Securing functionality of lab-on-a-chip devices
Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems, short for LoC, implement a multitude of ocurring processes on the smallest of spaces. Lab-on-a-chip enable the analysis of liquids on a compact chip for process analytics and online diagnostics of biological, chemical or physical processes. Lab-on-a-chip devices use the capillary force for transporting very small quantities of a fluid in the range of a few picoliters (pL) or microliters (mL). With non-contact measurement technology such as the TopMap 3D surface metrology, you can inspect the dimensional accuracy of the microfluidic channel of a lab-on-chip, evaluate the LoC channel depth or channel width with high precision, determine the volume or measure flatness over the entire surface of the lab-on-a-chip device. If parallelism, step height or flatness values of a lab-on-a-chip comply with the tight tolerances defined, this secures performance and reliability of your lab-on-chip process analytics.
Quality & process control of lab-on-chip production
The research and development service expert Hahn-Schickard develops intelligent products with microsystems technology from the idea to manufacturing. Together with industrial partners, Hahn-Schickard realizes innovative products and technologies in the fields of sensor technology, intelligent embedded systems for the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), lab-on-a-chip (LoC) and analytics as well as electrochemical energy systems. In their lab-on-a-chip design for turberculosis tests, one of the challenges in the lab-on-a-chip production process is to precisely match the height of the sealing tools to the cartridge. If the height is too low, the sealing force is too low and the cartridges are not tight. If the height is too high, pressure splashes occur and melt can block the fine channels.
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Raimund Rother, process engineer at Hahn-Schickard:
Applying the sealing film to the cartridges of our lab-on-a-chip is challenging: on the one hand, the demand of achieving a high seal strength without closing the fine channels of the cartridge during bonding. Secondly, production tolerances regarding the injection molding thicknesses cannot be eliminated completely, which has to be compensated when sealing. To adjust the sealing tool precisely, we measure the height levels of the cartridge using a scanning whitelight interferometer. This 3D measurement data then forms the basis for designing the sealing tool.
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Lab-on-a-chip crucial parameters step-height, channel depth & flatness
With a large field-of-view (FoV) and high vertical resolution, the TopMap optical profilers allow a straightforward examination of lab-on-a-chip channel depths and geometrical inspection of the entire lab-on-chip by a single measurement, that creates millions of data points within just seconds. The telecentric optical design of the white-light interferometers shows a parallel light beam path, enabling to capture the channel bottom of lab-on-a-chip devices without shadowing effects that cause blind spots on the measurement data. The microscope-based profilers of the TopMap series focus on inspecting microsystems or structural details, roughenss evalatuation and more. Keeping the z-axis resolution constant, TopMap optical profilers allow a quick and easy adaption of the lateral resolution to changing measuring tasks by simply changing lenses.
Related products
TopMap Micro.View+
TopMap Micro.View®+ is the next generation optical surface profiler in a modular design to reliably measure the most challenging analysis tasks regarding surface finish and microstructures with utmost precision. Focus Finder and Focus Tracker assist in keeping samples focused at all times, with fully motorized positioning units ready for automation. Find out more!
TopMap Micro.View
TopMap Micro.View® is an easy to use and compact optical profiler. Choose Micro.View® as the cost-effective quality control solution for surface analysis of precision-engineering, for inspecting roughness, microstructures and more surface details.
TopMap Pro.Surf
Pro.Surf stands for fast and professional 3D surface characterization: Capturing 2 million measurement points within seconds make sure to see every detail. Pro.Surf masters challenging production workflows with short measuring times. The exceptionally large field-of-view (FOV) captures big samples with image fields up to 33x44 mm in a single shot - while stiching expands to 230x220 mm with the flexible 70 mm Z range.
Further applications
- Implants
![Implant topography and dental care instrument surface characterization]( "Implant topography and dental care instrument surface characterization")
Implant topography and dental care instrument surface characterization - MEMS pressure sensor
![2D/3D profile of MEMS pressure sensor with 2.5x magnification and microscope measurement (courtesy: CIS)]( "2D/3D profile of MEMS pressure sensor with 2.5x magnification and microscope measurement (courtesy: CIS)")
2D/3D profile of MEMS pressure sensor with 2.5x magnification and microscope measurement. CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH - Flexible electronics
![Surface analysis and and quality control on flexible electronics and printed electronics]( "Surface analysis and and quality control on flexible electronics and printed electronics")
Surface analysis and and quality control on flexible electronics and printed electronics - Surface parameters
![Surface parameter characterizing the form, waviness and texture of a workpiece]( "Surface parameter characterizing the form, waviness and texture of a workpiece")
Surface parameter characterizing the form, waviness and texture of a workpiece
