Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Waveguide Sensor Detecting Fluid Flow Velocity by Mimicking the Fish Lateral Line Organ

Accurate measurement of fluid flow velocities is challenging but essential in many disciplines. Inspiration of possible measurement methods can come from nature, for example from the lateral line organ of fish, which is comprised of hair cells embedded in a gelatinous cupula. When the cupula is deflected by water movement, the hair cells initiate neural signals that generate an accurate image of the fish’s surroundings. We built a flow sensor mimicking a hair cell, yet coupled it with an optical detection method. Fluid flow bends the waveguide; this leads to a measurable light loss that depends linearly on the waveguide deflection.