MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE
A microfluidic device comprises a first substrate made of a first polymer material and a second substrate made of a second material, the first and second substrates having respective bonding surfaces, at least one of the bonding surfaces having fluid-carrying formations so that, when the bonding surfaces are bonded by surface deformation to one another, the bonded first and second substrates and the fluid-carrying formations form at least part of a microfluidic channel network comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels, in which one or more bonding formations, separate to the fluid-carrying formations defining the microfluidic channel network, are formed so as to roughen at least one of the bonding surfaces.
1 . A microfluidic device comprising:
a first substrate made of a first polymer material and a second substrate made of a second material, the first and second substrates having respective bonding surfaces, at least one of the bonding surfaces having fluid-carrying formations so that, when the bonding surfaces are bonded by surface deformation to one another, the bonded first and second substrates and the fluid-carrying formations form at least part of a microfluidic channel network comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels,
in which one or more bonding formation microstructures, separate to the fluid-carrying formations defining the microfluidic channel network, are formed so as to roughen at least one of the bonding surfaces.
2 . The device of claim 1 , in which the bonding formation microstructures are arranged adjacent to the fluid-carrying formations.
3 . The device of claim 2 , in which the bonding formation microstructures are spaced apart from the fluid-carrying formations.
4 . The device of claim 1 , in which the bonding formation microstructures comprise a grid of indentations over a region of the substrate surface.
5 . The device of claim 1 , in which the bonding formation microstructures comprise a grid of elevations over a region of the substrate surface.
6 . The device of claim 1 , in which the bonding formation microstructures comprise a bonding rim around a fluid-carrying formation.
7 . The device of claim 1 , in which the substrates are flat.
8 . The device of claim 1 , in which the second substrate is formed of a foil material.
9 . A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
providing a first substrate made of a first polymer material and a second substrate made of a second material, the first and second substrates having respective bonding surfaces, at least one of the bonding surfaces having fluid-carrying formations so that, when the bonding surfaces are bonded by surface deformation to one another, the bonded first and second substrates and the fluid-carrying formations form at least part of a microfluidic channel network comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels; and
providing one or more bonding formation microstructures, separate to the fluid-carrying formations defining the microfluidic channel network, are formed so as to roughen at least one of the bonding surfaces.
10 . A method according to claim 9 , comprising:
moulding the substrate using a master die;
in which the master die comprises formations complementary to the bonding formation microstructures, so that the bonding formations are formed on the substrate at the moulding step.
11 . A method according to claim 9 , comprising:
moulding the substrate using a master die; and
after the moulding step, forming the bonding formation microstructures on the moulded substrate.
12 . A method according to claim 9 , comprising:
bonding the surfaces by solvent-vapour activated thermal bonding.
13 . A measurement instrument comprising:
a microfluidic device according to claim 1 ; and
a processor configured to detect fluid measurement results from the microfluidic device.