Abstract

Where Photonics Meet Microfluidics – Consumables for Life Sciences and Diagnostics in Glass

Tobias Bauert, Business Development Manager Life Sciences, IMT Microtechnologies

Material choice for microfluidic flow cells or biochips is not so much a choice in many cases but a given specification. The application defines the material in most cases. Microfluidic consumables made of glass dominate the applications where photonics meet microfluidics. The way scaling up from proof-of-concept prototypes to the lab-on-a-chip application in large quantities is full of challenges. The overall complexity is addressed for glass microfluidics by transferring protocols, processes, and equipment available in the MEMS industry into the field of microfluidics. The easy scalability of these processes from single wafer to large volumes is the key to a smooth scale-up with little surprises.