Microfluidic Cartridge

A microfluidic cartridge is an innovative tool in medical diagnostics, leveraging the principles of microfluidics to enable rapid, accurate, and often point-of-care (POC) testing for various diseases and medical conditions.

microscopic scale, typically involving volumes of liquid measured in microliters or nanoliters. Within microfluidic devices, fluids move through channels typically narrower than a human hair, often driven by capillary forces, electroosmotic flow, pneumatic pumps, or other mechanisms. Due to the small volume of liquids used, reactions within microfluidic devices are rapid and require less reagent, making these devices highly efficient. 

The intricate design enables each component of the diagnostic process to be precisely controlled. For instance, channels can be designed to automatically transport the fluid to different chambers where specific reactions take place, allowing a sample to undergo multiple processing steps without user intervention. Valves and pumps are often integrated to manage fluid movement, while reaction chambers contain specific reagents for biochemical interactions. Depending on the diagnostic need, detection mechanisms (e.g., optical, electrochemical, fluorescence-based) are embedded in the cartridge, enabling real-time monitoring of the diagnostic process and making results quickly available.