Fabrication methods and performance of low-permeability microfluidic components for a miniaturized wearable drug delivery system

• Main Authors: Mescher, Mark J. (Author), Swan, Erin Leary (Contributor), Fiering, Jason (Author), Holmboe, Maria E. (Author), Sewell, William F. (Author), Kujawa, Sharon G. (Author), McKenna, Michael J. (Contributor), Borenstein, Jeffrey T. (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2010-11-08T14:09:12Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 In this paper, we describe low-permeability components of a microfluidic drug delivery system fabricated with versatile micromilling and lamination techniques. The fabrication process uses laminate sheets which are machined using XY milling tables commonly used in the printed-circuit industry. This adaptable platform for polymer microfluidics readily accommodates integration with silicon-based sensors, printed-circuit, and surface-mount technologies. We have used these methods to build components used in a wearable liquid-drug delivery system for in vivo studies. The design, fabrication, and performance of membrane-based fluidic capacitors and manual screw valves provide detailed examples of the capability and limitations of the fabrication method. We demonstrate fluidic capacitances ranging from 0.015 to 0.15 muL/kPa, screw valves with on/off flow ratios greater than 38000, and a 45times reduction in the aqueous fluid loss rate to the ambient due to permeation through a silicone diaphragm layer.