Microfluidic technology refers to the controlled behavior, precise timing, and manipulation of geometrically bounded fluids to a very small level where surface forces normally dominate. It is a multidisciplinary technique that includes biotechnology, nanotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and engineering. A probe is injected into this sample, which then falls outside the liquid, through the sample area into an evaporator coil, falls back into the tank of liquid, and drops into the collector. This is a rather complicated set-up but it's an excellent illustration of how such systems work.
Microfluidic has practical applications in the design of systems that process low volumes of fluids to achieve high-throughput screening, automation, and multiplexing. Microfluidic is used in the development of micro-thermal technologies, micro-propulsion, lab-on-a-chip technology, DNA chips, and inkjet printheads. Microfluidic is a technique that deals with the flow of liquid through micro channels such as pumps, nozzles, and chips. Microfluidic-based products manipulate/control the fluids at lowest dimensions from ten to hundreds of micrometer.
There have been some significant advances in microfluidic technology over the past five years or so. Originally, these technologies were developed for the development of precision medical equipment. Nowadays, they're used for a variety of applications including fluid transportation, temperature control, environmental monitoring, and biological and chemical analysis. The most common types of microfluidic devices are those that are self-contained, which means they contain their own miniature pump, and those which require external cooling or recharging.
There are also single room temperature autonomous devices that provide high-speed fluid flow and temperature regulation, as well as non-volatile probes for temperature fluctuations and other physical properties. Some microfluidic technologies are designed particularly for use with solid materials, such as polymers and metal oxides. Others are more suitable for use in liquids or gels and powders. The potential applications of this technology are almost endless, and demonstrate how advanced this technology has become.
With increasing incidence of chronic diseases and growing demand for point-of-care testing, the demand for microfluidic is also increasing rapidly. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
