Coplanar Digital Microfluidics Using Standard Printed Circuit Board Processes

We report three novel demonstrations: 1. Coplanar electrowetting 2. Electrowetting on a printed circuit board (PCB) and 3. Transport and mixing in an “open” microfluidic substrate. Similar to “soft” lithography which enabled many researchers to easily prototype and experiment with continuous-flow microfluidics, this work allows researchers to easily experiment with discrete-flow microfluidics (digital microfluidics). The flexibility in design afforded by this coplanar and “open” structure facilitates novel applications, particularly in areas of clinical diagnostics and reconfigurable chip cooling. Furthermore, it provides digital microfluidic systems with an inexpensive and rapid turn-around process.