TY - JOUR
T1 - The MainSTREAM component platform
T2 - a holistic approach to microfluidic system design
AU - Sabourin, David
AU - Skafte-Pedersen, Peder
AU - Søe, Martin Jensen
AU - Hemmingsen, Mette
AU - Alberti, Massimo
AU - Coman, Vasile
AU - Petersen, Jesper
AU - Emnéus, Jenny
AU - Kutter, Jörg P.
AU - Snakenborg, Detlef
AU - Jørgensen, Flemming
AU - Clausen, Christian
AU - Holmstrøm, Kim
AU - Dufva, Martin
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - A microfluidic component library for building systems driving parallel or serial microfluidic-based assays is presented. The components are a miniaturized eight-channel peristaltic pump, an eight-channel valve, sample-to-waste liquid management, and interconnections. The library of components was tested by constructing various systems supporting perfusion cell culture, automated DNA hybridizations, and in situ hybridizations. The results showed that the MainSTREAM components provided (1) a rapid, robust, and simple method to establish numerous fluidic inputs and outputs to various types of reaction chips; (2) highly parallel pumping and routing/valving capability; (3) methods to interface pumps and chip-to-liquid management systems; (4) means to construct a portable system; (5) reconfigurability/flexibility in system design; (6) means to interface to microscopes; and (7) compatibility with tested biological methods. It was found that LEGO Mindstorms motors, controllers, and software were robust, inexpensive, and an accessible choice as compared with corresponding custom-made actuators. MainSTREAM systems could operate continuously for weeks without leaks, contamination, or system failures. In conclusion, the MainSTREAM components described here meet many of the demands on components for constructing and using microfluidics systems.
AB - A microfluidic component library for building systems driving parallel or serial microfluidic-based assays is presented. The components are a miniaturized eight-channel peristaltic pump, an eight-channel valve, sample-to-waste liquid management, and interconnections. The library of components was tested by constructing various systems supporting perfusion cell culture, automated DNA hybridizations, and in situ hybridizations. The results showed that the MainSTREAM components provided (1) a rapid, robust, and simple method to establish numerous fluidic inputs and outputs to various types of reaction chips; (2) highly parallel pumping and routing/valving capability; (3) methods to interface pumps and chip-to-liquid management systems; (4) means to construct a portable system; (5) reconfigurability/flexibility in system design; (6) means to interface to microscopes; and (7) compatibility with tested biological methods. It was found that LEGO Mindstorms motors, controllers, and software were robust, inexpensive, and an accessible choice as compared with corresponding custom-made actuators. MainSTREAM systems could operate continuously for weeks without leaks, contamination, or system failures. In conclusion, the MainSTREAM components described here meet many of the demands on components for constructing and using microfluidics systems.
KW - Animals
KW - Automation, Laboratory
KW - Cell Culture Techniques
KW - Cost-Benefit Analysis
KW - HeLa Cells
KW - Holistic Health
KW - Humans
KW - In Situ Hybridization
KW - Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
KW - Miniaturization
KW - Point-of-Care Systems
KW - Reproducibility of Results
U2 - 10.1177/2211068212461445
DO - 10.1177/2211068212461445
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23015520
SN - 2472-6303
VL - 18
SP - 212
EP - 228
JO - Journal of laboratory automation
JF - Journal of laboratory automation
IS - 3
ER -