Microfluidics

Microfluidics is a key technology in the design and production of medical devices, enabling the precise control and manipulation of small volumes of fluids. As the demand for compact, high-performance medical devices continues to grow, the use of microfluidic manufacturing techniques is becoming increasingly prevalent in the industry.

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.

  1. Part Geometry & Layout
  2. Material Selection
  3. Surface Finish, Quality & Functionalization
  4. 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

 

PMMA

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

 

microslide

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.

Medical Devices

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.

Medical Devices

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.

Medical 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.

Medical 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.

Medical Devices

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.

Life Sciences

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.

Life Sciences

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.

Medical Devices

Cardiovascular

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.

Medical Devices

drug delivery

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.

Medical Devices

Advanced Surgical

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.

Medical Devices

Opthamology

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.

Medical Devices

orthopedics

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.

Life Science

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.

Life Science
 
pharma research
 

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.