PolSi - A new industrial production method for next generation lab-on-a-chip systems

The objective of this FORNY project is to verify a new industrial production method for which SINVENT/SINTEF has applied for a patent. This production method is aimed at microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip devices, in particular devices for in-vitro medical diagnostics and monitoring. Such a lab-on-a-chip is a miniaturised system in which small volumes of fluid are "transported" between various "stations" for mixing, performing chemical reactions, detecting certain molecules etc. In short, the project deals with a new method which allows for coupling fluid channels in a polymer chip with channels in a silicon chip, when ingrating (small) silicon chips in a (large) polymer chip (typically the size of a credit card). The new method makes it possible to combine the advantages of injection moulded polymer chips with the unique functionalities that can be obtained with micro/nano machined silicon chips. The silicon chips can act as pumps, valves, flow sensors, detectors (for proteins etc), heating elements etc.