Embedding of screen printed sensors and actuators into bulk polymer for sensing in microfluidic devices

This work presents a method for integrating screen printed transducers into microfluidic chips fabricated from polymers. Screen printed structures are thin enough not to disturb the flow while being cost efficient in fabrication. In contrast to previously presented methods [1] for the integration of screen printed sensors, this fabrication technique prevents leakages originating in the gluing of several different materials, e.g. glass, paper and polymers. As an example, a thermal flow velocity sensor embedded into a microchannel made from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is presented.