Dynamics of Cilia-Based Microfluidic Devices

Abstract

This article models the dynamics of cilia-based devices (soft cantilever-type, vibrating devices that are excited by external vibrations) for mixing and manipulating liquids in microfluidic applications. The main contribution of this article is to develop a model, which shows that liquid sloshing and the added-mass effect play substantial roles in generating large-amplitude motion of the cilia. Additionally, experimental mixing results, with and without cilia, are comparatively evaluated to show more than one order-of-magnitude reduction in the mixing time with the use of cilia.