Abstract
We proposed a microfluidic chip having a world-to-chip interface to insert a cantilever as a high-sensitive sensor from outside for multi-scale environment measurement in a chip. There are several techniques for on-chip measurement employing probe sensor, integrated microsensor, and fluorescence method. Each technique has advantages to other methods. Multi-scale environment measurement is achieved by combining these methods. A probe sensor is expected to have high sensitivity and high positioning accuracy rather than the other methods. However, the probe cannot be employed for sensing inside a closed space of the microfluidic chip easily. To employ these methods in the chip simultaneously, probe sensor has to be inserted into the chip. Here, we proposed a microfluidic chip having a world-to-chip interface to insert a probe sensor without leakage of the solution. The edge of the chip is open to insert the probe sensor. Solution around the interface was drawn to the drain ports to avoid leakage of the solution at the interface so as to be used on the inverted microscope. We demonstrated insertion of the cantilever into the chip through the interface and confirmed that flow was not disturbed by the cantilever.
