title: Artificial cilia for active micro-fluidic mixing.
abstract: In lab-on-chip devices, on which complete (bio-)chemical analysis laboratories are miniaturized and integrated, it is essential to manipulate fluids in sub-millimetre channels and sub-microlitre chambers. A special challenge in these small micro-fluidic systems is to create good mixing flows, since it is almost impossible to generate turbulence. We propose an active micro-fluidic mixing concept inspired by nature, namely by micro-organisms that swim through a liquid by oscillating microscopic hairs, cilia, that cover their surface. We have fabricated artificial cilia consisting of electro-statically actuated polymer structures, and have integrated these in a micro-fluidic channel. Flow visualization experiments show that the cilia can generate substantial fluid velocities, up to 0.6 mm s(-1). In addition, very efficient mixing is obtained using specially designed geometrical cilia configurations in a micro-channel. Since the artificial cilia can be actively controlled using electrical signals, they have exciting applications in micro-fluidic devices.
authors: Philips Research Laboratories, High Tech Campus, 5656, AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. jaap.den.toonder@philips.com
authors: Jaap den
authors: Jd
authors: Toonder
authors: Femke
authors: F
authors: Bos
authors: Dick
authors: D
authors: Broer
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Filippini
authors: Murray
authors: M
authors: Gillies
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: de Goede
authors: Titie
authors: T
authors: Mol
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Reijme
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Talen
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Wilderbeek
authors: Vinayak
authors: V
authors: Khatavkar
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Anderson