Applications for microfluidic components

Microfluidics is a new field of application for moving, storing, and managing very small quantities of fluids. The major end users for microfluidic components are existing and newly created companies that compete in the health care market. Specific applications include in-vitro diagnostics, analytical equipment, pharmaceutical drug delivery, and clinical chemistry. Other users include customers that manufacture analytical equipment for food and drinks testing, and the life sciences scientific community. The single largest existing market is in ink-jet printer heads. Dominated by global giants like H-P, IBM, and Canon, the micro-machining of ink-jet nozzles and printheads is a key technology for business success in consumer and commercial printing. The demand for these tiny pumps, valves, and chambers in the health care applications is driven by three factors: the need for cost and time efficiency in managed health care; the shift toward point-of-care testing; and the human genome project. The article discusses the design and applications of microfluidic components