Identifier

etd-03162007-170047

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

In the Ligase Detection Reaction (LDR) technique different chemical reagents of varying concentration are mixed with the by-products of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of low abundant cancer diagnostic markers [1]. An effective micro-mixer which is cheap, durable over a relatively broad range of flows with easy manufacturing is required in this process. This work is aimed at manufacturing mixers according to the required specifications with metrology at every manufacturing process to estimate the limits and tolerances during manufacturing and analyzing their efficiency both numerically and experimentally. An optimum mixer design developed earlier by Maha et.al [2] is used for this study. Additional numerical simulations are performed using Fluent on this mixer design for varying flow ratios in mixing streams. Micro milled mold insert is used to fabricate micro-mixers using the hot embossing process. These hot-embossed polymer based mixers are used in a micro-fluidic module that was designed and developed to carry out the LDR [1]. Micro channels with an aspect ratio of 12 are achieved which are further used for mixing experiments involving a Rhodamine B fluorescent dye solution and deionized water. An inverted epi-flourescent microscope setup with a continuous flow mercury lamp is used to observe the fluorescence signal.

Date

2007

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Dimitris E. Nikitopoulos

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1840

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