Innovative Plastic

Microfluidic Solutions

Enplas has partnered with clients to develop, optimize, and mass produce microfluidic devices for over a decade.

We leverage our accumulated experience and proprietary knowledge databases to deliver innovative microfluidics solutions to help you improve your device. Whether it’s functional enhancements or manufacturing solutions, we can help you achieve your microfluidic device’s performance goals.

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Case Studies

Improving Droplet Generation & Flow

A microfluidics device developer needed to achieve a specific droplet generation and flow speed, but was unsure about the proper parameters. Enplas designed and proposed a channel geometry solution based on its extensive database, which is more accurate than software simulations or trial and error.

Enhancing Cell Sorting

A developer of a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device wanted to enhance cell sorting on the device. Enplas’s solution: integrate the electrodes onto the chip instead of on the testing instrument. Enplas’s ability to print or paste electrodes close to micro-channels can enhance sorting efficiency while simplifying instrument design.

Reducing Contamination & Dead Volume

A client needed the ability to use multiple reagents without contamination while reducing dead volume. Enplas incorporated a rotary membrane valve and pump, allowing the client to control over 20 liquids with a single rotational axis, prevent contamination, and minimize dead volume by reducing a multi-valve method to one.

Solutions

Enplas provides solutions that enhance the function of plastic microfluidic chips at all stages of the diagnostic process.

Solutions for Liquid Handling

Hydrophilic Treatment & Stop Valves

Looking to improve the control of samples flowing through your microfluidic device? Enplas can help achieve this via two methods: hydrophilic treatment and stop valves.

Click here to learn more about Enplas’s hydrophilic treatment and stop valves.

Embedded Pumps & Valves

Using multiple pumps and valves to transfer fluids through your microfluidic device? Enplas can minimize the pumps and valves your device requires by incorporating Enplas-designed rotary membrane pumps and valves (RMVP).

Channel Shape Improvements to Improve Flow

Liquids not flowing as simulated? Enplas can help design and propose optimal channel geometries based on real, proprietary data to achieve your desired specifications.

Click here to to learn more about Enplas’s channel shape improvement solutions. You can also download our complex microfluidic channels overview to learn more about our microfluidic channel capabilities, including dense nanowell structures, high aspect ratios, and mirrored bottom and side walls.

Solutions for Reactions

Printed Electrodes and Micron-Sized Outlets

Using electrodes for cell sorting and other applications? Embedding electrodes directly into your device can improve its efficiency, stability, and performance. Enplas offers printing and pasting methods for embedding electrodes in your device.

Click here to contact us to learn more about Enplas’s printed electrode and micro-sized outlet solutions.

Complex Fluidic Channels

Does your device require a complex or very detailed channel design? With Enplas’s high-precision machining and molding techniques, you can benefit from complex channels with dense nanowell structures, high aspect ratios, and mirrored bottom and side walls.

Click here to download more information about Enplas’s complex fluidic channel solutions.

Channel Shape Improvements to Improve Flow

Liquids not moving properly for reactions? Enplas can help design and propose optimal channel geometries to achieve your desired specifications.

Click here to download more information about microfluidics channel optimization for mass production.

Solutions for Detection

Bonding Different Materials

Need to assemble multiple components? Does the method need to be particle-free, biocompatible, or non-self-adhesive? Enplas provides a solution: thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) bonding.

Click here to learn more about Enplas’s TPE bonding solutions.

Pillarless Lamination

Have you added pillars in your fluidic design to prevent films from sagging? Enplas’s lamination method removes pillars and solves your concerns over deflating films.

Click here to learn more about Enplas’s pillarless lamination solutions.

Minimize Fluorescence Background Noise

Does your device’s autofluorescence affect data extraction? Enplas can help evaluate and minimize noise to levels comparable to those using glass.

Click here to learn more about Enplas’s fluorescence background noise reduction solutions.

Solutions for Post Processing

Micron-Sized Outlets

Transferring sorted cells to a device using pipettes? Why not directly dispense with the device instead? Enplas can add micron-sized outlets (“side open channel”) to the perimeter of your device to accurately dispense sorted cells.

For more, see “Printed Electrodes and Micron-Sized Outlets” under Innovative Solutions for Reactions.

Quality Assurance and Mass Production

Enplas provides consistent, top-quality parts at high volume production. We will even build a production line to meet your needs with:

ISO class 6 clean room injection molding | Automated assembly, measurement, and inspection | 100% channel depth and particle inspections | High-volume production

Advantages:

Automatic particle inspection (< 30um) on all surfaces for every chip
Automatic channel depth inspection (within +/-1um) for all laminated chips.
Production of up to 200,000 chips/month with inspections of each chip—increasable depending on your needs.

Read more about how Enplas’s process validation and quality assurance practices benefit your product manufacturing goals here.