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Contact: Yves Fouillet (yves.fouillet@cea.fr)
Developing more precise techniques
Leti is developing multiple microfluidic techniques for managing very small quantities of liquid at the micro scale. With most of the basic processes now stabilized, the challenge is to integrate multiple steps into complete microsystems for analyzing water, blood and other biological substances.
Researchers have improved the ratio of plasma that can be extracted from blood using passive microfluidic technology. While conventional approaches require relatively large blood samples and test-tube centrifuge systems to separate blood components, Leti’s work has resulted in innovative, efficient micro-scale separation techniques that can be integrated into complete lab-on-a-chip blood-analysis systems.
Current research projects include:
-Investigation of the hydrodynamic behavior of blood moving through a microchannel. Thus far, a “corner-edge” geometry appears to be especially effective in separating plasma from red blood cells.
-Study on the fabrication of 1.5-micrometer thick microchannels embedded in MEMS plate resonators and waterproofed using a 160nm silicon membrane. This configuration allows the resonator plate itself to remain dry, while the fluid is fed inside, thereby avoiding the problems of damping and viscous drag that can degrade the sensitivity of resonant sensors immersed in liquid. Different molecules injected into the channel change the mass of the resonator, resulting in a frequency shift that can be measured by an electromechanical transducer readout.
Leti meeting new challenges
-Major efforts are underway at Leti to develop a broad toolbox of basic microfluidics operations, including the ability to transport, meter, merge, mix, concentrate and store small volumes of fluids. Together, these techniques are key to many of the organization’s ambitious lab-on-a-chip development projects.
-Leti’s goal is to develop microfluidics-based systems to do blood analysis immediately, at the actual point of care. These automated labs-on-a-chip have the potential to reduce healthcare costs, and improve treatment efficiency by providing a more accurate diagnosis in some cases and by significantly reducing the time required.
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