title: Microfluidic oscillators with widely tunable periods.
abstract: We present experiments and theory of a constant flow-driven microfluidic oscillator with widely tunable oscillation periods. This oscillator converts two constant input-flows from a syringe pump into an alternating, periodic output-flow with oscillation periods that can be adjusted to between 0.3 s to 4.1 h by tuning an external membrane capacitor. This capacitor allows multiple adjustable periods at a given input flow-rate, thus providing great flexibility in device operation. Also, we show that a sufficiently large external capacitance, relative to the internal capacitance of the microfluidic valve itself, is a critical requirement for oscillation. These widely tunable microfluidic oscillators are envisioned to be broadly useful for the study of biological rhythms, as on-chip timing sources for microfluidic logic circuits, and other applications that require variation in timed flow switching.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Sung-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Ryuji
authors: R
authors: Yokokawa
authors: Shuichi
authors: S
authors: Takayama
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon