Dolomite to Exhibit Microfluidic Technology at US Lab Automation Event

Leading lab-on-a-chip company Dolomite will be exhibiting a range of new microfluidic devices at Lab Automation 2008 in the US. Lab Automation 2008 is a major worldwide laboratory technology event and will be held at Palm Springs on the 27th, 28th and 29th January.

Lab-on-a-chip is an emerging technology based on microfluidics and MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems). This exciting new field of science and engineering enables very small-scale fluid control and analysis, allowing instrument manufacturers to develop smaller, more cost-effective and more powerful systems. With lab-on-a-chip technology, entire complex chemical management and analysis systems are created in a microfluidic chip and interfaced with, for example, electronic and optical detection systems.

According to Craig Ranger, U.S. Business Development Manager, "We'll be exhibiting devices such as our new Edge Connector and Micro Mixer. The Edge Connector enables rapid connection of up to 4 fluidic inputs and outputs in any combination with straight-in flow paths. The Micro Mixer enables the mixing of samples, diluents and reagents in only a few milliseconds and greatly reduces sample volumes and reagent usage.

The ability for companies to run reaction and analysis processes faster is helping accelerate drug discovery and will also play an important role in the development of future diagnostic equipment. We are expecting this new technology to get a lot of attention at this show."

Microfluidics is a technology that has the potential to massively impact such diverse areas as DNA testing, environmental testing, fuel cell development and a broad range of biotech applications. In recent years Dolomite has become a leader in this field. So much so, that in 2005 they won funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative.

It was this £2m funding that allowed Dolomite to establish excellent microfabrication facilities, with cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and applications laboratories. In addition to this, Dolomite has managed to attract top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success in bringing microfluidics applications to the market, including; chemistry, biotechnology, control system development, electronics, physics and instrument design and supply.

"We are extremely well equipped for both the design and the fabrication of microfluidic devices and systems," said Craig. "We can model flow, thermal behaviour and the physical design of each device as well as being able to provide high quality rapid prototypes and volume production. Also, members of our engineering team come from life science and biochemistry backgrounds, so Dolomite is particularly capable of understanding its client needs when working with the development of new equipment in these fields."

Dolomite has recently announced the release of the world’s first microfluidic edge connector. This device will enable engineers and scientists to interface to microfluidic chips and help them develop and manufacture microfluidic-based fluid control systems more easily. The initial design of the in-line connector has four ports for both fluidic and electrical connections and is engineered to connect easily and perform reliably.