Laser vibrometry characterisation of a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device: a preliminary investigation

12th Anglo-French Physical Acoustics Conference

Fury, C.^1,2 ; Gélat, P.N.^2,3 ; Jones, P.H.^1 ; Memoli, G.^2

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E6BT, United Kingdom^1

National Physical Laboratory, Teddington TW11 OLW-Middlesex, United Kingdom^2

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom^3

关键词: Acoustic pressures;    Biological tissues;    Bubble aggregation;    Controlled environment;    Excitation frequency;    Lab-on-a-chip devices;    Surface wavelength;    Ultrasound contrast agent;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/498/1/012002/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/498/1/012002

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Since their original inception as ultrasound contrast agents, potential applications of microbubbles have evolved to encompass molecular imaging and targeted drug delivery. As these areas develop, so does the need to understand the mechanisms behind the interaction of microbubbles both with biological tissue and with other microbubbles. There is therefore a metrological requirement to develop a controlled environment in which to study these processes. Presented here is the design and characterisation of such a system, which consists of a microfluidic chip, specifically developed for manipulating microbubbles using both optical and acoustic trapping. A laser vibrometer is used to observe the coupling of acoustic energy into the chip from a piezoelectric transducer bonded to the surface. Measurement of the velocity of surface waves on the chip is investigated as a potential method for inferring the nature of the acoustic fields excited within the liquid medium of the device. Comparison of measured surface wavelengths with wave types suggests the observation of anti-symmetric Lamb or Love-Kirchhoff waves. Further visual confirmation of the acoustic fields through bubble aggregation highlights differences between the model and experimental results in predicting the position of acoustic pressure nodes in relation to excitation frequency.