Portable digital microfluidics platform with active but disposable Lab-On-Chip

This paper reports successful development of a stand-alone microfluidics platform based on our electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) droplet technologies. Four new major developments that empowered us to achieve the portable digital microfluidic system are presented: (1) time-multiplexed driving scheme that enables simultaneous driving of a large number of droplets; (2) electric sensing mechanism of droplet positions, opening the door for feedback control and Lab-On-Chip (LOG) performance monitoring; (3) fabrication of disposable and sealed LOC capable of full droplet manipulation; and (4) completion of stand-alone portable electronics board. Leaving the issue of biofluids manipulation to other reports, this paper will focus on the technology developments.