We report the development of a micromachined magnetic-bar micromixer for microscale fluid mixing in biological laboratory-on-a-chip applications. The mixer design is inspired by large scale magnetic bar mixers. A rotating magnetic field causes a single magnetic bar or an array of them to rotate rapidly within a fluid environment. A fabrication process of the magnetic bar mixer is developed. Results of fluid mixing in micro channels and chambers are investigated using experimental means and computer-aided fluid simulation.
Keywords
Active mixer, magnetic actuation, microfluidics,
mixer array.
Source
JOURNAL OF MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS, VOL. 11, NO. 5, OCTOBER 2002