Microfluidic device and method for manufacturing the same

1. A microfluidic device comprising:

at least one flow channel connecting an inlet opening with an outlet opening; and

an array of wells in fluid communication with said flow channel;

wherein said flow channel comprises:

an inlet portion comprising a hydrophilic surface at said inlet opening,

an outlet portion at said outlet opening, and

a middle portion between said inlet portion and said outlet portion;

wherein said middle portion comprises a first portion of said array of wells and comprises a hydrophilic surface;

wherein the outlet portion comprises:

a second portion of said array of wells,

a transition area provided between said middle portion and said outlet opening that includes at least a portion of said second portion of said array of wells, which transition area comprises a hydrophobic surface,

a hydrophilic outlet area provided between said transition area and said outlet opening that comprises a hydrophilic surface.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said transition area comprises a pre-shooter stop for a fluid flowing through said flow channel from said inlet opening to said outlet opening.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said transition area has an extension extending into said middle portion, wherein the extension comprises a bar or a nose.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic surface is provided by a hydrophobic coating.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic surface is provided by a hydrophilic coating.

6. The microfluidic device of claim 5 , wherein said hydrophilic coating has a contact angle of between <10 and <30°.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 5 , wherein said hydrophilic coating comprises a SiO 2 coating.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 5 , wherein said hydrophilic coating is applied by electron beam coating or sputtering.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises a hydrophobic material selected from one or more of Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) and Cyclic Olephin Polymer (COP).

10. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein said transition area has a width between the size of one to three well openings.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 10 , wherein the transition area has a width between 60 μm and 330 μm.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least a top layer and a bottom layer, said bottom layer provides said flow channel with said inlet and outlet openings, and said array of wells in a surface of said bottom layer, and said top layer comprises a flat component covering said surface of said bottom layer.

13. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least a top layer and a bottom layer, said top layer providing said flow channel with said inlet and outlet openings and said bottom layer providing said array of wells in a surface of said bottom layer.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the transition area comprises a plurality of pre-shooter stops and at least one or more pre-shooter stops of the plurality of pre-shooter stops are positioned on a lateral side of said middle portion.

15. The microfluidic device of claim 14 wherein at least two or more pre-shooter stops of the plurality of pre-shooter stops are positioned on both lateral sides of said middle portion.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein a width of a well opening of the array of wells is 60 μm≤w≤110 μm.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the transition area further comprises a projection extending into the middle portion.

18. The microfluidic device of claim 16 , wherein the projection includes a bar shape extending into the middle portion.

19. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion comprises a tapered portion that is tapered relative to the middle portion, and wherein the transition area is provided in the tapered portion.