Multiple-reagent layer laden high-speed micro-bubbles in extended two-dimensional microchip

In conventional chemical analysis methods, cohesion and ununiformed concentration within the mixed solution tend to be occurred during the reagent mixing process, which causes the increase of reagent consumption and process time. In the past, the authors have invented a device called “bubble injection knife”. In this device, high-speed micro-bubbles are ejected piercing through a reagent interface by discharging from a Cu wire, transporting a thin reagent membrane formed on the surface of the bubble due to its adsorption force. In addition, it is known that micro-bubbles contract and collapse. In this study, the authors designed a device using the properties of micro-bubbles and the bubble injection knife, which purpose is to reduce reagent consumption and enable uniform mixing in chemical analysis. This device is a micro-chip which is designed to produce micro-bubbles by electric discharge from a “bubble kife” embedded in the micro-channel and make them penetrate through reagent laminar flows in order to form reagent layers on the bubble´s surface. Moreover, the mixing of these layers using the contraction force of the bubbles is expected. In the experiments that were conducted, micro-bubbles were produced in the micro-channel from the embedded bubble knife. This technology is expected to improve chemical analysis methods to overcome ununiformed concentration within the mixed solution, and also it is expected to contribute to the bio-medical reagent injection with control of reaction time.