14 Apr 2011

Laser Microfabrication

From Our Changing World, 9:20 pm on 14 April 2011

Charles Rohde, the paper microfluidic device, and Cather Simpson

From left to right: Charles Rohde with the femtosecond laser, the paper microfluidic device, and Cather Simpson at the microfabrication station (images: University of Auckland)

At the Photon Factory, a laser is being used to etch the masks for the lab-on-a-chip devices created at the University of Auckland. The laser can deliver short (nanosecond) and ultrashort (femtosecond) light pulses to fabricate the micron-scale devices, and Cather Simpson and Charles Rohde demonstrate how it's done.

Josh Bradfield then shows Ruth Beran how the same techniques can be used to create a microfluidic device on paper. He has created an example where red and blue ink can be raced through tiny pipes etched with the laser into paper. The device resembles the Light Cycle game in the movie Tron. The ultimate aim being that similar devices could be developed on paper as cheap medical diagnostic tests for use, for example, in developing countries where more expensive, and less stable tools are impractical.

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to Our Changing World

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)