PDC offers the microfluidic expertise you need.
At PDC, we’re passionate about microfluidics and our ability to provide structurally and optically best functioning microfluidic devices for numerous applications. Our expertise with complex materials like Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP), Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC), Polycarbonate, PMMA and Polystyrene allow you to benefit from our extensive knowledge of flow rates, flash characteristics and predict shrinkage profiles.
Microfluidic chips are complex devices integrating multiple functions such as mixing, separating, and detecting fluids at the microscale level. However, the design and fabrication of microfluidic chips are challenging due to the complexity of the device and the need for high precision and accuracy. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the design principles for manufacturing (DFM) during the design phase to ensure that the chip can be manufactured cost-effectively and with high reliability.
- Complex material expertise
- State-of-the-art automated equipment
- In-house tooling design & development
- Engineering-based tools such as:
- Mold Flow Analysis
- 2D/3D Graphics & Modeling
Design with the End in Mind.
Designing a microfluidic part with the end application needs in mind during the prototype process is crucial for several reasons:
- It helps to ensure that the prototype will meet the required specifications and functionality, saving time and resources in the long run.
- It can help identify any potential design issues or limitations that may impact its performance.
- It allows for optimizing the design to improve its efficiency, accuracy, and reliability.
- It ensures that the final product will be suitable for its intended use, increasing its chances of success in the market.
Key Design Considerations
Several key considerations should be considered when designing microfluidic devices for Design for Manufacturability (DFM). These considerations focus on ensuring the device can be manufactured efficiently and at scale while maintaining high quality and functionality.
- Part Geometry & Layout
- Material Selection
- Surface Finish, Quality & Functionalization
- Chip to Cartridge
COP
Cyclic Olefin Polymer
- Superior moldability
- Optimal clarity & low birefringence
- Surface treatment ready
- Replicate molding features
- Rigidity
COC
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer
- Good flow characteristics
- Excellent moisture, heat, and chemical resistance
- Optical clarity and low birefringence
- Excellent gas barrier properties
PC
Polycarbonate
- Ease of moldability
- High heat resistance
- High tensile, shear, and flexural strength
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion
- Dimensionally stable
Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)
- Transparent
- High gloss & hardness (when modified)
- Good rigidity
- Dimensionally stable
- Good abrasion resistance
PS
Polystyrene
- Good dimensional stability
- Good dielectric strength
- Ease of moldability
- Relatively low heat resistance
Quality is importantwhen it comes to your microfluidic needs.
When you work with PDC to meet your microfluidic needs, you’ll have access to our team of professionals from start to finish. Our experienced engineering team has extensive knowledge of manufacturing principles and technologies to ensure the reliability of a wide range of life science applications, including drug discovery, cell culture, and genetic analysis.
With more than 30 years of expertise in microfluidics, our modern, integrated tooling & contact manufacturing facility is dedicated to the needs of the medical device and life science markets.
Microfluidic Solutions For Your Industry
Within the medical sector, microfluidics has applications across both the medical device and life sciences markets. Learn more about the industries PDC proudly serves.
The human heart is one of the body’s most vital organs. Modern medical science has made it possible to repair heart health issues using advanced technology, microcatheter devices & delivery systems capable of restoring proper organ function. At PDC, we offer manufacturers micro molding that enables them to create the cardiovascular medical devices needed to provide critical patient care.
A patient’s quality of life is dependent on their ability to live a pain-free, independent life. The ability to move freely is an important aspect of that, and orthopedics plays an important role. Technological advancements in the field of orthopedic device manufacturing have made it so surgeons are able to offer a broader scope of life-improving procedures. As an orthopedic device manufacturer, you need quality components from a trusted company. At PDC, we offer the micro molding capabilities that manufacturers need when producing these surgical devices.
In recent years, many innovations have been made in the advanced surgical device field. As advanced surgical devices become more complex, it becomes increasingly necessary to develop micro molded components that are both high-quality and effective. At PDC, we offer the micro molding capabilities that manufacturers need when producing these surgical devices.
The field of ophthalmology is devoted to helping people maintain and improve their vision, often through surgical procedures. As technology improves, more advanced opthalmic surgical equipment and devices are being developed every day. The precise nature of this equipment and these devices calls for the highest quality micro molded components. As a manufacturer, you need a company you can trust to provide you with the components you need, to your exact specifications.
When people think about drug delivery systems, they often think about the needle and syringe used to deliver immunizations and medications. However, numerous types of drug delivery systems are used in the medical field. Solutions can include designing and manufacturing devices used to deliver drugs and biologics, such as pumps, injectors, and implantable devices.
When diagnosing an illness or disease, time is often of the essence. Point-of-care diagnostic devices help to obtain diagnostic results while the healthcare provider is with the patient or in a nearby laboratory setting. At PDC, we help those who manufacture point-of-care diagnostic devices to advance PCR and clinical chemistry testing.
The pharmaceutical research industry is constantly growing. Advanced pharmaceutical applications are helping to address health concerns ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer. In order for effective research to take place, high-quality, advanced devices are required. At PDC, we help those who manufacture pharmaceutical research devices get the components they need.
The human heart is one of the body’s most vital organs. Modern medical science has made it possible to repair heart health issues using advanced technology and microscopic devices that are capable of restoring proper organ function. At PDC, we offer micro molding to manufacturers that enables them to create the cardiovascular medical devices needed to provide critical patient care.
When people think about drug delivery systems, they often think about the needle and syringe used to deliver immunizations and medications. However, there are numerous types of drug delivery systems used in the medical field, and as a drug delivery manufacturer, you know how crucial it is that the components you use in developing these devices is of the highest quality.
Many innovations have been made in the advanced surgical device field in recent years. As advanced surgical devices become more complex, it becomes increasingly necessary to create micro molded components that are both high-quality and effective. At PDC, we offer the micro molding capabilities that manufacturers need when producing these surgical devices.
The field of ophthalmology is devoted to helping people maintain and improve their vision, often through surgical procedures. As technology improves, more advanced opthalmic surgical equipment and devices are being developed every day. The precise nature of this equipment and these devices calls for the highest quality micro molded components. As a manufacturer, you need a company you can trust to provide you with the components you need, to your exact specifications.
A patient’s quality of life is dependent on their ability to live a pain-free, independent life. The ability to move freely is an important aspect of that, and orthopedics plays an important role. Technological advancements in the field of orthopedic device manufacturing have made it so surgeons are able to offer a broader scope of life-improving procedures. As an orthopedic device manufacturer, you need quality components from a trusted company. At PDC, we offer the micro molding capabilities that manufacturers need when producing these surgical devices.
When diagnosing an illness or disease, time is often of the essence. Point of care diagnostic devices help to obtain diagnostic results while the healthcare provider is with the patient or in a nearby laboratory setting.. At PDC, we help those who manufacture point of care diagnostic devices get the components they need.
The pharmaceutical research industry is constantly growing. Advanced pharmaceutical applications are helping to address health concerns ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer. In order for effective research to take place, high-quality, advanced devices are required. At PDC, we help those who manufacture pharmaceutical research devices get the components they need.
