New technologies for high precision dosage

This paper outlines the results of a new development in the field of liquid handling covering the range from 0.5 nanoliter to a few microliter. The company GeSiM designed a modular system consisting of microfluidic devices like miniaturised pumps, mixers and injectors. These basic elements may be used to build miniaturised manifolds providing complex fluidic, sensorial and electronic functions. Presently, the user of such products work in the field of biotechnology and genetic research. A specific application is the handling of biological cells in liquid solution. Furthermore a first project has been started investigating a new technology to apply medicines. Although the new microfluidic devices have been designed to handle aqueous solutions there are no restrictions to work with high viscous substances or solvents like ethanol, acetone, DMSO, DMF or acetonitrile. The authors focus on micro dosage technology. Based on the new microdroplet-pump, some new active and passive microfluidic devices are discussed. The main parts of most components are made from silicon and glass according to microsystem technology. The micropumps come with user-friendly hardware and software