Optimizing mixer geometries for dielectrophoretic micro-concentrators

Dielectrophoretic (DEP) force, generated by interdigitated electrodes (IDEs), has been utilized to capture bio-particles for microfluidic concentration. However, due to the localized DEP force, DEP-based ,/ -concentrators usually have shallow channels and thus are operated under low flow rates. In this thesis, we propose a mixer-enhanced DEP-based concentrator which can be operate under high flow rates (-200 /l/min) with 20 Vpp applied voltage. In particular, the optimal geometries of micromixers for the device are investigated and determined by simulations and experiments. The optimal micromixer-enhanced concentrator exhibits up to 1.5 x improvement in trapping efficiency as compared to a concentrator without mixers.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Lee, Hsu-Yi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Joel Voldman.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37946

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37946