Finite Element Modeling of a Cell Lysing Chip

S. Maloney[1,2], Y. Li[1,2], G. Auner[1], and J. Smolinski[1]
[1]Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
[2]Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, USA
Published in 2010

We are working on a microfabricated lysing chip that uses a piezoelectric actuator to provide ultrasonic energy to break apart cells. The device contains pillars with varying dimensions. We hypothesize that increasing the aspect ratio of pillars will increase the efficiency of the transfer  of ultrasonic energy into the fluid phase and enhance the lysing efficiency.  The fluid structure interaction, coupled with the piezoelectric strain models in the MEMS Module of COMSOL will be used to analyze and compare the fluid flow inside the lysing chip. We have fabricated the device and will conduct bacterial lysing on the chips. The COMSOL modeling and the experimental results will be used to further refine our lysing chip design.  

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