Design and Simulation of an Electrostatically-Driven MEMS Micro-Mixer

Bio MEMS ( Biology Micro-electro-mechanical Systems) focus on some micro-fabricated devices including electrical and mechanical parts to study the biological system such as new polymer-based drug delivery systems for anti-cancer agents, specialized tools for minimally invasive surgery, novel cell sorting systems for high-throughput data collection, and precision measurement techniques enabled by micro-fabricated devices. Especially some micro-liquid handling devices like micro-pumps, active and passive micro-mixers that can make two or more micro-fluids mixing completely, with the chaotic advection. This kind of rapid mixing is very important in the biochemistry analysis, drug delivery and sequencing or synthesis of nucleic acids. Besides, some biological processes like cell activation, enzyme reactions and protein folding also require mixing of reactants for initiation, electrophoresis activation. Turbulence and inter-diffusion of them play crucial role in the process of mixing of different fluids. In this report, it will introduce a new kind of electromechanical active micro-mixer, which includes two inlets and one outlet under the electrostatic driven voltage. Two different fluids will enter the micro-mixer and shows different colors separately blue and red. Choosing the ANSYS for the simulation of the fluids running in the micro-mixers, we can see nearly 100% fluids that have been mixed. ANSYS is used to show the effectiveness of the micro-mixer

Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) Based Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications

Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) based microfluidic devices have gained popularity in biomedicine field over the last few years. In this paper, a comprehensive overview of microfluidic devices such as micropumps and microneedles has been presented for biomedical applications. The aim of this paper is to present the major features and issues related to micropumps and microneedles, e.g., working principles, actuation methods, fabrication techniques, construction, performance parameters, failure analysis, testing, safety issues, applications, commercialization issues and future prospects. Based on the actuation mechanisms, the micropumps are classified into two main types, i.e., mechanical and non-mechanical micropumps. Microneedles can be categorized according to their structure, fabrication process, material, overall shape, tip shape, size, array density and application. The presented literature review on micropumps and microneedles will provide comprehensive information for researchers working on design and development of microfluidic devices for biomedical applications

CFD-based, Lagrangian-Eulerian coupling approach for magnetophoretic particle capture

This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.We study magnetophoretic capture of magnetic particles in microfluidic devices and present a parametric characterization for the capture efficiency. We model particle transport and capture using a computational fluid dynamic, CFD-based, Lagrangian-Eulerian approach that takes into account the dominant particle forces and particle-fluid coupling. We introduced two dimensionless groups that characterize particle capture, one that scales the magnetic and hydrodynamic forces on the particle and another that scales the distance to the magnetic field source. We use the model to parameterize capture efficiency with respect to the dimensionless numbers for both one-way and two-way particle-fluid coupling. We demonstrate that for dilute suspensions, the simplified one-way coupling analysis marginally underpredicts the capture efficiency computed using the two-way fully coupled analysis.This study is financially supported from the Research Affairs at the UAE University under contract number. 01-05-7-12/10

Microheaters based on ultrasonic actuation of piezoceramic elements

This paper describes the use of micromachined lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoceramic elements for heat generation by ultrasonic energy dissipated within the elements and surrounding media. Simulations based on three-dimensional finite-element models suggest that circular disk-shaped elements provide superior steady-state temperature rise for a given cross-sectional area, volume of the PZT element and drive voltage. Experimental validation is performed using PZT-5A heaters of 3.2 mm diameter and 0.191 mm thickness. Single-element heaters and dual-element stacks are evaluated. Although the steady-state temperature generated by these heaters reaches the maximum value at the frequency of maximum electromechanical conductance, the heating effectiveness is maximized at the frequency of maximum electromechanical impedance. Stacked PZT heaters provide 3.5 times the temperature rise and 3 times greater heating effectiveness than single elements. Furthermore, the heaters attain the maximum heating effectiveness when bonded to highly damping and non-conducting substrates. A maximum temperature of 120 °C is achieved at 160 mW input power. Experiments are performed using porcine tissue samples to show the feasibility of using PZT heaters in tissue cauterization. A PZT heater probe brands a porcine tissue in 2–3 s with 10 V RMS drive voltage. The interface temperature is ≈150 °C.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90803/1/0960-1317_21_8_085030.pd

