• Best customer support

  • Payment via invoice or credit card

  • WORLDWIDE EXPRESS SHIPPING

  • Flow Control
    • Baoding Shenchen
    • Bartels
    • DK Infusetek
    • Elveflow
    • Harvard Apparatus
    • Ismatec
    • Jun-Air
    • LabTech
    • Longer
    • New Era
  • Chips & Microfabrication
    • BlackHole Lab
    • Grace Bio-Labs
    • iBioChips
    • IVTech
    • MesoBioTech
    • microfluidic ChipShop
    • SynVivo
  • Imaging
    • Fastec Imaging
    • Nikon
    • Phantom (Ametek)
    • Photron
    • Pixelink
    • Zeiss
  • Accessories
    • BD
    • Diba
    • Elveflow
    • Emulseo
    • Masterflex
    • Hamilton
    • Saint-Gobain
  • Sensors
    • Elveflow
    • MicruX
    • Zimmer & Peacock
  • Valves
    • Bürkert
    • Elveflow
    • Memetis
  • Contact Us
  • Register or Sign in
0
Darwin Microfluidics
  • CHIPS & MICROFAB
    Off-the-shelf Chips
    • Droplet Generators
    • Micromixers
    • Flow Cells
    • Organ-on-a-Chip
    • Cell Culture
    Microfabrication
    • Soft-lithography Systems
    • Chip Prototyping Tools
  • INSTRUMENTS
    Pumps & Flow Controllers
    • Syringe Pumps
    • Peristaltic Pumps
    • Pressure Controllers
    • OEM Pumps & Accessories
    • Valves
    Cameras
    • USB Cameras
    • High-speed Cameras
    Microscopes
    Sensors
    • Electrochemical Sensors
    • Pressure Sensors
    • Flow Sensors
    Compressors & Vacuum Pumps
  • ACCESSORIES
    Tubing
    • PTFE, PEEK, FEP Tubing
    • Silicone & Tygon Tubing
    • Tubing with stoppers
    Syringes & Needles
    • Syringes
    • Needles & Couplers
    • Bubble Traps
    • Tanks & Reservoirs
    • Punchers
    • Filters & Check valves
    • Oils & Surfactant
    Fittings & Connectors
    • Threaded Fittings
    • Luer Fittings
    • Barbed Fittings
    • Sleeves & Ferrules
    • Splitters & Manifolds
  • CONTACT US
(+33) 184 163 808 contact@darwin-microfluidics.com
Browse By Brand
  • Flow Control
    • Baoding Shenchen
    • Bartels
    • DK Infusetek
    • Elveflow
    • Harvard Apparatus
    • Ismatec
    • Jun-Air
    • LabTech
    • Longer
    • New Era
  • Chips & Microfabrication
    • BlackHole Lab
    • Grace Bio-Labs
    • iBioChips
    • IVTech
    • MesoBioTech
    • microfluidic ChipShop
    • SynVivo
  • Imaging
    • Fastec Imaging
    • Nikon
    • Phantom (Ametek)
    • Photron
    • Pixelink
    • Zeiss
  • Accessories
    • BD
    • Diba
    • Elveflow
    • Emulseo
    • Masterflex
    • Hamilton
    • Saint-Gobain
  • Sensors
    • Elveflow
    • MicruX
    • Zimmer & Peacock
  • Valves
    • Bürkert
    • Elveflow
    • Memetis
  • Get a Quote
  • 0
  • CHIPS & MICROFAB
    Back
    Off-the-shelf Chips
    • Back
    • Droplet Generators
    • Micromixers
    • Flow Cells
    • Organ-on-a-Chip
    • Cell Culture
    Microfabrication
    • Back
    • Soft-lithography Systems
    • Chip Prototyping Tools
  • INSTRUMENTS
    Back
    Pumps & Flow Controllers
    • Back
    • Syringe Pumps
    • Peristaltic Pumps
    • Pressure Controllers
    • OEM Pumps & Accessories
    • Valves
    Cameras
    • Back
    • USB Cameras
    • High-speed Cameras
    Microscopes
    Sensors
    • Back
    • Electrochemical Sensors
    • Pressure Sensors
    • Flow Sensors
    Compressors & Vacuum Pumps
  • ACCESSORIES
    Back
    Tubing
    • Back
    • PTFE, PEEK, FEP Tubing
    • Silicone & Tygon Tubing
    • Tubing with stoppers
    Syringes & Needles
    • Back
    • Syringes
    • Needles & Couplers
    • Back
    • Bubble Traps
    • Tanks & Reservoirs
    • Punchers
    • Filters & Check valves
    • Oils & Surfactant
    Fittings & Connectors
    • Back
    • Threaded Fittings
    • Luer Fittings
    • Barbed Fittings
    • Sleeves & Ferrules
    • Splitters & Manifolds
  • CONTACT US
  • Call
  • Contact
  • Store info

