ACTUATOR ELEMENTS FOR MICROFLUIDICS, RESPONSIVE TO MULTIPLE STIMULI

摘要

A micro-fluidic system comprises at least one micro-channel having a wall (14), a plurality of ciliary actuator elements (71) attached to said wall (14), said ciliary actuator elements (71) having an original shape when not subjected to a liquid, and means for applying stimuli to said plurality of ciliary actuator elements (71) so as to cause a change in their shape from an initial shape to an end shape. The ciliary actuator elements (71) are adapted to respond to the presence of a particular liquid by changing their original shape into the initial shape. The response to the presence of the particular liquid may be a curving of the original shape of the ciliary actuator element. Application of stimuli to the plurality of ciliary actuator elements provides a way to locally manipulate the flow of complex fluids in a micro-fluidic system.