components of the microdispenser, such as passive microvalves and the air-driven liquid column splitting process, using extensive simulations. The fabricated devices show extremely good accuracy (99.2%) and repeatability characteristics. We also present a simple technique for unloading the sub-microL [microliter] volumes from the microfluidic chip for measurement purposes. The dispensers realized in this work have immediate applications as a key ingredient of the lab-on-a-chip device.
authors.affiliation: Department Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0030, USA.
authors.forename: Aniruddha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puntambekar
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chong H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Makhijani