Microfluidic technology refers to the controlled behavior, precise timing, and manipulation of geometrically bounded fluids to a very small level where surface forces normally dominate. It is a multidisciplinary technique that includes biotechnology, nanotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and engineering. A probe is injected into this sample, which then falls outside the liquid, through the sample area into an evaporator coil, falls back into the tank of liquid, and drops into the collector. This is a rather complicated setup but it's an excellent illustration of how such systems work.
There have been some significant advances in microfluidic technology over the past five years or so. Originally, these technologies were developed for the development of precision medical equipment. Nowadays, they're used for a variety of applications including fluid transportation, temperature control, environmental monitoring, and biological and chemical analysis. The most common types of microfluidic devices are those that are self-contained, which means they contain their own miniature pump, and those which require external cooling or recharging... Read more