• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.1516-1521
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• 2004

Mixing in Y-channel micro mixer is analyzed through computational fluid dynamics. In the case of passive mixing, we investigate the effect of geometric parameters on the mixing efficiency, such as shape of throttling geometry and angle between two inlets. Mixing performance improves as two fluids join not just horizontally but both vertically and horizontally, and it also improves when channel follows throttling shapes. A numerical results substantiate the highly efficient mixing performance. It is highly beneficial to fabrication process since the proposed throttling geometry is simple, but allows high mixing ratio.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.1528-1533
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• 2004

A numerical investigation is made of transient evolutionary prcocess of electroosmotic flow in a two-dimensional microchannel connected to a reservoir. The channel height is very small so that two electric double layers forming on the charged surfaces are overlapped. Transient transports of ions in the electrolyte solution are computed by integrating the Nernst-Planck equation together with the Poisson equation for electric potential. The numerical results illustrate that there are two distinct transient phases. The physical mechanisms and relevant time scales for the transient evolution are described.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.158-163
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• 2006

This paper reports a novel immunoassay method using superparamagnetic nanoparticles and an enhanced magnetic field gradient for the detection of protein in a microfluidic device. We use superparamagnetic nanoparticles as a label and fluorescent polystyrene beads as a solid support. Based on this platform, magnetic force-based microfluidic immunoassay is successfully applied to analyze the concentration of IgG as model analytes. In addition, we present ferromagnetic microstructure connected with a permanent magnet to increase magnetic flux density gradient (dB/dx, ${\sim}10^{4}$ T/m), which makes limit of detection reduced. The detection limit is reduced to about 1 pg/mL.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2007

We report electrokinetic streaming potential detection in a microchannel. Streaming potential, one of the representative electrokinetic phenomena, becomes noticeable either when the channel size reduces or when the concentration of electrolyte reduces. We suggest a triangular-shaped microchannel to enhance streaming potential. The triangular-shaped microchannel shows better performance than the straight one in terms of streaming potential. Couple of possible methods to enhance streaming potential is also discussed. Moreover, this type of channel and phenomenon can be applied to biological sensor application and energy transduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2003

A custom micro-PIV optics assembly has been used to measure the flow fold inside a T-junction of a microchannel. The micro-PIV system consists of microscope objectives of various magnifications, a dichroic cube, and an 8-bit CCD camera. Fluorescent particles of diameters 620 nm have been used with a Nd:YAG laser and color filters. A programmable syringe pump with Teflon tubings were used to inject particle-seeded distilled water into the channel at flow rates of 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 mL/hr. The micro-channels are fabricated with PDMS with a silicon mold, then O$_{2}$ -ion bonded onto a slide glass. Results show differences in flow characteristics and resolution according to fluid injection rates, and magnifications, respectively. The results include PIV data with vector-to-vector distances of 2 $\mu$m with 32 pixel-square interrogation windows at 50$\%$ overlap.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.1521_1522
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• 2009

Chemotaxis is the directed movement of cells in gradients of signaling molecules, an essential biological process that underlies morhpogenesis during development, and the recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection. Especially, bacterial chemotaxis has utilized as an important prelude to study metabolism, prey-predator relationship, symbiosis, other ecological interactions in microbial communities. Recently, novel analytical formats integrated with microfluidics were introduced to investigate the chemotaxis of the cells with the precise control of chemical gradient and small volume of cells. In this study, we present a method to detect bacterial chemotaxis by direct fluidic contacting. The developed fluidic-handling method is driven by capillary force, hydrophobic barrier and a cohesion force between fluids. We have investigated the chemotactic response of E Coli. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to three kinds of chemoeffectors such as HEPES buffer, peptone and chloroform.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.783-788
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• 2009

In this paper, we have performed a parametric study on the characteristics of multiphase laminar flow with density difference in various microchannels. The interface between multiphase fluids is rotated by the gravitational forces induced by density difference. The numerical simulations were carried out via commercial CFD package to study the characteristics of multiphase laminar flow. The results of the numerical simulations in this study were verified by comparing with the previously reported experimental results in the literature. We have also proposed a new dimensionless relationship between dimensionless rotation angle of interface and dimensionless parameters are proposed for square microchannels with various aspect ratios. The dimensionless relationship could be widely applied to the reliable design of various microfluidic devices dealing with multiphase laminar flow.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2008

This paper presents a microfluidic cell sizing method using hydrophoretic size-based separation. By exploiting slanted obstacles in a microchannel, we can generate a lateral pressure gradient so that microparticles can be deflected and arranged along lateral flows induced by the gradient. Using such movement of particles, we discriminated 8 to 15 μm-sized beads. We measured the size of U937 cells by comparing the hydrophoretic response of the cells to those of the size-standard beads whose diameters are known. Due to its simple design and fabrication, the sizing method can be easily integrated with other microfluidic components such as cell culture chambers conducting on-chip sizing and sorting.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.15-18
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• 2006

Recently, experimental visualization of microscale fluid transport has attacted considerable attention in designing microelectromechanical systems. Fluid-surface interactions on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces can play a key role in passively controlling microfluidics. Here we investigate the slip boundary condition depending on the surface characteristics; hydrophilic, hydrophobic wettabilities. Using the micro-PIV, velocity profiles are measured in the glass (hydrophilic), PDMS (hydrophobic) microchannels.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.309-312
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• 2006

Effective mixing is an important problem in microfluidics for chemical and biomechanical applications. In this study, the influences of the Reynolds number and the oscillating frequency on mixing characteristics of micro-stirrer are studied in a microchannel with single stirrer. The influence of fluid inertial effects in an active mixer is first discussed. It is found that the stirring effects by stirrer oscillation are promptly attenuated at low Reynolds number, which makes greatly difficult the rapid mixing. As the inertial effects are increased, the chaotic advection is generated and then developed. The mixing phase is finally developed some mushroom shaped structure. And the mixing efficiency is also studied as a function of the oscillating frequency. We found that the mixing efficiency does not always increase with higher oscillating frequency of stirrer. Consequently, we found the functional relation between the optimal frequency of a stirrer and the Reynolds number.