High-speed and high-resolution cell manipulation by utilizing asymmetric flow resistors

Microfluidic pipettes have contributed to a single cell isolation for cell analyses. Although the response time and volumetric resolution is significant specification for the isolation, it is a tough challenge for microfluidic pipettes to achieve high-speed and high-resolution with a continuous flow control. Under these circumstances, we proposed a microfluidic pipette with the aid of high-speed and high-resolution on-chip pumping method based on piezo-driven membrane pump and asymmetric flow resistors which have different flow resistance to bidirectional flow by utilizing temporal standing vortices. In this method, we demonstrated picking-up and dispensing single Euglena gracilis cell within 2.5 ms by bidirectional continuous flow. However, we have not evaluated the relationship between continuous flow and applied voltage/frequency of input wave form to piezoelectric actuators. As results, we confirmed that flow rate increased as input voltage/frequency increased.