Microfluidic reviews
Improve your Syringe pump
Syringe pumps are the most commonly used flow control systems in microfluidics. Despite their sturdiness & simplicity, syringe pumps are often problematic in microfluidics because the oscillation flow and the response time can drastically change from a few seconds to several hours depending on the fluid compliance of the microfluidic setup.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Syringe Pumps in Microfluidics
Strengths +
- Fast setup
- Easy to measure the dispensed liquid amount
- Up to several hundred bars generated
- No variations in the meant flow rate
Weaknesses –
- Settling time
- Difficulty to know the real flow rate during the transient period
- Generated pressure increases without limit
- Impossibility to control the flow of fluids in dead-end channels
- Difficulty to determine the pressure inside the microfluidic device without a pressure gauge
- Syringe type must be carefully and correctly chosen depending on experimental conditions
Find more details about the strengths & weaknesses of syringe pumps for microfluidic applications at: How to choose the right microfluidic flow control system review.
Monitor in real time the flow rate & coming from your syringe pump
Do you want to know the real flow rate of your syringe pump?
A flow sensor will give you real time flow rate inside your chip. You will know when you have reached the steady state.
Enhance the settling time of your syringe pump
Do you want to speed up the flow change of your syringe pump?
=> Add a Flow Sensor with a feedback loop
The feedback loop will adjust the speed of the syringe pump motor in order to reach the desired flow rate as quickly as possible.
Increase THE flow stability of your syringe pump
Do you want to stabilize the flow of your syringe pump?
=> Add a Fluidic RC Filter
An RC filter is a calibrated elastic capacitance coupled with a fluidic resistance. Note that a RC filter will give you a smoother flow but it will also slow down your flow response.
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Enhance speed & stability of your syringe pump
Do you want a faster & smoother syringe pump flow?
=> Add a Fluidic RC Filter & feedback loop
The RC filter flow will smoothen the flow inside your chip and the feedback loop will speed up your flow response.
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Monitor pressure while using syringe pump
Do you want to use your syringe pump as a pressure pump?
=> Add a Pressure Sensor & a feedback loop
A handy solution for when you want to use your syringe pump while maintaining a given pressure in your device.
Improve your pressure pump
Pressure controllers are mainly used in microfluidics when researchers require fast flow change and pulseless flow.
Since there are no moving parts involved, pressure-driven flows are smoother no matter what the flow rate is. Pressure propagates the liquid at the speed of sound and allows very fast flow changes.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Pressure Pumps in Microfluidics
Strengths
- Pulse-free flow control
- Flow stability as low as 0,005%
- Dispensed liquid capacity up to several liters
- Settling time as low as 80 ms
- Possibility of controlling the flow of fluids in dead-end channels
- Pressure & Flow Rate Control both in one instrument
Weaknesses
- Limited to 8 bars maximum
- Potential back flow when doing flow switches with multiple entries
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Find more details about the strengths & weaknesses of pressure pumps for microfluidic applications at: How to choose the right microfluidic flow control system tutorial.
Control flow rate using pressure controller
Do you want to control both pressure & flow rate?
=> Add a Flow Sensor with a feedback loop
The software adjusts the pressure until the desired flow rate is reached so you can use your pressure pump as a syringe pump.
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Stop flow into microfluidic chip using A pressure controller
Do you want to instantaneously stop the flow in your chip?
The MUX flow switch matrix is designed to stop the flow in your microfluidic device in 100ms, with no residual flow.
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Improve flow switching using pressure controller
Do you want to quickly switch samples without any backflow?
=> Add a Flow Switch Matrix or a Rheodyne Valve
Valves combined with the incompressibility of liquids can help you avoid back flow contamination.
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Do single cell or droplet handling using pressure controller
Do you want to precisely handle & position cells or droplets?
=> Use a Dual Vacuum & Pressure pump
Control the position of any object by controlling pressure and vacuum within the same channel.
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Monitor and control pressure anywhere in your device
Do you want to control the pressure at a given point of your device?
=> Add a Pressure Sensor & a feedback loop
This is also an effective way to compensate for hydrostatic pressure drift in your tank when emptying it.
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Improve your microfluidic Setup
Get a better Quake valve control system
Do you want to precisely control a Quake microvalve?
=> Use a 3:2 Flow Switch Matrix
A dedicated instrument with which you will be able to open or close valves in 100 ms with a position resolution of 0.005%...
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Eliminate bubbles
Do you want to eliminate bubbles from your experiment?
=> Use an Injection Loop
An injection loop allows you to automatically inject or switch the liquid in your chip without creating any bubbles..
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Measure flow rate using A pressure controller, without flow sensors
Do you want to measure flow rates without buying flow sensors?
=> Add a Flow Rate & Pressure auto-fit system
An easy and zero cost way to maintain responsiveness and stability while keeping track of the real time flow rate in your channel.
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Increase the precision of your pressure controller
Do you want to control pressure with 2,5 µbar precision?
=> Use an Ultra Precision Module
This option can be switched ON & OFF to allow you to cover the full range when needed. Ideal for patch clamps and for replacing high precision hydrostatic pressure systems.
Enhance the autonomy of your setup and save time
Do you want to go on holiday?
=> Use ESI, the Elveflow Smart Interface!
Automate your experiment to improve your efficiency, simplify your task and free up your time.
Like this review ? For more reviews about microfluidics, you can have a look here: «Microfluidics reviews».
For more information or Technical discussion
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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