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Microfluidics application note

By the Elveflow team Published on Updated on

Understanding and Managing Pressure in Microfluidic Systems

Setup : Pressure sensor + Sensor Reader + OB1 flow controller

Stay ahead of performance issues with real-time pressure monitoring, wherever you need it.

In microfluidic experiments, precise control over variables is crucial for reliable results. Pressure in microfluidic systems, in particular, plays a vital role, significantly affecting fluid behavior at the microscale. Maintaining optimal pressure levels is essential for preserving the integrity of pressure-sensitive components and ensuring accurate experimental outcomes
01 MPS Pressure sensor ELVEFLOW MICROFLUIDICS 1
02 MPS Pressure sensor ELVEFLOW MICROFLUIDICS
01 MPS

Capillary Pressure Sensor

Pressure variations

  • Harm to Pressure-Sensitive Devices: Sudden increases in pressure can harm delicate components, causing malfunctions or failure.
  • Compromised Sample Integrity: Biological or chemical samples may react unfavorably to pressure fluctuations, jeopardizing their stability and usefulness.
  • Irregular Flow Rates: Fluctuations in pressure can lead to inconsistent fluid flow, diminishing the accuracy of fluidic experiments and analyses.

Pressure Drop

Maintaining precise control over pressure at every juncture within your microfluidic setup is paramount for safeguarding the integrity of pressure-sensitive components and samples. Yet, accurately gauging pressure throughout the entire microfluidic device poses challenges due to pressure drops within the system (such as connectors, tubing, microfluidic resistors, chips, etc.). These challenges can be addressed by employing a pressure sensor capable of measuring and regulating pressure through a feedback loop at specific points within your setup. Implementing a pressure sensor feedback loop allows you to fine-tune pressure control effectively.

Most microfluidic devices and chips will be affected by pressure drops : the setup presented here can monitor via two pressure sensors and a sensor reader the effective drop occurring on a microfluidic chip

Solution: Integrating Pressure Sensors

To address these challenges effectively, it is highly advisable to integrate a pressure sensor into your microfluidic system.

A pressure sensor fulfills two crucial functions:

  • Real-time Monitoring: It continuously monitors pressure at specific points within the system, facilitating prompt identification of deviations from the desired parameters.
  • Precision Control: By employing a feedback loop, the pressure sensor facilitates automatic adjustments to maintain pressure within the optimal range for your experiments.

Components from Elveflow utilized in this application note:

OB1 microfluidics pressure driven flow controller elveflow

OB1 flow controller

04 MICROFLUIDIC RESERVOIR ELVEFLOW MICROFLUIDICS

Sample Reservoirs

01 MPS Pressure sensor ELVEFLOW MICROFLUIDICS 1

Microfluidic Pressure Sensor

MSR MFS microfluidic sensor reader elveflow

Microfluidic Sensor Reader

Flow controller Pulseless and ultra fast flow control Discover

Setting up Pressure Acquisition with Elveflow Components

Used with pressure controller

  • Placement: Insert the pressure sensor at the desired monitoring point.
  • Operation: The OB1 Mk4 facilitates data acquisition and real-time pressure adjustment via feedback loops (PID), ensuring adherence to instructions. Similar procedures apply when using flow sensors for flow control.

Used with syringe pump

Functionality: While pressure sensors and sensor readers can be utilized, syringe pumps lack feedback loop benefits. However, monitoring pressure in syringe pump setups remains crucial, especially for pressure-sensitive samples or incompatible connectors.

Handling Pressure-Sensitive Applications

Elveflow’s ESI software offers precise and secure control and logging of pressure-sensitive applications.

Key features include:

  • Graphical Display: Users can visualize and log precise pressure applied to fluids or gases via the graph window.
     
first channel of an OB1 MK4 and MPS pressure sensor
Graphical display of two ongoing measurements : the first channel of an OB1 MK4 and MPS pressure sensor
  • Security Options: ESI software includes features to limit the maximum pressure applied during feedback loops, safeguarding sensitive experiments from accidental pressure spikes.
Control sub-menu
Control sub-menu allowing to limit the maximum pressure applied during a feedback loop to protect pressure sensitive experiments

Check this Application Note on Direct Ink-Writing Flow control with ELveflow Pressure Sensor!

Videos

Microfluidics knowledge

Do you want tips on how to best set up your microfluidic experiment? Do you need inspiration or a different angle to take on your specific problem? Well, we probably have an application note just for you, feel free to check them out!

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Show all Setup: microfluidic flow control
Show all Setup: microfluidic flow control
Show all Setup: microfluidic flow control
Pressure monitoring Liquid and Gas Discover
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