Laser Microfabrication of Long Thin Holes on Biodegradable Polymer Under Vacuum and its Application to Collecting Blood

This paper investigates laser microfabrication on biodegradable polymer material (polylactic acid, referred to herein as PLA). In case of fabrication at atmospheric pressure, i.e., in the air, a phenomenon is observed that the inside of hole is clogged at several points by ablated material and residual gas. Considering this, the fabrication is carried out under vacuum to evaporate these materials from the inside of the hole, and to subdue hydrolysis reaction by removing oxygen. The fabricated long thin hole is applied to blood collection.