Passive Self-Compartmentalisation Array
Instrument-free sample partitioning and discrete volume metering via geometric capillary meniscus pinning.
| Material | 3D-printed polymer, optical silicone tape, PMMA |
| Method | Passive geometric metering and capillary phase-guide air-plug isolation |
| Min feature | 250 µm capillary neck |
| Idea to tested device | 3 days |
THE WORKFLOW
Point-of-care diagnostics, digital PCR, and multi-replicate assays often require dividing a biological sample into uniform, isolated reaction volumes. Achieving this typically demands expensive instrumentation, active pneumatic manifolds, or complex elastomeric microvalves, which drive up consumable complexity and equipment unit costs.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
A serial 13-chamber consumable architecture fabricated via high-resolution SLA 3D printing and sealed with an optical-grade silicone tape (or alternatively micro-machined in optical PMMA). Each chamber connects to a main distributor channel via carefully dimensioned constriction necks designed to act as passive capillary stops.
Micrograph of an isolated metering chamber: capillary meniscus cleanly pinned at the 250 µm neck with zero liquid cross-talk.
BENCH CHARACTERIZATION
Demonstrated with a standard laboratory pipette. A single continuous loading step fills all 13 chambers sequentially. Introducing a trailing air plug sweeps the main channel, pinning the fluid meniscus at each constriction neck by surface tension and cleanly isolating all chambers without cross-talk or fluid leakage.
HOW THIS APPLIES TO YOUR DEVICE
If your diagnostic assay or digital reaction requires partitioning a sample into uniform, isolated micro-volumes, you do not need active pneumatic valves, pumps, or complex reader instruments. This geometric capillary logic can be customized for your specific chamber counts, nanoliter-to-microliter volumes, and biofluid surface tensions. By putting the fluidic control directly into the consumable geometry, your cartridge operates autonomously from a single pipetting step, significantly lowering your reader hardware cost and consumable failure points.