A lab-on-a-chip for biological fluids analysis

Abstract

This paper presents a microfluidic system for helping health professionals with rapid and accurate biological fluids analysis as well as for helping the patient himself at home. This microsystem consists of two wafers: a Pyrex glass wafer containing the microlaboratory (microchannels to carry chemical reagents and sample solutions) and a silicon wafer including the protein detection system (by colour analysis based on optical absorption). Albumin in urine is the first target of the microsystem, but it can be applied to other proteins. This microsystem eliminates the need of expensive readout optics and opens the road to low-cost disposable devices.