Development of an assembly-free process based on virtual environment for fabricating 3D microfluidic systems using microstereolithography technology

Abstract

As it is difficult to construct a microfluidic system composed of micromixers, microchannels, and/or microchambers in a single process, an assembly process is typically used. Using microstereolithography technology, however the complex microfluidic system can be made in a single process, provided that the fabrication information of the microfluidic system is available. In this work, an assembly-free process based on a virtual environment was developed. The assembly-free process can be used to design various microfluidic systems before actual fabrication commences and then to generate the information required for the microstereolithography process. Using the developed process, various microfluidic systems can be fabricated without any additional assembling process.