THE MICROFLUIDIC CHIP

The microfluidic biochip, which is formed by an etched bottom plate and a top cover plate, includes the fluid delivery manifold, observation and reaction chambers, mixing zones and detection region. Take a look at a photo of a bonded biochip. The etched plate consists of a pattern defining the location and dimension of various structures. The cover plate consists of drilled holes made by a glass drill to provide the liquid access. Both plates are washed in the washer and dried with the dryer before they are bonded together to form the biochip. The device provides advantages such as minute sample and reagent consumption, reduced analysis time, portability as well as the capability for single cell study and real-time measurement. To illustrate the evolving nature of the technology, various terms have been used to describe it, namely, microfabricated total analysis system (µTAS), laboratory-on-a-chip, bioMEMS (biochemical micromachined electromechanical system), microfluidic devices or microfabricated biochips.