DropBot: An open-source digital microfluidic control system with precise control of electrostatic driving force and instantaneous drop velocity measurement

Journal Article · Mon May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4807118· OSTI ID:22162925

Fobel, Ryan ^[1]; Fobel, Christian ^[2]; Wheeler, Aaron R. ^[1]

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1. Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9 (Canada)
2. School of Computer Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Canada)

We introduce DropBot: an open-source instrument for digital microfluidics (http://microfluidics.utoronto.ca/dropbot). DropBot features two key functionalities for digital microfluidics: (1) real-time monitoring of instantaneous drop velocity (which we propose is a proxy for resistive forces), and (2) application of constant electrostatic driving forces through compensation for amplifier-loading and device capacitance. We anticipate that this system will enhance insight into failure modes and lead to new strategies for improved device reliability, and will be useful for the growing number of users who are adopting digital microfluidics for automated, miniaturized laboratory operation.

• OSTI ID: 22162925
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 102, Issue 19; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AMPLIFIERS
CAPACITANCE
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTROSTATICS
LOADING
MONITORING
OPERATION
RELIABILITY