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A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector

Author

Listed:
  • Jan Durrer

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Prajwal Agrawal

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Ali Ozgul

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Stephan C. F. Neuhauss

    (University of Zurich)

  • Nitesh Nama

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Daniel Ahmed

    (ETH Zurich)

Abstract

Liquid manipulation is the foundation of most laboratory processes. For macroscale liquid handling, both do-it-yourself and commercial robotic systems are available; however, for microscale, reagents are expensive and sample preparation is difficult. Over the last decade, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have come to serve for microscale liquid manipulation; however, lacking automation and multi-functionality. Despite their potential synergies, each has grown separately and no suitable interface yet exists to link macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices. Here, we present a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system, comprising a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector, that combines robotics and microfluidic functionalities. We further carried out fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping, and mobile mixing of complex viscous liquids. Finally, we pre-programmed the RAEE to perform automated mixing of viscous liquids in well plates, illustrating its versatility for the automatic execution of chemical processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Durrer & Prajwal Agrawal & Ali Ozgul & Stephan C. F. Neuhauss & Nitesh Nama & Daniel Ahmed, 2022. "A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34167-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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