Mieszko Jaskiewicz

• BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
• Development of a low cost four degree of freedom alignment system to manipulate motion of cell gripper and align 3D microfluidic channels

Microfluidics devices play an important role in testing biological samples. They are microscopic systems which allow for processing and manipulation of very small (10^-9 to 10^-18 litres) amounts of fluids. This is done inside channels which have dimensions ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometres. These channels are moulded inside a polymer called Polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS.

For more complicated applications multiple PDMS layers have to be connected together. The production of these devices requires very fine scale movement and alignment of components, something impossible to achieve by eye. The aim of this project is to produce a mechanical system that can be used to align the parts of a microfluidics device with accuracy.

At the end of the project fully functioning mechanical controllers have been designed and tested. Further tests need to be performed to optimise the design of the optical system and to make sure it is working correctly.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisor: Dr Jinju Chen