172 rue de Charonne
Bâtiment B1, 1er étage
Paris, France

Currencies

EUR Euro (EUR)
  • USD US dollar (USD)
  • EUR Euro (EUR)
  • GBP British pound (GBP)
  • CAD Canadian dollar (CAD)
  • AUD Australian dollar (AUD)
  • Darwin MicrofluidicsHome
  • Reviews
  • Internal volume, swept volume, dead volume in microfluidics

Internal volume, swept volume, dead volume in microfluidics

  • Reviews
  • 27 Oct, 2020
  • Posted by: Christelle Angely

The objective of microfluidics is to miniaturise as much as possible all the components of the microfluidic platform, which implies the use and manipulation of very low volumes (named internal volume) ranging from ten nanolitres to a hundred microlitres. Needless to say that the handling of liquid through different components cannot be done without a slight loss of volume (called dead volume). Nowadays, the challenge is to design the chips and elements with the lowest dead volume possible.

In this review, we will define the different volumes encountered in microfluidics and how to reduce them.

Volumes in microfluidics

Internal, swept and dead volume schematic

Internal volume

Generally speaking, the internal volume is defined as the sum of the dead volume and the volume swept by the flow within a component or system.

Dead volume

The dead volume is the part of the internal volume that does not belong to the flow path. This means this part of the liquid, once the flow has been diffused, cannot be recovered, or may be recovered later. As mentioned in the introduction, the challenge for manufacturers of microfluidic parts is to minimise dead volumes in their products. Indeed, this can be a problem when several samples have to pass through the same path but must not contaminate each other.

Swept volume

The swept volume is the part of the internal volume that is directly in the flow path: fluids must pass through this volume when flowing through the fitting. As the other types of volume mentioned above, it is preferable to have this swept volume as low as possible.

How to reduce volumes in microfluidics ?

Each component of a microfluidic system (tube, connector, channel, valves) has an internal volume. Generally, there is a tendency to want the dead volume and the swept volume as low as possible.  This is particularly critical when working with samples that are available in very limited quantities.

We suggest that you take a look at some tips that can help reduce these volumes.

In order to minimise the internal volume of a microfluidic system, it is logical to think - without referring to laborious mathematical equations - of the volume associated with the channels of the microfluidic chip. We are therefore going to rush to a new, fairly efficient chip design that will enable these volumes to be reduced. However, more often, you will find that most of the internal volumes are not associated with the microfluidic channels, but rather with other elements such as connectors, tubing, valves or pumps.

How Darwin Microfluidics can help

The key is to rely on elements (beyond the design of the chip) created specifically for microfluidics, but above all, which considerably reduce the internal volume. Darwin Microfluidics offers a full catalogue of fittings & connectors, along with tubing to meet the most demanding applications.

Get in touch with our team, we'll be happy to assist you!

  • Share
  • Tweet

Leave a comment

Comments have to be approved before showing up

welcome to our blog!
Our team keeps you informed of the latest news at Darwin Microfluidics. We also write some nice reviews and tools to guide you through the vast world of microfluidics!
Categories
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • Tools
Recent posts
Bartels Evaluation Board Comparison
11 Jan, 2021
Blog
IC-Chip and DDI-Chip for 3D cell culture
01 Feb, 2019
Blog
Reservoir Holder for Eppendorf®: a convenient and sturdy setup
16 Nov, 2018
Tags
  • All
  • cell culture
  • microfluidic chip
  • new products

Recently Viewed

Ismatec - Darwin Microfluidics
Elveflow - Darwin Microfluidics
Microfluidic ChipShop - Darwin Microfluidics
Zeiss - Darwin Microfluidics
Harvard Apparatus - Darwin Microfluidics
Cole-Parmer - Darwin Microfluidics
Sign up to our Newsletter

...for latest news in microfluidics.

Darwin Microfluidics
Got questions? Call us! (+33) 184 163 808
Contact info Darwin Microfluidics
172 rue de Charonne
Bâtiment B1, 1er étage
75011 Paris
France
  • Social
Blog
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • Tools
Informations
  • Bank Informations
  • General Terms & Conditions
  • Delivery Terms
  • Payment Terms
The Company
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Contact us

© 2021 Darwin Microfluidics. All Rights Reserved

  • Payment

Product successfully added to your Shopping Cart

Request a Quote
Proceed to Checkout