Programmable Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices

This paper describes paper-based micro fluidic devices that can be programmed by a user to implement special micro fluidic analysis. The micro fluidic devices are simple to fabricate, and are made out of paper and tape. These devices are programmed by pressing paper-based micro fluidic switches. Pressing a paper-based micro fluidic switch closes a small gap between paper-based micro fluidic channels, and allows fluids to wick from one channel to the other. A fluidic de-multiplexer and a programmable micro fluidic array have been implemented using programmable paper-based micro fluidic device, and programmable operation experiments have also been done using red dye solution and NaNO2 solution. The programmable paper-based micro fluidic devices provide a simple and low cost method for controlling the movement of fluids in paper-based channels, and expand the applications of micro fluidic devices.