Articles techniques et présentations

Microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) require the ability to transport or pump reagents or reaction products, the ability to effectively mix small volumes of fluid, and provide direct data display. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) driven acoustic streaming generated by a piezoelectric material represents a developing solution to many of the demands of these devices with advantages over other pumping and mixing schemes. Most studies of this material limit their focus to the X-direction. However, annular and curved structures rely on operation along other crystal orientations. Such designs are promising because they focus the acoustic energy resulting in increased streaming effects, which translate to more effective mixing and pumping. In the work presented here, simulations of the material's response have been conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics®.