Miniaturisation

Polymer-based microfluidic chip production is ideally suited for high-volume, low-cost applications such as bedside diagnostics, quality control in the field and rapid sample preparation for analysis. A range of different techniques are used that make it possible to produce microscopic patterns on macroscopic parts, which is a characteristic of microfluidics. Some techniques are mostly used in research and development (R&D), while others are perfectly suited for industrial-scale production.

In many industries test samples are taken on a regular basis to check or analyse their composition. These samples take a whole course, from collection to appropriate action, which takes up (too) much time and resources. Thanks to microfluidics, these process steps can now be carried out on a “lab-on-a-chip” (LoC), at the point of collection, even by non-experts.