Piezoelectric transducer system for improving mixing in 96 well microplates

Abstract

The continuous development of microfluidic devices leads to the need of managing fluids at micro-scales and improve reaction times by means of an efficient mixing process. Due to the associated phenomenon, known as acoustic streaming, ultrasounds are able to promote mixing of fluids, thereby reducing the time and cost expended in the process. This work shows the development of an ultrasound system based on piezoelectric materials in order to promote agitation and mixture of fluids in a laboratorial 96 well microplate, which is a standard equipment in biochemical analysis. The results showed that the mixing process can be improved with the help of ultrasounds.