Experiment 7: Lab-on-a-CD

Aim of the experiment:

Understand and fabricate a three layer CD for lab on a CD setup. Use a platform to
exploit the various forces associated with a rotating system for flow control and flow
visualization at microscale.

Introduction:

Lab on a CD is a microfluidics device which is typically used for actuation of the flow,
controlling the flow rate and flow direction to the required precision often dictated by the
microchannel design, the smallest diameter (or the edge thickness) of the manufacturing tools
(cutting blade, milling tools, drilling tools, etc.), and the precision of the control of the
rotational platform. The forces (per unit volume) that arise due to a rotating system are:

1) Centrifugal Force (centripetal force): Given by ρ ¿

2) Coriolis Force: Given by ρ( ⃗ ω ×⃗v )
ω˙ × ⃗r )=ρ (⃗
3) Euler Force: Given by ρ ( ⃗ α × r⃗ )

Note that as compared to the centripetal and the coriolis forces, Euler force is relevant only
when there is an angular acceleration in the system.

Significance and Applications:

Lab on a CD setup can have a variety of applications. The most important of them all
being in medical diagnostics. By designing multiple channels on a single platform, a single
CD could be potentially used for diagnosing a single patient for multiple diseases either by
means of a single body fluid like blood or by using different body fluids like blood, urine,
saliva etc. in different channels on a single portable and low cost device. The other
applications may include but not be limited to studying flow instability in an accelerating
rotational platform at microscale/nanoscale, separating Red Blood Cells (RBC) from other
blood components and isolating it, separating different biological cells based on their
densities or other mechanical properties, etc.

An image showing separation of RBC and serum

and isolating the serum.
Experimental Setup:

The following major machines/equipment are used:

1) A table top CNC (Circuit Prototyping Machine). To machine the PMMA/acrylic

sheets.

2) Vinyl Plotter/Cutter. To create microchannels in pressure sensitive adhesive double

sided tape.

3) A rotational system. To rotate the CD.

4) Strobe light. To provide intense light at fixed frequencies.

5) A camera
6) A computer for designing and post processing.
7) PMMA sheet
8) Double sided PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) tape.
Sources of Error:

Possible sources of error while performing the experiment:

1) Vibrations while machining or using the vinyl plotter.

2) Incorrect designing of the channels
3) Non-uniform thickness of the substrate while machining.
4) Misalignment while putting the different layers together.
5) Non-uniform application of adhesive layer.
6) Wobble during rotation

Questions:

1) What changes do you expect in the flow if the channel is cross-radial instead of
radial? Which forces do you expect to dominate?

Answer:

2) What do you think will happen if we have a faulty CNC tool or cutting blade? List the
defects that could arise.

Answer:

3) How will you calculate burst frequency if there is angular acceleration? Write the
final equation for burst frequency that you arrive at.

Answer:

4) Which type of valving did we implement in the CD? Is this type of valcing technique
active or passive valving?

Answer:

5) What would be the order of layers is a 5 layer CD? List the different layers from first
to last.

Answer:
References:

Please visit this link http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/chuong/BE5300_002_Fall_08/Annual

%20review%20of%20biomedical%20engineering%20articles%20download/Lab%20on%20a
%20chip%20by%20Madou.pdf for more details.