National MEMS Technology Roadmap - Markets, Applications and Devices

MEMS teknologiaa on jo pitkään käytetty lukuisien eri laitteiden valmistamiseen. Osa näistä laitteista on ollut markkinoilla jo useita vuosia, kun taas osa on vasta kehitysvaiheessa. Jotta tutkimus ja kehitystyötä osattaisiin jatkossa kohdistaa oikeille painopistealueille, on tärkeää tietää mihin suuntaan kehitys on menossa. Tämä työ on osa kansallista MEMS teknologioiden tiekartta -projektia ja sen tavoitteena oli selvittää MEMS laitteiden kehityksen suuntaa. Työ toteutettiin laajana kirjallisuustutkimuksena. Lisäksi tulosten tueksi haastateltiin asiantuntijoita Suomen MEMS teollisuudesta. Työssä tarkasteltiin lukuisia jo markkinoilta löytyviä ja vasta kehitteillä olevia MEMS laitteita ja analysoitiin niitä sekä teknisestä että kaupallisesta näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen perusteella kävi ilmi, että MEMS markkinat ovat pitkään muodostuneet vakiintuneista laitteista kuten mustesuihkupäistä, kiihtyvyysantureista, paineantureista sekä RF suotimista. Lisäksi mikrofonit, gyroskoopit ja optiset laitteet ovat olleet kaupallisesti saatavilla jo pitkään. Markkinat ovat hiljattain alkaneet tehdä tilaa myös uusille MEMS laitteille, joita tulee ulos nopeaa vauhtia. Viimeisimpänä markkinoille tulleita laitteita ovat erilaiset mikrofluidistiikka laitteet, mikrobolometrit sekä yhdistelmäanturit. Pian kaupallisesti saatavia laitteita ovat magnetometrit, automaattitarkennuslaitteet sekä MEMS oskillaattorit. Näiden laitteiden lisäksi kehitteillä on monia uusia MEMS laitteita, jotka saattavat tarjota merkittäviä mahdollisuuksia tulevaisuudessa. Kehitteillä olevia laitteita ovat erilaiset lääketieteelliset laitteet, atomikellot, mikrojäähdyttimet, mikrokaiuttimet, energiantuottolaitteet sekä RFID-laitteet. Kaikki kehitteillä olevista laitteista eivät välttämättä tule menestymään kaupallisesti, mutta jatkuva tutkimustyö osoittaa, että monilla MEMS laitteilla on potentiaalia useissa eri sovelluksissa. Markkinanäkökulmasta tarkasteltuna suurin potentiaali piilee kuluttajaelektroniikka markkinoilla. Muita tulevaisuuden kannalta potentiaalisia markkinoita ovat lääketieteelliset ja teollisuusmarkkinat. Tutkimus osoitti että MEMS laitteiden tutkimukseen ja kehitykseen liittyy monia potentiaalisia painopistealueita tulevaisuudessa. Käyttömahdollisuuksien parantamiseksi monet jo vakiintuneet laitteet kaipaavat vielä parannuksia. Toisaalta, jo olemassa olevia laitteita voidaan hyödyntää uusissa sovelluksissa. Lisäksi monet uusista ja kehitteillä olevista MEMS laitteista vaativat vielä kehitystyötä.MEMS technology has long been applied to the fabrication of various devices from which some have already been in use for several years, whereas others are still under development. In order to find future focus areas in research and development activities in the industry, it is important to know where the development is going. This thesis was conducted as a part of National MEMS technology roadmap, and it aimed for determining the evolution of MEMS devices. The work was conducted as an extensive literature review. In addition, experts from the Finnish MEMS industry were interviewed in order obtain a broader insight to the results. In this thesis various existing and emerging MEMS devices were reviewed and analyzed from technological and commercial perspectives. The study showed that the MEMS market has long been composed of established devices, such as inkjet print-heads, pressure sensors, accelerometers and RF filters. Also gyroscopes, microphones and optical MEMS devices have already been on the market for a long time. Lately, many new devices have started to find their place in the markets. The most recently introduced commercial devices include microfluidic devices, micro bolometers, and combo sensors. There are also a few devices including magnetometers, MEMS oscillators, and auto-focus devices that are currently crossing the gap from R&D to commercialization. In addition to the already available devices, many new MEMS devices are under development, and might offer significant opportunities in the future. These emerging devices include various bioMEMS devices, atomic clocks, micro-coolers, micro speakers, power MEMS devices, and RFID devices. All of the emerging devices might not find commercial success, but the constant stream shows, that there are numerous applications, where MEMS devices could be applied in. From a market point of view, the greatest potential in the future lies in consumer electronics market. Other highly potential markets include medical and industrial markets. The results of the thesis indicate that there are many potential focus areas in the future related to MEMS devices, including improvements of the existing devices in order to gain better utilization, application of the existing devices in new areas, and development work among the emerging devices

Bioengineered Textiles and Nonwovens – the convergence of bio-miniaturisation and electroactive conductive polymers for assistive healthcare, portable power and design-led wearable technology

Today, there is an opportunity to bring together creative design activities to exploit the responsive and adaptive ‘smart’ materials that are a result of rapid development in electro, photo active polymers or OFEDs (organic thin film electronic devices), bio-responsive hydrogels, integrated into MEMS/NEMS devices and systems respectively. Some of these integrated systems are summarised in this paper, highlighting their use to create enhanced functionality in textiles, fabrics and non-woven large area thin films. By understanding the characteristics and properties of OFEDs and bio polymers and how they can be transformed into implementable physical forms, innovative products and services can be developed, with wide implications. The paper outlines some of these opportunities and applications, in particular, an ambient living platform, dealing with human centred needs, of people at work, people at home and people at play. The innovative design affords the accelerated development of intelligent materials (interactive, responsive and adaptive) for a new product & service design landscape, encompassing assistive healthcare (smart bandages and digital theranostics), ambient living, renewable energy (organic PV and solar textiles), interactive consumer products, interactive personal & beauty care (e-Scent) and a more intelligent built environment

Advanced bioreactor system for the implantable biomaterials testing and tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering scientists believe that the next generation of functional tissue and artificial organ replacements truly need the use of advanced bioreactor system. Bioreactor system, in which the culture conditions can be adjusted and studied, will support the development of tissues with optimal mechanical, chemical, and biological stimuli for a given application. Although there have been various types of bioreactors designed and tested for several implantable biomaterials and tissue engineering applications, the development of a complete artificial organ remains a dream. This review addresses recent advances and future challenges in designing and using advanced bioreactor system to support the mass production of vascularized engineering tissues and artificial organ. The potential application of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) bioreactor technology for future advancement in tissue engineering is also highlighted